"ॐ जल बिम्बाय विद्महे ! नील पुरुषाय धीमहि ! तन्नो वरुण: प्रचोदयात्॥"

"ॐ जल बिम्बाय विद्महे ! नील पुरुषाय धीमहि ! तन्नो वरुण: प्रचोदयात्॥"

"ॐ जल बिम्बाय विद्महे ! नील पुरुषाय धीमहि ! तन्नो वरुण: प्रचोदयात्॥"

The atmosphere of the ashram was imbued with the resonance of this ancient gayatri mantra of Varundev, echoing in harmonious cadence as each student chanted in unison. Clutching their arrows tightly, they invoked the formidable power of Varunastra, the celestial weapon of the water god, that can create a large amount of water that can wash away infantry, or extinguish fires set by the Agneyastra

Seated on a high seat, Guru Dron, with his fierce yet compassionate gaze, observed his disciples. A few days prior, he had commenced his teachings on the divine Astra, bestowing upon them the knowledge of the celestial weapons that could change the tide of battle.

Yet, an undercurrent of tension filled the air. The students, no strangers to striving, were confronted with the daunting challenge of summoning a weapon of gods. Faces strained in concentration, they poured every ounce of energy into their chants, but the divine weapon remained elusive, as if just beyond their mortal grasp.

The sacred vibrations echoed beneath the sprawling Banyan tree, where Dron sat, his keen gaze sweeping over each eager face. "Ekagrata laao ! Anyatha astra prakar nahi hoga !" His voice, calm yet authoritative, resonated through the air, urging them to delve deeper into their concentration.

As the mantra’s cadence intensified, a flicker of doubt clouded the students' spirits. Sweat beaded on their brows, each strained face reflecting the monumental effort required to channel the divine energy of the astras.

Suddenly, a blinding light erupted from the center of the gathering. Students squinted against the brilliance, their chants faltering. All eyes turned to one figure— Arjun. His face, resolute and radiant, shone with divine grace as he grasped his arrow, radiant with the power of the Varunastra.

A collective gasp filled the air, admiration and awe etched on every face. Guru Dron’s heart swelled with pride as he beheld his most gifted student, who had transcended the ordinary, summoning an astral force that promised victory on the battlefield. Some looked on with admiration, others tinged with jealousy and envy.

But Arjun stood resolute, his expression unwavering, enveloped in the radiance of the astra he had summoned. The energy pulsing within it surged like a torrent, wild and unpredictable, yet somehow, he contained it, as if taming a raging river with sheer will. The brilliance of the Varunastra danced in his grip, a delicate balance between chaos and control.

The sheer intensity of Arjun’s focus, made Dron's heart race, goosebumps prickled his skin. He rose from his seat, his voice breaking the silence that had enveloped the gathering. "Megho par nishana saadho, Arjun !"

Without hesitation, Arjun lowered himself, his every movement deliberate and poised. His fingers, steady and sure, grasped his bow from the ground as his eyes remained fixed on the ethereal astra, that shimmered with untamed energy, yet he appeared unyielding. A collective hush fell over the ashram. Dronacharya’s intense gaze bore down on him, each breath heavy with anticipation.

He fitted the astra to his bowstring, the air crackling with untamed energy. The world around him faded; the distant rustle of leaves, the whisper of the wind—all lost in the singular focus of his mind. He raised the bow, feeling the power of the Varunastra coursing through him.

Arjuna's eyes locked onto a solitary cloud, bright and inviting, hovering amidst the blue expanse. This was his target, a testament to his mastery. With a deep breath, he released the tension in his muscles and let the arrow fly. It soared, a comet of divine purpose, cleaving the air, as it struck the cloud, a deafening thunderclap erupted.

Then, as if the heavens had opened, rain poured down in torrents. Gales swept through the ashram, drenching every student in an unexpected deluge. Laughter erupted in the chaos as some squealed, others reveled in the sudden, cool relief.

Then, as quickly as it began, the rain subsided, leaving trails of droplets shimmering like jewels in the sunlight.

Amidst the awe-struck faces of the Yadavas, the youngest prince, Satyashree, stood with a knowing smile on his face. He closed his eyes, shutting out the world around him.

"ॐ जल बिम्बाय विद्महे ! नील पुरुषाय धीमहि ! तन्नो वरुण: प्रचोदयात्॥" He chanted, drawing everyone's attention.

The air around him began to shimmer, and suddenly, a brilliant light erupted from his outstretched hands. Gasps echoed through the crowd as they witnessed the young prince summon the divine weapon with an ease that belied his youth.

"Adbhut Satyashree !" Dron exclaimed, his voice booming with approval.

Satyashree opened his eyes, a bright twinkle of joy illuminating his features as he met Dron’s gaze. Then, in a graceful motion, Satyashree willed the astra to vanish, as if it were a mere whisper in the wind.

The collective intake of breath was palpable; shock rippled through the crowd. Dron’s expression shifted, his brow furrowing. He had not yet taught them the art of dismissing the astra. Whispers broke out among them, questioning how Satyashree had achieved such mastery.

"Tumne astra wapas kaise liya ?" Satyaki asked.

With a radiant smile, Satyashree replied, "Yeh aap sabhi ko acharya sikha denge."

Dron's gaze remained fixed on Satyashree, a mix of admiration and concern swirling within him. There was an uncanny divinity about the boy. As the rain from Arjun's astra trickled down from his body, Satyashree turned to Dron, his expression earnest.

"Acharya mai parnkutir jaayu ? Vastra badalne ?" He asked innocently.

With a nod, Dron gestured for him to proceed, his thoughts racing. As Satyashree left, whispers filled the air. As acharya's gaze swept over the drenched students, he told, "Tum sab bhi bheeg gaye ho. Jaao, vastra badal lo."

Obediently, the students began to leave, eager to shed the dripping remnants of their unexpected rain. However, amidst the crowd, Vasusen lingered, his expression darkened by envy. His heart raced, fueled by a burning desire to eclipse Arjun's achievement. Ignoring the chatter of admiration from his peers, he clutched the arrow tightly, drawing in a deep breath as he began to chant the mantra with unwavering determination.

Dron’s brow furrowed with concern as he observed Vasusen’s fixation. "Tum nahi jaaoge, vats ?"

"Nahi Guruvar." Vasusen looked up, his expression fierce. "Pratham mujhe Varunastra sikhna hoga." He declared, his voice steady yet desperate.

Dron sighed, recognizing the young man's ambition, yet wary of the reckless energy that could consume him. He still decided to leave him be, recognizing the fire within him, even if it was fueled by envy. As the guru walked away, a palpable tension filled the air, merging with Vasusen's fervent chants.

His focus intensified, his heart racing as he aimed to summon the divine weapon, unaware that his ambition might lead him down a path fraught with consequences. He gritted his teeth, his fingers tightening around the arrow, knuckles white with concentration. His chanting grew frantic, the syllables of the mantra spilling from his lips like a torrent.

Sweat and rain mingled on his skin as he fought against the elements, his voice rising and falling in a rhythm that echoed throughout the ashram. Suddenly, a bright surge of light enveloped the arrow, pushing against his will, the Varunastra materialized, shimmering with divine energy. A triumphant smile spread across Vasusen’s face, his heart racing as he tamed the wild energy surging within the weapon.

With a steady grip, he lifted his bow, the Varunastra glowing fiercely in his hands. He aimed at the sky, his eyes narrowing with intent. As he released the arrow, a thunderous roar filled the air, and another torrent of rain cascaded down, drenching everything anew. He stood, soaked even more and exhilarated, the ambition within him igniting like a blazing fire.

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A/N

Dekho Karn mei talent toh tha, sikhne ka ambition isme bhi tha aur Arjun mei bhi. Lekin Arjun's ambition to learn comes from a place of genuine curiosity, Karn's ambition to learn comes from a place of envy and desperation to prove he is better than Arjun.

One dialogue from Star Plus Mahabharat sums up Karn's character completely, where Arjun says to Abhimanyu, ki Angraj mei samarthya hai kintu shaurya nahi hai.