Arjuna

Third Pandava; demigod son of Indra by Kuntī. Greatest archer of the epic; recipient of the Bhagavad Gītā discourse from Krishna at Kurukshetra (Bhīṣma Parva 23-40), which became the central philosophical text of Hindu religious tradition. Wins Draupadī at her svayamvara disguised as a brahmin. Wields the Gāṇḍīva bow (Agni's gift at Khāṇḍava). Receives the Pāśupatāstra from Shiva after the kirāta-combat austerities. Trained five years in Indra's heaven in celestial weapons. Father of Iravan (by Ulūpī), Babhruvāhana (by Citrāṅgadā), Abhimanyu (by Subhadrā). Kills Karṇa not knowing they are full brothers by Kuntī — the structural-tragic core of the epic. Falls in the great-departure march; karmic fault: pride in his archery.

Parentage

• paternal: Indra
• maternal: Kuntī

Children

• Abhimanyu
• Babhruvāhana
• Irāvān
• Śrutakarma

Domains

• archery supreme
• gita recipient philosophical pivot

Powers

• savyasaci ambidexterity
• Shoots equally with either hand
• Invokes and discharges celestial weapons

Epithets

• पार्थ devanagari · Pārtha'Son of Pṛthā (Kuntī)' — the address used by Kṛṣṇa in the GītāBhagavad Gītā 1.25, 2.3 (primary)
• धनञ्जय devanagari · Dhanañjaya'Winner of wealth' — earned through his conquestsMahābhārata (Virāṭa Parva); Bhagavad Gītā 1.15 (primary)
• सव्यसाची devanagari · Savyasācī'Ambidextrous archer' — able to draw the bow with either handMahābhārata (Virāṭa Parva) (primary)
• गुडाकेश devanagari · Guḍākeśa'Conqueror of sleep / thick-haired one'Bhagavad Gītā 1.24, 2.9 (primary)

Relations

• spouse: Citrangada
• spouse: Subhadra
• spouse: Ulupi
• enemy: KarṇaReciprocal of hindu_karna.enemyMahabharata, Karṇa Parva 90-96 (primary)
• sibling: YudhiṣṭhiraMahabharata, Adi Parva 123 (primary)
• sibling: BhīmaMahabharata, Adi Parva 123 (primary)
• sibling: KarṇaFull sibling by Kuntī; concealment-and-revelation is the structural tragedy. Arjuna kills Karṇa not knowing they are brothers; learns only after the war.Mahabharata, Strīparva 27 (Kuntī's post-war revelation) (primary)
• spouse: DraupadīMahabharata, Adi Parva 188-198 (primary)
• spouse: Subhadra (sister of Krishna, second wife of Arjuna, mother of Abhimanyu) · HinduSubhadrā entry pending. Krishna's sister; mother of Abhimanyu. Marriage facilitated by Krishna's elopement-blessing.Mahabharata, Adi Parva 219-220 (primary)
• mentor: Krishna (8th avatar of Vishnu, charioteer-and-mentor of Arjuna in the Bhagavad Gita) · HinduKrishna entry pending. Charioteer at Kurukshetra and giver of the Gītā teaching.Bhagavad Gītā (Bhīṣma Parva 23-40) (primary)
• father of: ŚrutakarmaMahabharata, Adi Parva 95.75 (primary)
• father of: AbhimanyuMahabharata, Adi Parva 213-225 (primary)
• father of: IrāvānMahabharata, Adi Parva 213.11-13 (primary)
• father of: BabhruvāhanaMahabharata, Adi Parva 214; Āśvamedhika Parva 79-81 (primary)

Sources

• existence: Mahabharata Adi-Mahāprasthānika Parvas; Bhagavad Gītā; Bhāgavata Purāṇa 9.22, 1.15 (primary)
• parentage: Mahabharata, Adi Parva 123 (primary)