Arjun’s pride shattered.

In Dwapar Yuga, when Arjun pleased Lord Shiva by doing penance and reached the Himalayas with the infallible weapon named Pashupat, he met a monkey in the forest. An ordinary monkey was engrossed in worshiping God on the banks of a lake. Arjun approached the monkey and sat quietly. After some time, when the monkey’s trance was broken, Arjun bowed to the devotee monkey and asked – “Kapiraj! Who are you and why are you worshiping in this deserted forest?”

Hanuman ji said – “It is the nature of a monkey to live in the forest, Vatsa! And I am worshiping Lord Shri Ram. But who are you, please introduce yourself.”

Introducing himself, Arjun said – “I am Arjun, son of Pandu. “I have come to the Himalayas to do penance for Lord Shiva.”

Hanuman ji said – “I am Hanuman, the servant of Shri Ram, Arjun! Perhaps you might have heard my name.”

Hearing this, Arjun again worshiped Hanumanji’s feet and said – “But why is this old age on you too, son of Pawan?”

Hanuman ji said – “The glory of time is invincible, Arjun! I too have not remained untouched by the passage of time. After youth comes old age.”

Arjun said – “Son of the wind, many legends are spread about the time of Lord Rama. I have some doubts in my mind, will you please clear them? I want to know something about Lord Ram. Was Shri Ram really such a great archer that the universe trembled due to the sharpness of his arrows?

Hanuman ji said – “What is the doubt in this? Lord Ram himself was the incarnation of Vishnu. “Who could stand before their arrows?”

Arjun said – “And yet they had to take the help of monkeys to build a bridge over the sea. If he was really such a great archer then the bridge over the sea could have been built with arrows also. Didn’t Shri Ram himself or his younger brother Lakshman have this much strength?

Hanuman ji defeated Arjun’s arrogance and sarcasm. They understood that he considered himself a greater archer than Ram-Lakshman. While explaining to Arjun, he said – “Building a bridge on the sea was not a difficult task for Shri Ram. But Arjun, you did not think that innumerable monkeys had to cross the bridge. That bridge could not bear that much weight.”

Arjun said – “Here I do not agree with you, son of Pawan! And then where would monkeys have so much weight? If I wish, I can make a bridge so strong with my arrows that the entire army of monkeys can pass over it, yet the bridge will not break.”

Hanuman ji now thought it appropriate to break Arjun’s pride. Because he started considering himself a better archer than Shri Ram. Said – “Arjun! Can you make such a bridge with your arrows, which will be so strong that it will not break when I walk?”

Arjun said – “Sure, how difficult is this?” This pond is present in front. I build a bridge over it with my arrows. You can test it by walking on it.”

Hanuman ji said – “What if the bridge breaks due to my weight?”

Arjun said – “It will absolutely not break, this is my claim.”

Hanuman ji said – “Then think, if the bridge breaks then I will unnecessarily fall into deep water.”

Hearing Hanumanji’s words, Arjun became furious and said – “If the bridge collapses due to your weight, I will enter the fire alive as a punishment.”

Hanuman ji said – “Then I also claim that if the bridge built by your arrows does not break under my weight, then I will remain sitting near the flag of your chariot for the rest of my life and will continue to help in every possible way.”

Arjun was actually a great archer. He started releasing arrows from his bow. Within no time a bridge was built over the pond with arrows. As soon as the bridge was ready, Hanuman ji moved towards the bridge. As soon as he placed his foot on the bridge, the bridge made of arrows fell into the pond. Hanuman ji immediately moved his leg and pulled it back.

Arjun’s face turned red due to embarrassment. At the same time, it was surprising that how the bridge of arrows built by him turned out to be so weak that it broke as soon as Hanuman ji stepped on it.

As promised, Arjun started collecting wood and with a sad heart started preparing the pyre to burn. Just then a celibate arrived there from the forest carrying a palashada in his hand. He asked Arjun – “Vatsa! Who are you and why are you collecting these woods?”

Arjun told the whole story. Hearing this, Brahmachari said – “You are brave, you know how to keep your word.” But you may also be ignorant. Tell me, when you made your vow, was there any third person present there as a witness? It is possible that some fraud may have been committed against you also.

Hanuman ji moved forward after listening to the celibate. He said – “Apart from the two of us, there was no third person here and there was no deceitful talk during the conversation.”
Brahmachari said – “No dispute can be decided without an arbitrator.” Now I will be a witness. You allow Arjuna to build a bridge of punadhat arrows. Then you climb on it. If the bridge breaks, victory remains yours.”

Hanuman ji gave permission to build the bridge. After getting consent, Arjun again built the bridge with arrows. The Brahmachari pointed towards Hanuman and said – “Now you can jump on this bridge. If it breaks then Arjun will set himself on fire.”

Hanuman ji again placed his foot slowly on the bridge, but there was no effect on the bridge. Then they climbed the bridge, but there was no effect on the bridge. Then they quickly moved forward on the bridge. But the bridge remained stable in the same way. Hanuman ji was surprised to see this. They started thinking – ‘Surprise! This time, despite my applying so much force, there was not even the slightest impact on the bridge. There is definitely some mystery in this!’

Thinking this, as soon as Hanuman ji looked under the bridge, he saw a huge tortoise resting the bridge on its back. Hanuman ji immediately understood that Lord Vishnu himself was present in front of him in the form of a celibate. When he looked at the Brahmachari’s face with surprise, he immediately recognized Shri Ram in that form too and ran and fell at his feet.

The celibate changed his attire. Now he was present in front of Hanuman ji in the form of Shri Krishna. The difference was that now instead of a bow and arrows, he had a flute made of bamboo and on his head was a crown made of peacock feathers. Krishna picked up Hanuman ji and hugged him to his chest. Arjun, who himself was standing stunned, recognized Krishna and fell at his feet.

Krishna picked up Arjun and said – “Get up Arjun! It is inappropriate to be proud of knowledge. You were proud of your beauty. It is good that Hanuman ji has shattered your pride.”

Arjun apologized to Hanuman ji and said – “Forgive me, son of wind! I am deeply regretting my mistake. I promise that in future I will not boast even by mistake.”

Krishna said – “Arjuna is repenting for his actions, son of Pawan, please forgive him.”

Hanuman ji said – “The question of forgiveness does not arise, Lord! It is right to be proud of someone whose protector is your own friend. It’s my fault, Lord!”

Krishna said – “It is not the fault of either of you. It is the ego inside a man that makes him do wrong things. Therefore, giving up the ego is the best work of a human being.”

Arjun said – “I promise that now ego will not flourish in my mind.”

Hanuman ji said – “My pride was shattered as soon as the Lord came. How can an ordinary person be proud in front of God?”

Hearing this, Krishna said – “Well, it is good.” Both of you became aware of your respective mistakes. But now you will have to fulfill your promise, son of Pawan!”
Hanuman ji said with surprise – “Which promise Lord?”

Krishna said – “You have forgotten very quickly, son of Pawan! Remember, you had promised Arjun that if the bridge could not be broken, you would sit on the flag of his chariot and help him in every possible way.

“Remember it well, Lord!”

Krishna said – “So listen, there will be a fierce war in India in the near future. This war will be between truth and falsehood. There will be great destruction in this. Countless soldiers will be killed. In the end truth will triumph over falsehood. To help in this war, you will sit on the flag of Arjun’s chariot and observe the war and without fighting, you will help Arjun in every possible way. So that truth can triumph over untruth.”

And the same thing happened. In the Mahabharata war, Hanuman ji kept helping Arjun by sitting on the flag of his chariot till the end..!!