Section XLI - Arjuna Retrieves Five Bows from Sami Tree in Virata's Kingdom

| Posted in: Hinduism Itihasa

Book index: Mahabharata (English)
This page contains a summary of the Mahabharata Section XLI including examples of moral lessons in daily life. The Maha-Bharata is one of the largest epics ever written containing roughly 100,000 Sanskrit verses. It deals with the legendary history of ancient India and contains a large number of interwoven tales.

Short summary of the chapter:
Uttara, a prince by birth, hesitates to touch a tree because he believes there is a corpse tied to it. Vrihannala reassures him that there are only bows in the tree, not corpses, and convinces Uttara to climb up and retrieve them. Reluctantly, Uttara climbs the tree and finds five radiant bows, including the Gandiva. Overwhelmed by their splendor, Uttara becomes afraid, but eventually gathers the courage to touch them and presents them to Arjuna. Arjuna is pleased with Uttara's bravery and skill in retrieving the bows.

Full English translation:

This page is merely a summary which is automatically generated. If you are looking for authentic sources such as the Sanskrit text or the Full English translation of Mahabharata Section XLI - Arjuna Retrieves Five Bows from Sami Tree in Virata's Kingdom, have a look at the following articles:

Section XLI, online text

English translation by Kisari Mohan Ganguli.

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Mahabharata (English Summary)

by Kisari Mohan Ganguli | ISBN-10: 8121505933

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FAQ of Mahabharata, Section XLI:

What did Arjuna find in the tree and how did he react?

Arjuna found five radiant bows tied in the tree and was initially afraid. But he bravely climbed up to retrieve them, realizing they were not corpses as rumored.

Daily life: Arjuna Retrieves Five Bows from Sami Tree in Virata's Kingdom:

In the story, Uttara hesitates to climb a tree and retrieve items because he believes it's beneath him due to his status and fears becoming impure. However, upon Vrihannala's (Arjuna's) assurance, he overcomes his hesitation and discovers valuable items, not a corpse as he feared. This teaches us the importance of stepping out of our comfort zones and challenging our preconceptions. Sometimes, doing tasks we initially resist can lead to unexpected rewards and learning opportunities. Facing our fears with the guidance of someone we trust can lead to personal growth and enlightenment.

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