Mookasura became a Boar to kill Arjun
Duryodhan through his spies came to know of Arjun’s enterprising mission. The news made him disquiet. Arjun is a Satvic person. Very virtuous and devout. If he prays, Lord Shiva would appear and bless him. Then he would be irrepressible.
He thought a plan in connivance with his uncle Sakuni and friend Karna to put an end to Arjun through some heinous method. As per their advice, Duryodhan summoned Mookasura, the dread demon and master of witchcraft. Duryodhan told him:
“Mookasura, my ever dependable friend, come, come. It is learnt that Arjun has proceeded to the Himalayan Valley to meditate on Lord Shiva. If the Lord blesses him and gifts him with his irresistible weapons, no force can defeat him.” Duryodhan paused in disgust and reshaping his facial expression ordered him:
“It is your duty to finish him off in disguise. You are the expert in this art in my knowledge. Go to the place where Arjun is meditating and kill him and come back. Apply any method you consider suitable.”
Mookasura felt very happy after seeing the trust which Duryodhan had towards him. After a long interval he got an opportunity to please his master,Duryodhan. “He will reward me suitably.” Mookasura thought. Mookasura reached the Valley of the Himalayas and found Arjun in medication.He transformed himself into a terrible wild boar whose canine tooth was shining like a silver sword.
Although Mookasura was an exponent in witchcraft and killing anybody with uncommon ease, he was terrified and went panicky when he looked at the meditating posture of Arjun. Mookasura, who had been proud of his inimitable skill in the quotation works he undertook, shivered with fear at the trait and gusto of Arjun. He thought about his wife and children. He thought, for a moment, his aged mother and father. His conscience told him that he is in the middle of a very dangerous errand and it was advisable for him to withdraw from this task for his own good. But, he thought, if he withdrew, certainly Duryodhan would kill him. If he took up to accomplish this task, his death at the hands of Arjun was certain.
Either way it was death for Mookasura. He surveyed the area around. He pondered over a plan to attack Arjun, whether it is from the front or from the sides. He observed Arjun’s massive bow and the quiver full with arrows. He has seen the effect of Arjun’s bow directly on many occasions. Attacking Arjun from the front would be disastrous. It would be ideal, he thought, to dart against him from behind.
During this time there appeared a strange hunter and huntress in the Himalayan periphery in the midnight where Arjun was in meditation. Many hunter dogs and a large battalion of hunting soldiers had accompanied them. Deer skins were the apparel of the hunter couple.All of them darted into various directions and a tumultuous noise of beating the drums, kettles and blowing of horns rent the air.
Meanwhile Arjun was in bliss forgetful of the world outside. His mind was totally absorbed in the lotus feet of the Lord. He had been repeating Panchakshari and other mantras and hymns.
The demon from tremor gathered courage and took his position behind Arjun. The boar spread its hind legs firmly and bent its front legs. It focused both its eyes at Arjun’s nape and at one gallop jumped up in the space aiming Arjun.
The Pandava who was totally absorbed in devotion, shuddered on the quake created by Mookasura’s foot falls. He swiftly grasped his bow and arrow and without wasting time shot an arrow at it. It struck deep into its mouth. It writhed in pain. Synchronising the hitting of Arjun’s arrow, there hit another sharp arrow at the boar’s back simultaneously and the animal fell totally silent.
Arjun was furious in breaking the law of hunting. He looked around for the law breaker. Arjun first decided to remove the carcass and clean the court of blood and question them. He turned towards the dead animal.
Right then a thunder like sound, the clapping of two mighty hands was heard.
Arjun looked back. It was the hunter. Oh, I must first answer him for his rudeness and arrogance. Dealing with the dead animal is only next.
n KK Shanmukhan
( To be concluded )
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