"Gopucch teer ka prayog karo, yeh samanya laksh ko bhedne hetu uttam hota hai." Sandipani told.

The afternoon sun cast a warm glow over the surroundings as Krishna and Balram stood side by side, with bows in hand. Their first day of practicing archery had yielded astonishing results, as if they had been born with a bow in hand.

Their movements were fluid and precise, each Gopucch arrow, whose blade was shaped like the tail of a cow and was considered good for general aim, found its mark with unerring accuracy. Even the birds seemed to pause in their flight to watch the two young brothers who seemed to have an innate mastery of the bow.

Sandipani watched with a sense of pride and amazement, standing alongside the other students who were all in awe of the young prodigies. The air was filled with the sound of arrows whistling through the air and hitting their targets with a satisfying thud. Dilip observed the two boys with a wistful smile. Memories flooded back to him of his own days of training with his brother Jayasen in the grand palace halls. The clink of arrows hitting their targets resonated in his mind, transporting him back to a time of camaraderie and competition

Among the onlookers, Sudama stood with eyes wide and heart full of admiration. The sight of his friends excelling in archery filled him with a mix of pride and wonder.

"Aramukha ka prayog karo, jisse charm ko cheera jata hai." Sandipani instructed.

Their young faces were filled with determination and focus as they took aim at the distant animal skins. With Sandipani's guidance, they expertly notched the Aramukha, the arrow with a serrated blade, and drew back their bows with a fluid motion that belied their novice status. As the arrows whistled through the air, they hit their marks with unerring precision, slicing through the skin of the animals as if it were butter.

"Uttam." Sandipani smiled and then pointed in the other direction where human-like figures made of straw were kept donned with armour, "Ab unke gardan aur haatho, par nishana lagao ardhchandra teer se."

With focused determination, Krishna and Balram took aim at the straw figures, their movements fluid and precise. The twang of the bowstrings filled the air as the ardhchandra arrows, with blades shaped like crescent moon, sliced through the figures with precision, severing heads, necks and arms effortlessly.

Sandipani gave them a nod of approval, "Ardhchandra ka prayog shatru ke dhanush ko bhi kaatne hetu kiya jata hai."

"Hum smaran rakhenge." The brothers said.

The Guru then instructed, "Ab Suchimukh teer se unka kavach bhedo."

Obediently the brothers, took up the Suchimukh arrows, their needle-shaped blades, glinting in the sunlight. With unwavering focus, Krishna and Balram pierced through the armor of the straw figures, their aim true and unwavering.

Sandipani then turned to Dilip, "Haiheya, aap ek anubhavi yoddha hai. Dhanush uthayiye, aur inn balako ke samaksh khade ho jaayiye. Jisse yeh baaki ke teero ke baare mei jaan le."

"Jo aagya Guruvar." Dilip nodded. He grabbed a bow and a quiver of arrows, before stepping into the small arena with a sense of duty and reverence.

The air was filled with a sense of anticipation as Dilip took his position opposite the brothers, his eyes filled with a mix of respect and devotion for the young and divine prodigies before him.

"Ksurapra teer ka prayog kar, Dilip ke teero ko kaato." Sandipani instructed.

With a focused gaze, he notched an arrow and swiftly released it towards Krishna. But to everyone's astonishment, Krishna deftly intercepted the arrow with a ksurapra arrow tipped with a razor blade, causing it to split into two harmless pieces. Without missing a beat, Dilip then turned his attention to Balram and unleashed another arrow. Balram's quick reflexes and unwavering focus allowed him to intercept the arrow with his own ksurapra arrow, matching the prowess of a seasoned warrior like Dilip.

The onlookers gasped in amazement at the incredible display of skill and precision. The students realized the magnitude of what they had just witnessed - a display of mastery that transcended years of training.

"Haiheya, lohe ke teero ka ka prayog kare." Sandipani said and then looked at the divine brothers, "Karnika."

With unwavering focus, Dilip notched an iron-bladed arrow and drew back the bowstring. In a swift and fluid motion, he released the arrow towards Krishna. The arrow streaked through the air, aimed straight at the young boy. With a determined gaze, Krishna drew his own bow and released a Karnika arrow, that had blade shaped like a flower. It intercepted and pierced Dilip's iron blade arrow.

Dilip then turned his attention to Balram. He quickly notched another iron arrow and sent it flying towards Balram. The arrow sped towards Balram with alarming speed, but he remained calm. With expert timing and agility, Balram released his own Karnika arrow, mirroring Krishna's feat by intercepting and piercing Dilip's arrow.

"Dvibhalla." Sandipani said.

Dilip, with a fluid motion, notched an arrow and released it towards Krishna. In a breathtaking display of skill, Krishna swiftly countered with the Dvibhalla arrowhead, skillfully entangling Dilip's arrow mid-air. Impressed, Dilip then directed his aim towards Balram, releasing another arrow with precision. Balram, mirroring his brother's finesse, intercepted the arrow with his own Dvibhalla arrow.

"Shigreh Vatsadant ka prayog kar, Dilip ki pratyacha kaato !" Sandipani said.

Krishna and Balram notched the vatsadant on their bows, it's arrowhead shaped like the teeth of a calf. With a deep breath, they took aim and released the arrow, that flew through the air, swift and true, piercing through Dilip's bowstrings with a resounding snap. Dilip looked on in awe at the skill and precision of the young brothers. Sandipani's eyes twinkled with pride as he nodded in approval.

"Bhalla ka prayog karo !" he commanded, his voice carrying a sense of anticipation.

"Kintu yeh toh nishashtra hai." Balram hesitated, for the deadly spear shaped arrowhead, the Bhalla, was meant to pierce the enemy's heart, and Dilip was disarmed.

But the all knowing Krishna, unfazed by the circumstances, swiftly notched the Bhalla arrow and drew back the bowstring with precision. As the arrow was released, it sailed through the air towards Dilip with a determined trajectory.

The Haiheya, despite his broken bow, reacted swiftly with his lightning-fast reflexes and intercepted the arrow in midair, his hand closing around the spear arrowhead with a deft motion.

"Kaktunda !" Sandipani said.

Krishna quickly released the Kaktunda arrow, it's head shaped like a crow's beak, Dilip once again swiftly caught it with his other hand, displaying unmatched dexterity and agility. Balram's eyes widened in surprise at the astounding feat, while the other students gasped in shock at the incredible display of agility and control.

"Hum Sahastrabahu ke vansh se hai, Balram." Dilip said with a smile, "Jab tak humari bhujaye saath ho, hum nishashtra nahi kehlaate."

Balram was amused, "Adbhut."

Sandipani approaches, his face reflecting a mix of pride and admiration for the young boys who have accomplished such feats in just one day of practice.

"Ati uttam." The sage praises, "Dhanurvidya, jise sikhne mei varsho lag jaate hai, tum dono ne use keval ek din mei seekh liya. Tum dono ne toh sabhi shashtra vidyaye seekh li. Ab tum dono vishram karo, kal se hum vyuh rachna padhenge."

The boys bowed before their Guru. Dilip too joined his hands as the sage left.

Krishna then turned to Dilip, "Aapki bhujao ka prayog toh rajya ki suraksha hetu hona chahiye tha. Fir yaha chhat banana, lakdi chunna, jal bhar ke lana... Inn sab mei kyu apna bahubal laga rahe hai ?" He asked knowingly.

Dilip's lips parted a bit, he shifted his gaze. With a deep breath he said, "Niyati. Niyati ke aage kiska bahubal chala hai ?"

"Niyati ke aage toh kisi ka bal nahi chalta. Uske samaksh toh jhukna hi padta hai." Krishna said, "Kintu, kabhi kabhi karm mei khot hota hai aur vyakti niyati ko dosh dedeta hai."

Dilip stared at Krishna, he couldn't help but ponder upon those words.

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A/N

All these types of arrows are mentioned in Dhanurveda Samhita. More information will be shown about shashtras and Vyuhas of Bharat during Dronacharya segment 🌝