Category:Arjuna and His Wives
Theme Analysis
The history of Arjuna is filled with heroic exploits, deep devotion, and complex political marriages. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that Arjuna officially married four primary wives during his lifetime: Draupadī, Subhadrā, Citrāṅgadā, and Ulūpī. From these four wives, he fathered four powerful sons: Śrutakīrti, Abhimanyu, Babhruvāhana, and Irāvān. Despite living as a royal householder with multiple wives, Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that Arjuna's consciousness was completely spiritual. Because he sacrificed everything—his family, his wealth, and his very life—for the service of Lord Kṛṣṇa, Arjuna was practically situated on the platform of a sannyāsī.
The circumstances surrounding Arjuna's marriages are legendary. His marriage to Draupadī was the result of a grand svayamvara. Disguised as a brāhmaṇa, Arjuna defeated all rival princes, including Karṇa, by successfully piercing a target of a fish hanging from the ceiling, fulfilling King Drupada's desire to hand his daughter over to the greatest archer. The story of Subhadrā is equally dramatic. Lord Balarāma intended to marry Subhadrā to Duryodhana, but Arjuna, deeply captivated by her beauty, disguised himself as a Vaiṣṇava sannyāsī. With Kṛṣṇa's secret approval and the blessings of Vasudeva and Devakī, Arjuna boldly kidnapped Subhadrā on a chariot, fighting off the guards like a lion. Furthermore, during his travels to Haridvāra and Maṇipura, Arjuna married Ulūpī (a princess of the Nāgas) and Citrāṅgadā. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes a fascinating incident later in life where Arjuna was actually defeated in battle by his own son, Babhruvāhana, and fell unconscious until he was saved by his devoted wife, Ulūpī.
- The Four Wives: Arjuna's four principal wives were Draupadī, Subhadrā, Citrāṅgadā, and Ulūpī, who respectively gave birth to Śrutakīrti, Abhimanyu, Babhruvāhana, and Irāvān.
- Winning Draupadī: Arjuna won Draupadī in a royal competition by expertly piercing a difficult target, subsequently defeating jealous rivals like Karṇa.
- Kidnapping Subhadrā: To prevent Subhadrā from marrying Duryodhana, Arjuna disguised himself as a sannyāsī and, aided by Kṛṣṇa's master plan, forcefully kidnapped her.
- The Spirit of Renunciation: Although Arjuna was a royal householder with multiple wives, his unalloyed dedication to Kṛṣṇa meant he was functionally a sannyāsī.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Arjuna and His Wives - The Four Marriages of a Great Warrior.
Pages in category "Arjuna and His Wives"
The following 45 pages are in this category, out of 45 total.
A
- 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
- Although Arjuna was a warrior, a fighter, a householder having more than dozen wives, but he was sannyasa. Because he sacrificed everything for Krsna. That is wanted. That is Krsna conscious
- Although he (Karna) was refused in the competition, still when Arjuna was successful in piercing the fish target on the ceiling and Draupadi bestowed her garland upon Arjuna
- Arjuna begot a son named Iravan through his wife known as Ulupi, the daughter of the Nagas, and a son named Babhruvahana by the womb of the princess of Manipura. Babhruvahana became the adopted son of the king of Manipura
- Arjuna married four wives, Draupadi, Subhadra, Citrangada and Ulupi, from whom he got four sons of the names Srutakirti, Abhimanyu, Babhruvahana and Iravan respectively
- Arjuna met Ulupi at Haridvara and was attracted by that girl, who belonged to Nagaloka, and thus Iravan was born. Similarly, he met Citrangada, a daughter of the King of Manipura, and thus Babhruvahana was born
- Arjuna was defeated by his son Babhruvahana at Manipura and fell unconscious when Ulupi saved him
- 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
- Arjuna's brothers were at that time living incognito under agreement with Duryodhana, and Arjuna and his brothers attended the meeting of Draupadi's selection in the dress of brahmanas
- Arjuna, as a result of piercing the adhara-mina, or the fish within the cakra, achieved the valuable gain of Draupadi
- Arjuna, however, desired to gain Subhadra's hand himself
- Arjuna, in the dress of a tridandi-sannyasi, remained in the city of Dvaraka for the four months of the rainy season, devising a plan whereby he could get Subhadra as his wife
- As he thought of Subhadra and her beauty, Arjuna became more and more captivated with the idea of marrying her, and with a plan in mind he dressed himself like a Vaisnava sannyasi, carrying a tridanda in his hand
- As usual by the grace of Lord Krsna he (Arjuna) was able to emerge very successful in the princely fight and thus gain the valuable hand of Krsna, or Draupadi
B
- Being baffled in his attempt to win Draupadi, Karna advised Duryodhana to attack King Drupada, for after defeating him both Arjuna and Draupadi could be arrested. But Dronacarya rebuked them for this conspiracy, and they refrained from the action
- Both Krsna and Akrura went to see Arjuna after his successful kidnapping of Subhadra. Both of them presented dowries to Arjuna after this incidence
D
- Draupadi tactfully avoided Karna as the rival of Arjuna, and she expressed her desires through her brother Dhrstadyumna that she was unable to accept anyone who was less than a ksatriya
- Draupadi was the most beautiful daughter of King Drupada, and when she was a young girl almost all the princes desired her hand. But Drupada Maharaja decided to hand over his daughter to Arjuna only and therefore contrived a peculiar way
- Draupadi, the mother of the five children of the Pandavas, after hearing of the massacre of her sons, began to cry in distress with eyes full of tears. Trying to pacify her in her great loss, Arjuna spoke to her thus
- Dronacarya had some political quarrel with King Drupada, the father of Draupadi, who was Arjuna's wife. As a result of this quarrel, Drupada performed a great sacrifice, by which he received the benediction of having a son who would be able to kill Drona
- Duryodhana, a great diplomat, wanted to point out the defects of Dronacarya, the great brahmana commander-in-chief. Dronacarya had some political quarrel with King Drupada, the father of Draupadi, who was Arjuna's wife. BG 1972 purports
H
- He (Akrura) was the husband of Sutani, daughter of Ahuka. He supported Arjuna when Arjuna took Subhadra forcibly away by the will of Krsna
- He (Arjuna) was afflicted with the thought of getting Subhadra and had not a moment’s peace of mind
- He (Krnsa) was not only a well-wisher of Arjuna but actually a benefactor, and to make it still more perfect the Lord tied him into a family relationship by arranging Subhadra's marriage with him
- He (Pradyumna) was one of those who went to congratulate Arjuna upon his marrying Subhadra
- His (Arjuna's) wonderful acts on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra are vividly described in the Mahabharata. Arjuna was defeated, however, by his son Babhruvahana at Manipura and fell unconscious when Ulupi saved him
I
- In Prabhasa-ksetra he (Arjuna) heard the news that Lord Balarama was negotiating the marriage of Subhadra, the daughter of Arjuna’s maternal uncle, Vasudeva
- In the Vedic system of marriage, the importance of the gotra, or family, was stressed. Arjuna also married Subhadra, although she was his maternal cousin-sister
M
- Maharaja Drupada, although defeated by Arjuna on behalf of his professor Dronacarya, decided to hand over his daughter Draupadi to his young combatant
- Maharaja Pariksit was very eager to hear more about Krsna, and so, after finishing the narration of Arjuna's kidnapping Subhadra, Sukadeva Gosvami began to narrate another story, as follows
- Maharaja Yudhisthira, who was the son of Dharmaraja, or Yamaraja, fully supported the words of Queen Draupadi in asking Arjuna to release Asvatthama
- My dear King Pariksit, your father, Abhimanyu, was born from the womb of Subhadra as the son of Arjuna
O
- Once upon a time, Subhadra, seated on a chariot, came out of the palace fort to see the gods in the temple. Arjuna took this opportunity, and with the permission of Vasudeva and Devaki he kidnapped her
- Out of love for her, Arjuna’s eyes brightened, and he looked at her with glittering eyes. Arjuna decided that somehow or other he would achieve Subhadra as his wife, and his mind became agitated on account of this strong desire
S
- Subhadra dedicated herself to Arjuna, and he resolved to marry her by any means. He then became absorbed twenty-four hours a day in thought of how he could get Subhadra as his wife
- Subhadra was duly married with Arjuna, and Abhimanyu was born of Subhadra. At the premature death of Abhimanyu, Subhadra was very mortified, but on the birth of Pariksit she was happy and solaced
- Subhadra was married with her cousin Arjuna, and this system is still prevalent in some parts of India
T
- This (Maharaja Pariksit is miraculously saved in the womb of his mother) was caused by Drauni (Asvatthama), Acarya Drona's son, who killed the five sons of Draupadi while they were asleep, for which he was punished by Arjuna
- This trick (piercing the eye of a fish hanging on the ceiling) was especially made because only Arjuna could do it, and he (Maharaja Drupada) was successful in his desire to hand over his equally worthy daughter (Draupadi) to Arjuna
W
- 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 it was disclosed to Lord Balarama that the so-called sannyasi was Arjuna, who had planned such a device simply to take away Subhadra, and that he had actually taken her, He became very angry
- While eating at the home of Balaramaji, Arjuna was simply looking at beautiful Subhadra, who was very enchanting to great heroes and kings
- While Subhadra was thus being kidnapped by Arjuna, her relatives and family members began to cry, but still he took her, just as a lion takes his prey and departs