Arjun was known by many names- Jishnu, Falguna, Arjuna,
Vijaya, Kiritin, Swetavahana, Vibhatsu, Vijaya, Krishna, Savyasachin,
Dhananjaya, Gudakesa, Partha or Paarth, Parantapa and Kapi-Dhwaja. Arjun was the youngest son of Kunti and 3rd
Pandu; he was born of the boon from Indra to Kunti. He was a very bright
student and so at a very young age Drona promised to Arjun that he shall help
him be the best archer in the world. Arjun was befriended by Krishna and was
given the geeta saar, which was the nut shell version of the mighty gyan form
multiple vedas. There are multiple stories of Arjun from Mahabharat, I bring to
you the following three which I found interesting while reading about
Mahabharata and watching the show telecasted again. So there they go:
Arjuna's Impotence, Brihannala:
While the Pandavas are on their exile, Arjun as advised by
Krishna spends his time in collecting divyastras. For this purpose, Arjun goes
to Indralok and worships all the gods and get in their good graces to gather
these weapons. Once he is done with this process, he takes Indra's permission
to leave for earth. But, Indra asks Arjun to make Chitrasen, king of Gandharva
from swarglok his teacher and learn dancing and singing from him. He says this
might be of use to him some day. Arjun agrees and proceeds with his learning.
While in this process he gets so so well versed that Urvasi, who is a court
dancer likes him a lot and proposes him for marriage, which he denies saying
that Urvasi was earlier married to his ancestor and hence is a mother like to
her. This makes urvasi furious and hence she curses Arjun that he will become
impotent. When Indra learns about this he urges that urvasi reduces the span of
the curse and allows Arjun to select the time frame when he wants the curse to
be executed. Arjun uses this curse when they are practicing anonymous exile, he
works as a dance teacher named Brihannala. In this duration he teaches Uttara,
the princes of Virata. During this phase only Arjun as Brihannala with prince
Utar fights the army of Duryodhana, consisting of Karna, Bhishma, Dronacharya
and Kripacharya single handedly. Later Arjun marries Utara to his son
Abhimanyu; who later parents to Parikchit.
Subhadra Haran:
Later part the exile of the Pandavas is spend in a orchard
close to Dwaraka, where Arjun falls in love with Vasudev's sister Subhadra. While
Krishna was in favor of this match, Balrama wanted Subhadra to marry
Duryodhana. Knowing that the entire family would view with disfavour the
prospect of Subhadra becoming the fourth wife of her cousin Arjuna, Krishna
facilitated the elopement of the couple and their departure for Indraprastha.
In a twist to the tale, at Krishna's advice, it was Subhadra who drove the
chariot from Dwarka to Indraprastha. Krishna used this fact to persuade his
family that Subhadra had not been abducted; on the contrary, it was she who had
kidnapped Arjuna.
Shortly after his return to Indraprastha, Arjuna visits the
Khandava forest with Krishna. There they encounter Agni, the fire-god. He has
become wan from consuming too much ghee as a result of one king who is
performing far too many 'yagnas' (ritual invocations with fire), and feeding
ghee to Agni. He asks for Arjuna and Krishna's help in consuming the forest in
its entirety to restore him to health. Takshaka the serpent-king, a friend of
Indra's, resides in it and Indra thus causes rain whenever Agni tries to burn
this forest. Arjuna tells him that while he has training in the divine weapons,
to withstand the power of Indra's astras he must have an exceptionally powerful
bow, an unbreakable one. Agni then invokes Varuna, and then gives Arjuna the
Gandiva, an incredibly powerful bow, which gave its user sure victory in
battle. This bow plays a great role in Arjuna's battles to come. Additionally,
he also gives Arjuna a divine chariot, with powerful white horses that do not
tire, and are unwounded by normal weapons. Arjuna tells Agni to proceed, and
fights a duel with his father in the process, a battle that lasts several days
and nights. A voice from the sky proclaims Arjuna and Krishna the victors, and
tells Indra to withdraw. In the burning of the forest, Arjuna chose to spare
one Asura, named Maya, who was a gifted architect. In his gratitude, Maya built
Yudhisthira a magnificent royal hall, unparalleled in the world. It is this
hall, which triggers the pinnacle of Duryodhana's envy, causing the game of
dice to be played. After Arjuna's return to Indraprastha, several crucial
incidents described in the Mahābhārata took place, culminating in the exile of
all the five Pandava brothers and of their common wife Draupadi. Arjuna's
training during this period is particularly significant in the war to come.
Arjuna' Chariot- Kapi Dhwaja
While the battle of Kurukshetra was at its peak, Arjun and
Karna were fighting each other. It was a battle to witness, a flurry of arrows
were being exchanged, and even Gods were witnessing this epic battle between
the 2 warriors. Arjun would shoot his arrows and the impact of these arrows
would be so much that Karna’s chariot would go back by 25–30 feet. People who
witnessed this were amazed by the skills of Arjun. Karna was no less. When he
shot arrows, Arjua’s chariot would also shake and go back by 3–4 feet. More
than everyone, Krishna would applaud Karna every time his arrow hit Arjun’s
chariot. But not once did He applaud Arjun’s skills. At the end of the day,
Arjun asked Krishna: “Oh Lord, I have shot so many arrows at Karna’s chariot,
it was being displaced like a feather in wind, but not once did you appreciate
me. Rather, you would appreciate his skill despite his arrows just displacing my
chariot a little”. Krishna smiled and replied “Oh, Arjun, remember, your
chariot is protected by Hanuman at the top on your flag, Me as your charioteer
in the front and by Sheshnag at its wheels, yet the whole chariot would still
sway and displace whenever the valiant Karna hit us with his arrows”. “But
Karna’s chariot is not protected by any such force, he is on his own, yet he
fights valiantly”.
It is said that after the battle of Kurukshetra was over,
Krishna refused to get off the chariot till Arjun got down. Once Krishna
alighted from the chariot, it caught fire and turned to dust.
Krishna said “Oh Arjun, your chariot was destroyed by Karna
a long time ago, it is I who was still protecting it.” “Never in your life have
the arrogance to say that you have achieved big heights. If you have achieved
something, it is the divine will, it is the divine intervention that has always
protected you, cleared your path and given you the right opportunities at the
right time”.
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