Category:Arjuna's Arrows
Theme Analysis
The military expertise of Arjuna is a central element of Vedic history, particularly symbolized by his infallible arrows and the famous Gāṇḍīva bow. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that Arjuna did not acquire his martial skills and weapons through ordinary means. His supreme ability, which earned him the title Savyasācin, was recognized by the demigods. He received the Gāṇḍīva bow and talismanic arrows from the fire-god Agni, and he even fought Lord Śiva to a standstill in the forest, ultimately satisfying him and receiving the dreaded Pāśupata-astra. Arjuna's arrows were so perfectly controlled that he could teach the art of archery to great heroes of the Yadu dynasty, such as Sāmba.
However, the true significance of Arjuna's arrows is revealed on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra. Before the battle began, Arjuna was gripped by material illusion. Fearing the sinful reactions of piercing the bodies of his venerable grandfather Bhīṣma and his teacher Droṇa, Arjuna cast his bow and arrows aside in despair. It was only after hearing the transcendental philosophy of the Bhagavad-gītā that he took them up again. Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights a profound spiritual phenomenon regarding this combat: Arjuna's arrows acted as instruments of supreme liberation. Because Lord Kṛṣṇa was personally present as Arjuna's chariot driver, any opposing warrior who was killed by Arjuna's arrows while looking at the beautiful, lotus-like face of Kṛṣṇa was instantly purified of all material contamination and promoted to the spiritual world. Thus, by fighting under Kṛṣṇa's direct order, Arjuna's arrows delivered the ultimate spiritual perfection to his enemies.
- The Divine Arsenal: Arjuna's weapons were not ordinary; he received the Gāṇḍīva bow and talismanic arrows from Agni, and the Pāśupata-astra directly from Lord Śiva.
- The Crisis of Compassion: Overwhelmed by bodily affection, Arjuna initially dropped his bow and arrows, refusing to strike down his respected family members and teachers.
- Instruments of Liberation: Enemies killed by Arjuna's arrows on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra achieved spiritual liberation because they died while gazing upon Lord Kṛṣṇa.
- Executing the Lord's Will: Arjuna achieved perfection not by renouncing his weapons, but by picking up his arrows and fighting strictly according to Kṛṣṇa's supreme plan.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Arjuna's Arrows - The Supreme Weapons of Devotion.
Pages in category "Arjuna's Arrows"
The following 34 pages are in this category, out of 34 total.
A
- After Agni had eaten up the Khandava forest, he was very much pleased. At this time he offered Arjuna a specific bow known as Gandiva, four white horses, one chariot and an invincible quiver with two specific arrows considered to be talismans
- After entering the forest, Arjuna killed many tigers, boars, bison, gavayas (a kind of wild animal), rhinoceroses, deer, hares, porcupines and similar other animals, which he pierced with his arrows
- After getting on Subhadra’s chariot, he prepared himself for a fight. Taking up his bow and holding off with his arrows the soldiers ordered to check him, Arjuna took Subhadra away
- After hearing him (the brahmana), Arjuna immediately prepared himself by touching sanctified water and uttering holy mantras to protect his bows and arrows from danger
- Arjuna prepared to go to the forest with his bow and infallible arrows. He dressed himself with suitable protective garments, for he was to practice for the time when he would be killing many enemies on the battlefield
- Arjuna said: O killer of enemies, O killer of Madhu, how can I counterattack with arrows in battle men like Bhisma and Drona, who are worthy of my worship?
- Arjuna said: O killer of Madhu (Krsna), how can I counterattack with arrows in battle men like Bhisma and Drona, who are worthy of my worship? BG 2.4 - 1972
- Arjuna thought, "Now this is the opportunity. I shall go and ask Duryodhana to give me those arrows." So Arjuna went to the other camp, and immediately Duryodhana received him as his brother
- Arjuna was taught all this (control arrows by sound only), and therefore Draupadi wished that Arjuna feel obliged to Acarya Drona for all these benefits. And in the absence of Dronacarya, his son was his representative. That was the opinion of Draupadi
- As soon as Arjuna shot an arrow at an enemy, that enemy became purified of all material contaminations and became eligible to be transferred to the spiritual sky
- At that time Arjuna, the son of Pandu, who was seated in his chariot, his flag marked with Hanuman, took up his bow and prepared to shoot his arrows, looking at the sons of Dhrtarastra. Arjuna then spoke to Hrsikesa (Krsna) these words. BG 1.20 - 1972
B
H
- He (Arjuna) specifically took the arrow presented to him by Lord Siva, and while going out he remembered Lord Siva and his great favor
- He once satisfied Lord Siva by covering him with arrows when Siva came as an unidentified false hunter
- Here (in SB 3.2.20) the word parthastra-putah is significant. Those who saw the beautiful face of the Lord on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra were purified first by Arjuna when he made his onslaught with arrows
L
- Laksmana said - His (Arjuna) arrow at least touched the fish, and so he proved himself better than all the other princes
- Laksmana said - The celebrated hero of the Pandavas, Arjuna, was able to see the reflection of the fish on the water, but although with great care he traced out the location of the fish and shot an arrow, he did not pierce the fish in the right spot
- Later it was proved that Arjuna's taking shelter of Lord Siva instead of Krsna was not at all successful. Arjuna, however, did his best by chanting different mantras, and he shot arrows up and down to guard the maternity home from all directions
- Lord Siva tested Arjuna's strength by picking a quarrel with him over a hunted boar. He confronted Arjuna in the false dress of a hunter, and Arjuna covered him with arrows until Lord Siva was satisfied with Arjuna's fighting
S
- Samba: One of the great heroes of the Yadu dynasty and the son of Lord Sri Krsna by His wife Jambavati. He learned the military art of throwing arrows from Arjuna, and he became a member of parliament during the time of Maharaja Yudhisthira
- Sanjaya said: Arjuna, having thus spoken on the battlefield, cast aside his bow and arrows and sat down on the chariot, his mind overwhelmed with grief. BG 1.46 - 1972
- Savyasacin refers to one who can shoot arrows very expertly in the field; thus Arjuna is addressed as an expert warrior capable of delivering arrows to kill his enemies. BG 1972 purports
T
- The brahmana's wife delivered a male child, and as usual the child began to cry. But suddenly, within a few minutes, both the child and Arjuna’s arrows disappeared into the sky
- These symptoms were exhibited by Arjuna when he saw Krsna's universal form on the battlefield of Kuruksetra. His confusion was so strong that his bow and arrows fell from his hand, and he could not perceive anything clearly
W
- When Arjuna understood that it was Krsna's plan to reduce the unnecessary increase of population, he agreed to fight according to Krsna's desire. He again took up his weapons-his arrows and bow-to fight under the order of the SP of Godhead. BG 1972 pur
- When Arjuna was just going to fight with his arrows and bows, he simply thought, - Oh, what I am going to do? I am going to kill my own men. The other side, they are only my brothers and nephews, grandfather. What sort of fight I am going to do?
- When I (Arjuna) present you with the head of that brahmana, after beheading him with arrows from my Gandiva bow, I shall then wipe the tears from your eyes and pacify you. Then, after burning your sons' bodies, you can take your bath standing on his head
- When Krsna blew His conchshell, and from the back side, Arjuna is just trying to take his arrow and fight . . . but instead of fighting - No, no, no. I am not going to . . . giving up. Finished. I am no more going to fight
- While observing the situation of his enemy, Arjuna stood up on the chariot, but he was so afflicted with lamentation that he sat down again, setting aside his bow and arrows. BG 1972 purports