Category:Arjuna's Weapons
Theme Analysis
The history of Arjuna's weapons is a profound study in both martial excellence and spiritual dependence. Śrīla Prabhupāda details the divine origins of Arjuna's arsenal, noting that his weapons were not manufactured in ordinary earthly armories. Because of his exceptional chivalry, devotion, and character, Arjuna received benedictions directly from the higher authorities of the universe. He satisfied the fire-god Agni to receive specialized weapons, protected Mayāsura to receive the Devadatta conchshell, and saved his teacher Droṇācārya from a crocodile to earn the confidential brahmāśira weapon. Most notably, he fought Lord Śiva in the forest, and after satisfying the lord with his prowess, received the ultimate Pāśupata-astra. These acquisitions prove that material opulence and power are ultimately bestowed by higher authorities based on one's qualifications.
However, the true glory of Arjuna's weapons was demonstrated in his perfect obedience to Lord Kṛṣṇa. When the treacherous Aśvatthāmā released a brahmāstra—a nuclear-like weapon that threatened to incinerate the universe—Kṛṣṇa ordered Arjuna to release his own brahmāstra to neutralize the glaring heat. Unlike Aśvatthāmā, who knew how to release the weapon but not how to retract it, Arjuna possessed flawless military science. Following Kṛṣṇa's direct order, Arjuna expertly withdrew both catastrophic weapons, saving the planetary systems. Yet, the final and most striking philosophical point regarding Arjuna's weapons occurs at the end of his life. After Kṛṣṇa concluded His earthly pastimes, Arjuna found that his mighty bow and arrows had completely lost their power. Recognizing the irreversible influence of time and understanding that his strength came entirely from the Lord, Arjuna willingly renounced all his famous weapons, dropping them into the water as he and his brothers began their final spiritual journey, the mahā-prasthāna.
- Divine Acquisitions: Arjuna's unmatched arsenal, including the Pāśupata-astra and brahmāśira, was acquired through the benedictions of great demigods and teachers who were satisfied by his chivalry.
- The Brahmāstra Clash: To protect the universe from Aśvatthāmā's reckless attack, Arjuna released his own supreme weapon under the direct guidance of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
- Perfect Control and Obedience: Demonstrating superior martial and spiritual discipline, Arjuna expertly counteracted and withdrew the devastating weapons the moment Kṛṣṇa ordered him to do so.
- The Final Renunciation: Upon Kṛṣṇa's departure, Arjuna realized his weapons were powerless without the Lord's presence, leading him to completely renounce them during his final spiritual journey.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Arjuna's Weapons - The Divine Arsenal of a Pure Devotee.
Pages in category "Arjuna's Weapons"
The following 24 pages are in this category, out of 24 total.
A
- Advised by Vyasadeva, all the brothers (the five Pandavas) began their maha-prasthana. On the way, at the request of his brother (Yudhisthira), he (Arjuna) gave up all important weapons as useless, and he dropped them all in the water
- After fighting and defeating Lord Siva in the dress of a hunter, Arjuna pleased the Lord and received as a reward a weapon called pasupata-astra. Everyone knew that he was a great warrior. BG 1972 purports
- Arjuna prayed to the lord (Siva) in all humbleness, and the lord, being pleased with him, presented him the pasupata weapon. He acquired many other important weapons from different demigods
- Arjuna promised all protection to one Mayasura, and the latter presented him one valuable conchshell celebrated as the Devadatta. Similarly, he received many other valuable weapons from Indradeva when he was satisfied to see his chivalry
- Arjuna said, "I had a fight with Lord Siva, who appeared before me as a hunter, and when I satisfied him by my prowess he gave me the weapon known as Pasupata. Do not doubt my chivalry"
- Arjuna satisfied the fire-god by setting fire to the Khandava Forest, and thus the fire-god gave him one weapon
- Arjuna saved Dronacarya from the attack of a crocodile, and the Acarya, being pleased with him, rewarded him with a weapon of the name brahmasira
- Arjuna saw in that universal form unlimited mouths, unlimited eyes, unlimited wonderful visions. The form was decorated with many celestial ornaments and bore many divine upraised weapons
- Arjuna's secret weapons were safely kept in the custody of a somi tree, and he ordered Uttara to get them back
- Arjuna, who is guided by the infallible Lord as friend and driver, thus satisfied the dear lady by such statements. Then he dressed in armor and armed himself with furious weapons, and getting into his chariot, he set out to follow Asvatthama
K
- Krsna desired that the weapons released by both Drauni and Arjuna be withdrawn, and it was carried out by Arjuna at once. Similarly, there are many agents of the all-powerful Lord, and by His will only can one execute what He desires
- Krsna had promised that in the Battle of Kuruksetra He would not even touch a weapon to help either side; He would remain neutral. Although Krsna was Arjuna's charioteer, He had promised that He would not help Arjuna by using any weapons
O
- O Arjuna, only another brahmastra can counteract this weapon. Since you are expert in the military science, subdue this weapon's glare with the power of your own weapon
- O how wonderful is the influence of inevitable time. It is irreversible - otherwise, how can there be reverses in the presence of the great bowman Arjuna with his mighty weapon Gandiva; and above all, the Lord, the direct well-wisher of the Pandavas?
- One weapon was released by Asvatthama, another by Arjuna to counteract, and the heat was so terrible that dahyamanah prajah sarvah: all the inhabitants of different planets, they felt the great heat produced by two brahmastras
S
- Seeing the disturbance of the general populace and the imminent destruction of the planets, Arjuna at once retracted both brahmastra weapons, as Lord Sri Krsna desired
- Sri Suta Gosvami said: Hearing this from the Personality of Godhead, Arjuna touched water for purification, and after circumambulating Lord Sri Krsna, he cast his brahmastra weapon to counteract the other one
T
- The confidential treatment of the weapon brahmasira was explained to Arjuna, and Dronacarya was promised by Arjuna that he would use the weapon if necessary when he (Dronacarya) personally became an enemy of Arjuna
- The son of Dronacarya did not know the art of counteracting the weapon, and therefore Arjuna was asked to counteract it by the power of his own weapon
- Two brahmastra weapons released, one by Asvatthama and by Arjuna, it created a havoc, catastrophe. And the people were suffering