Arjuna: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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"My ten names are - Arjun, Phalgun, Jishnu, Keeriti, Shwetvaahan, Vibhatsu, Vijaya, Parth, Savyashachee and Dhananjaya. I was called Dhanajaya when I conquered all the kings at the time of Rājsooya [[Yagya|Yajna]] and collected wealth from all of them. I always fight till the end and I always win, that is why I am called Vijaya. My horses which were given to me by [[Agni]] Dev are white, that is why I am called Shwetavāhana.

My father [[Indra]] gave me a beautiful crown when I was with Him, that is why I am called Kiriti. I have never fought by unfair means in any battle that is why I am called Jishnu. I never frighten my enemies by meanness, I can use my both hands when I shoot my arrows, that is why I am called Savyashachee. My complexion is unique like the Arjun tree, and my name is stainless, that is why I am named Arjun. I was born on the slopes of [[Himalaya|Himvaan]] in a place called Satsring on a day when the [[Nakshatra]] [[Uttara Phalgunī]] was in ascent, that is why my name is Phaalgun. I am called Vibhatsu because I am terrible when I am angry. My mother's name is [[Kunti|Prithaa]], so I am also called Paarth. I have taken an oath that I will destroy that person (and his kinsmen) who hurts my brother [[Yudhishthira]] and spills his blood on Earth. I cannot be defeated by anyone." (Mahabharat)

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[[Image:Arjuna-kl.jpg |thumb|right|Arjuna as seen in the [[Javanese]] shadow puppet play ([[wayang]])]]

Pandu was unable to sire a child. His first wife Kunti had, in her maiden days, received a boon from [[Rishi|sage]] [[Durvasa]], which enabled her to invoke any deity of her choice and beget a child by such deity. [[Pandu]] and Kunti decided to make use of this boon; Kunti invoked in turn [[Yama (Hinduism)|Yama Dharmaraja]], [[Vayu]] and [[Indra]] and gave birth to three sons. Arjuna was the third son, born of [[Indra]], king of the demi gods ([[devas]]).

==Personality==

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His skill in archery was to have an unlikely utility: it won him the hand of Draupadi, his first wife, the daughter of Drupada, king of Panchala. A contest was held by Drupada to choose a suitable match for his daughter. A wooden fish was suspended high above a pool of water; furthermore, the fish rotated in a circle. Contestants were required to string a heavy bow and then use it to hit the eye of the rotating fish. They were allowed to take aim at the eye of the fish only by looking at its reflection in the pool of water. Many princes and noblemen vied for the hand of the princess of Panchala. Some, (including [[Karna]], another hero of the ''Mahabharata'') were disqualified on grounds of supposedly low birth. However, although the [[Pandava]]s and their mother were in hiding at that time, Arjuna had prudently dressed as a high-caste [[Brahmin]] and was allowed to compete. This was just as well, since it was eventually Arjuna, the peerless archer, who alone was able to accomplish the set task; he won the hand of Draupadi.

All the five Pandava brothers had attended the tournament without informing Kunti, their mother, about it. They returned home in triumph, bringing the princess Draupadi with them. From outside the house, they shouted out to their mother: "Mother, you will never believe what we have got here! Make a guess!". Busy with her work, Kunti refused to be baited. "Whatever it is, share it between yourselves equally, and do not quarrel over the matter" she said. So seriously did the brothers take even this casual statement of their mother, that they resolved upon making Draupadi their common wife!. It says something about the [[magnanimity]] of Arjuna that, having won his bride single-handedly, he 'shared' her with all his brothers willingly. One possible reason he took this action was to prevent any breach or jealousy arising between the brothers. However, despite marrying all five brothers, Draupadi loved Arjun the most and always favoured him. And Arjun loved Draupadi the most out of his four wives.

There is another story about Draupadi, which mentions the boon she received in her previous birth of having five of the most desired men, as her husbands. Initially Draupadi's parents didnt agree to her marriage to all the Pandavas. But when he was told about this boon she had, King Drupad agreed.