Three Archers

Dark Night and Eerie Sounds

The night was dark, illuminated only by intermittent flashes of lightning. Occasionally, it rained, and gusts of cool wind swept across the vast cremation ground. Jackals howled, and strange laughter echoed from supernatural beings. Yet, King Vikram did not waver. He lifted the corpse from the treetop, placing it astride his shoulder, and began to walk.

The Vampire’s Tale

“O King,” the vampire possessing the corpse began, “you are undoubtedly a man of great talent. However, it can sometimes be difficult to determine who is the most talented among a group of gifted individuals. Consider the example of three archers. Allow me to recount their story; it may provide you with some relief.”

Arjun, the Legendary Archer

And so the vampire continued: In a certain village lived an archer who could shoot arrows from both his right and left hands simultaneously, taking down two flying birds at a time. People compared him to the legendary Arjun for his remarkable skill in archery, and he eventually came to be known simply as Arjun.

The Search for Greater Talent

Arjun often wondered if a greater archer existed in the world, prompting him to embark on a journey to search for talented archers. Along his travels, he stumbled upon a festival featuring an archery contest. There, he encountered a stranger who, despite being blind from birth, could shoot accurately at a bell when it rang.

Blind Archer’s Skill

“I have heard of men who practice striking targets blindfolded, guided by sound,” Arjun remarked, congratulating the blind man. “But I never knew one who was blind from birth could develop such skill.” Understanding that Arjun was on a quest to discover talented archers, the blind man decided to accompany him.

The Handless Archer

After a few days of walking, both archers entered a forest along the borders of the kingdom of Dharmapuri. Suddenly, Arjun was astonished to witness a handless man who held a bow with the toes of his left foot and shot an arrow using his mouth, successfully killing a bird sitting on a tree. The blind man was equally amazed by the sight.

The Proposal to Impress the King

The two archers congratulated the handless man for his impressive feat. Arjun then suggested, “Why don’t we three present our skills before the King of Dharmapuri? I am sure he will be impressed and reward us handsomely.”

The Disagreement on Reward Division

“How should we divide the reward?” asked the handless man. “We can share it equally!” replied Arjun. “No, the major share must be mine. Without a doubt, my feat is the most wonderful,” insisted the handless man.

The Wise Woman’s Judgment

A tribal woman passing by overheard their discussion and remarked, “I see one among you is handless while another is blind. The third man could easily take the entire reward for himself!”

Arjun’s Outrage

“You mischievous woman, how dare you attribute such motives to me?” shouted Arjun. The handless man added, “It seems you are a wise woman. Now, tell us—who is the greatest archer among us?”

The Woman’s Conclusion

“Aryun is the greatest archer, the blind man comes next,” she declared as she prepared to leave. The three archers agreed to this judgment.

A Demonstration of Skills

Arjun shot two arrows simultaneously, bringing down two birds from the flying covey. The blind man concentrated intently on the chirping of a bird on a tree, took aim, and killed it. The handless man targeted a hanging fruit, striking it with an arrow discharged by his foot and mouth.

The Tribal Woman’s Archery

“Observe the space between the two birds,” the tribal woman said, taking her shot. Her arrow flew at lightning speed, passing through the narrow gap between the two birds. Startled, they realized only after the fact what had transpired.

The Departure

After her demonstration, the woman departed. Arjun and the blind man chose to walk away in a different direction, abandoning their plans of approaching the king’s court.

King Vikram’s Understanding

The vampire paused and demanded of King Vikram, “Tell me, why did the tribal woman consider Arjun the best archer? And why did Arjun and the blind man suddenly abandon their plan to show their skills before the king?” The vampire warned, “If you know the answers but choose to remain silent, your head will roll off your neck!”

The King’s Response

King Vikram replied, “The tribal woman was correct in judging Arjun as the best archer. Although the blind man and the handless man had honed remarkable skills in their unique ways, they could not have competed with Arjun’s overall proficiency. Arjun, through practice, could potentially master their skills, but they could never equal his.”

A Lesson in Humility

“Arjun and the blind man decided not to present their skills to the king because they realized they would likely fail to impress him. If a tribal woman could be such an excellent archer, surely there must be many others far more skilled among the professionals, possibly even within the king’s court.”

The Conclusion

As soon as King Vikram finished his explanation, the vampire vanished with the corpse, leaving the king to ponder the complexities of talent and humility.