I am reading about the ancient treatises on dramatic performance, such as the Natyashastra; I feel it will help me refine my portrayal of Arjuna.  

The author Bharat-muni speaks of four modes of behaviour [vrittis] which shape the tenor of a drama; while all four are evident to my thespian eyes -in the way Vyasa's  Mahabharata portrays Arjuna -I feel arabhati /आरभटी] suitable, as it signifies a heroic display of vigorous action, political intrigue and conflict at physical and mental levels. 

Of course the other three vrittis are evident in scenes involving Arjuna: kaishiki /कै शिकी for the rare delicate,tender moments of Arjuna as lover,loving friend, son and so on; sattvati /सात्तत्तवती - the harmony of mind, body and spirit that Arjuna conveys in his tapasya and in his practice of archery- a quality that impressed Drona; bharati / भारती  grand and impressive diction, dramatic speech - perhaps less so with Arjuna, the strong, silent type but what he speaks rings loud and clear.

 I hope my viewers will see my performance of Arjuna in a more discerning light, having read my  reflections!

But for now, let arabhati  [and a dash of bharati ] rouse the pulse of your imagination with my rendering of the scenes where Arjuna, relinquishing his disguise as eunuch Brihannala, and exhorting the quaking prince Uttar to 'man-up'-  confronts the Kauravas who have arrived to attack his father's kingdom. First hear his pep-talk to the prince, courtesy of Vyasa:

🏹Uttara said, 'Thou, O best of Pandavas, art alone. These mighty car-warriors are many. How wilt thou vanquish in battle all these that are skilled in every kind of weapon? Thou, O son of Kunti, art without a follower, while the Kauravas have many. It is for this, O thou of mighty arms, that I stay beside thee, stricken with fear.' 

Bursting out into loud laughter, Partha said unto him:

'Be not afraid, O hero, what friendly follower had I while fighting with the mighty Gandharvas on the occasion of the Ghoshayatra? Who was my ally while engaged in the terrific conflict at Khandava against so many celestials and Danavas? Who was my ally when I fought, on behalf of the lord of the celestials against the mighty Nivatakavachas and the Paulomas! And who was my ally, O child, while I encountered in battle innumerable kings at the Swayamvara to the princess of Panchala? Trained in arms by the preceptor Drona, by Sakra, and Vaisravana, and Yama, and Varuna, and Agni, and Kripa, and Krishna of Madhu's race, and by the wielder of the Pinaka (Siva), why shall I not fight with these? Drive thou my car speedily, and let thy heart's fever be dispelled!' [MB/ViratParva/KMG] 🏹

🎬

Now for a full-blown dose of arabhati ...I can just visualise the 'shot', roll the camera:

In a flash Arjun leaps onto Uttara's chariot, mighty Gandiva firmly grasped, his stance unshaken even as the young prince stirs his steeds to storm-speed: a warrior-bond established.

Overhead on Arjuna's flag, the figure of a ferocious ape batters the howling wind; Arjuna's eagle-gaze sweeps all around, to zoom on the horizon: there they are, the hounds of Hastinapur, baying for the blood of their prey - the Pandavas, condemned to 13 years of exile incognito.  Karna the lap-dog of Duryodhana and the assorted curs of the Kauravas - Arjuna scopes them all.

Time to come out.  Brihannala of bangles and bosom dispensed, Arjuna is back with brawn and breast-plate, rearing for battle. This transformation has been spotted by the enemy, the drama of the unnerved prince being hauled back by a drag-queen, now roaring towards them like a raging bull.

Drona and Bheeshma make no bones about  their disapproval of the snarling Karna, straining at the leash to drag the already rabid Duryodhana and his pack into the fray.  Unheeded, they have no choice but to be loyal to the heinous hand that feeds them. 

In a flash Arjuna is upon them, his young charioteer deftly swerving in and out of the massive Kaurava army: young lions among a herd of elephants.  Carnage ensues.

The air is scented with the blood-spurts of the slain, sliced by the arrows of Arjuna. 

Instructed by Arjuna, Uttara manoeuvres his chariot towards Drona - saluting his erstwhile teacher with a fly-past of missiles, Arjuna invites the elder to attack him first, only to fend off with a counter-blast. Swiftly moving on, the hero salutes his grandsire Bhishma with an arrow at his feet and one that whispers a greeting past the grey-head, an invitation to skirmish. 

Thus the battle proceeds, the one intrepid Pandava of integrity against the many infernal Kauravas of intransigence.  Boastful Karna taunts Arjuna, angered Arjuna responds in kind - the sworn enemies blast each other, volley after volley of wounding words and war-heads, in the words of Vyasa:

🏹"Arjuna said, 'The time, O Karna, hath now come for making good thy loquacious boast in the midst of the assembly, viz., that there is none equal to thee in fight. Today, O Karna, contending with me in terrible conflict, thou shalt know thy own strength, and shalt no longer disregard others. Abandoning good breeding, thou hadst uttered many harsh words, but this that thou endeavourest to do, is, I think, exceedingly difficult. Do thou now, O Radha's son, contending with me in the sight of the Kurus, make good what thou hadst said before in disregard of myself. Thou who hadst witnessed Panchala's princess outraged by villains in the midst of the court, do thou now reap the fruit of that act of thine. Fettered by the bonds of morality before, I desisted from vengeance then. Behold now, O son of Radha, the fruit of that wrath in conflict at hand. O wicked wight, we have suffered much misery in that forest for full twelve; years. Reap thou today the fruits of our concentrated vengeance. Come, O Karna, cope with me in battle. Let these thy Kaurava warriors witness the conflict. 

Hearing these words, Karna replied, 'Do thou, O Partha, accomplish in deed what thou sayst in words. The world knows that thy words verily exceed thy deed. That thou hadst foreborne formerly was owing to thy inability to do anything. If we witness thy prowess even now, we may acknowledge its truth. If thy past forbearance was due to thy having been bound by the bonds of morality, truly thou art equally bound now although thou regardest thyself free. Having as thou sayst, passed thy exile in the woods in strict accordance with thy pledge and being therefore weakened by practising an ascetic course of life, how canst thou desire a combat with me now! O Pritha's son, if Sakra himself fight on thy side, still I would feel no anxiety in putting forth my prowess. Thy wish, O son of Kunti, is about to be gratified. Do thou fight with me now, and behold my strength.' 

Hearing this, Arjuna said, 'Even now, O Radha's son, thou hadst fled from battle with me, and it is for this that thou livest although thy younger brother hath been slain. What other person, save thee, having beheld his younger brother slain in battle would himself fly from the field, and boast as thou dost, amid good and true men?' [MB/ViratParva/KMG]🏹

Yes, Karna's foster-brother comes to his aid but is shorn of life by Arjuna...Karna the coward abandons him and flees. Duryodhana makes off in another direction, only to be chased by Arjuna with Bheeshma and the rest on his tail, concerned for his life. 

Arjuna having accomplished his mission of warding of the marauders and retrieving the stolen cattle of Virata, instructs Uttara to head back to the kingdom.

On the way, out of the forest emerge a bunch of Kaurava soldiers, routed and disarmed - Arjuna bids them leave in peace,after all he is Vibhatsu, a soldier of honour.