Category:Arjuna Tree
Theme Analysis
The arjuna tree is a prominent species mentioned throughout Vedic literature, recognized both for its majestic presence in celestial realms like Kailāsa Hill and for its practical medicinal properties. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that even today, the bark of the arjuna tree is utilized by cardiologists to treat heart conditions. However, in the context of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, the term is most famously associated with the twin yamala-arjuna trees that stood in the courtyard of Nanda Mahārāja in Vrajabhūmi.
These two specific trees were not ordinary plants; they were Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva, the sons of the wealthy demigod Kuvera. Due to their arrogant and intoxicated behavior, the great sage Nārada Muni cursed them to stand as immobile arjuna trees until they could be personally delivered by the Supreme Lord. Śrīla Prabhupāda vividly describes how this divine deliverance unfolded. When Mother Yaśodā bound baby Kṛṣṇa to a heavy wooden mortar to keep Him out of mischief, the Lord used this as an opportunity to fulfill His pure devotee's words. Crawling between the twin arjuna trees, Kṛṣṇa pulled the stuck mortar, uprooting the massive, sturdy trunks with a terrifying, thunderous sound. From the fallen timber, the two purified demigods emerged, offering prayers of deep gratitude. Meanwhile, the elder cowherd men rushed to the scene in utter bewilderment. They could not logically comprehend how a tiny, crawling child could perform such a superhuman feat, perfectly demonstrating that the Supreme Personality of Godhead retains His full, unlimited omnipotence regardless of the physical form He assumes.
- Botanical and Medicinal Presence: The arjuna tree is a recognized species in Vedic forests, and its bark is practically used in Ayurvedic and modern medicine for heart ailments.
- The Curse of Nārada Muni: Two proud demigods were condemned to stand as twin arjuna trees, awaiting the purifying touch of the Supreme Lord.
- The Superhuman Feat: Even as a crawling infant, Lord Kṛṣṇa exhibited inconceivable strength by effortlessly uprooting the gigantic trees to deliver the cursed souls.
- The Bewilderment of the Devotees: The thunderous fall of the massive trees completely astonished the local cowherd men, who remained innocently unaware of Kṛṣṇa's supreme divinity.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: The Arjuna Tree - Nalakūvara and Maṇigrīva's Deliverance.
Pages in category "Arjuna Tree"
The following 22 pages are in this category, out of 22 total.
A
- Although the two (yamala-arjuna) trees were so large and sturdy that even many elephants could not move them, Krsna, as a child, exhibited such extraordinary strength that they fell down with a great sound
- Arjuna trees are still found in many forests, and their skin is used by cardiologists to prepare medicine for heart trouble. This means that even though they are trees, they are disturbed when skinned for medical science
H
- Had Krsna actually done this (felling the yamala-arjuna trees), or were these merely stories? This was a cause of bewilderment - of all the cowherd men in the neighborhood
- He (Krsna) was standing as He was, and still the things had happened (two yamala-arjuna trees had fallen beside Krsna without smashing Him), so who had done all this? How could these events have happened in such a wonderful way - the cowherd men thoutght
I
- In that very place where the two arjuna trees had fallen, two great, perfect personalities, who appeared like fire personified, came out of the two trees - SB 10.10.28
- In the case of felling the gigantic arjuna trees, the Lord's mission was to deliver the two sons of Kuvera, who were condemned to become trees by the curse of Narada, as well as to play like a crawling child in the yard of Yasoda
S
- Sukadeva Gosvami continued: Having thus spoken, the great saint Devarsi Narada returned to his asrama, known as Narayana-asrama, and Nalakuvara and Manigriva became twin arjuna trees - SB 10.10.23
- Sukadeva Gosvami continued: O Maharaja Pariksit, when the yamala-arjuna trees fell, all the cowherd men in the neighborhood, hearing the fierce sound and fearing thunderbolts, went to the spot - SB 10.11.1
T
- The beauty of such pastimes (felling of the arjuna trees) was that the Lord (Krsna) fulfilled everyone's desire
- The devotee's prayer, "At that time You delivered two sons of Kuvera, Nalakuvara and Manigriva, who were staying there as two arjuna trees in the yard of Nanda Maharaj. My only request is that by Your merciful pastimes You may similarly deliver me"
- The naughty child (Krsna) dragged the pestle up to a pair of very high arjuna trees in the yard of Yasodamayi, and when the pestle was stuck between the pair of trees, they fell down with a horrible sound
- The whole of Kailasa Hill is decorated with various kinds of trees, of which the following names may be mentioned: mandara, parijata, sarala, tamala, tala, kovidara, asana, arjuna, amra-jati (mango), kadamba, dhuli-kadamba, naga, punnaga and campaka
- There were madhukas, palm trees, tamalas, asanas, arjunas, aristas, udumbaras, plaksas, banyan trees, kimsukas and sandalwood trees
- They (Nalakuvara and Manigriva) admitted - Your (Krsns's) plan was made so nicely that although we stayed here (in Vrndavana) as twin arjuna trees, You have appeared as a small boy to deliver us. This was all Your inconceivable arrangement
- They (the citizens of Mathura) spoke of the killing of the demon Putana, as well as the killing of Trnavarta, who came as a whirlwind. They also recalled the deliverance of the twin brothers from within the yamala-arjuna trees
- They (the cowherd men) saw the fallen yamala-arjuna trees on the ground, but they were bewildered because even though they could directly perceive that the trees had fallen, they could not trace out the cause for their having done so - SB 10.11.1
W
- When the twin arjuna trees fell to the ground, making a sound like the falling of thunderbolts, all the inhabitants of Gokula, including Nanda, immediately came to the spot. They were very astonished to see how the two great trees had suddenly fallen
- When the yamala-arjuna trees fell, they made a tremendous sound, like that of falling thunderbolts
- When Yasodamayi came to see the happenings, she thought that her child (Krsna) had been saved from the falling trees by the mercy of the Lord, without knowing that the Lord Himself, crawling in her yard, had wreaked the havoc