Arjuna and the Mahabharata

In Hindu mythology, Arjuna was the son of Indra, the King of Gods. His mother Kunti had invoked Indra through a mantra to receive a son. Vayu is the father of Bhima, Surya is father of Karna, and Agni is not directly related to the Pandavas.

Arjuna was the greatest archer in the Mahabharata, renowned for his exceptional skill with the bow. His legendary bow Gandiva was given to him by Agni, the fire god. While he could use other weapons, the bow and arrow were his primary weapons throughout the Kurukshetra war.

Gandiva (also spelled Gandeeva) was Arjuna's legendary bow, created by Brahma and given to him by Agni during the Khandava forest fire. This divine bow was indestructible and could shoot thousands of arrows simultaneously. It played a crucial role in the Kurukshetra war.

Urvashi was the celestial nymph (Apsara) who cursed Arjuna with impotence when he rejected her romantic advances. Arjuna respectfully refused her because he considered her a motherly figure due to her relationship with his ancestor Pururava. Indra later modified this curse to last only one year during Arjuna's exile.

During the 13th year of the Pandavas' exile, when they had to live in disguise, Arjuna took the name Brihannala and taught dance and music to the princess Uttara in King Virata's court. As Brihannala, Arjuna pretended to be a eunuch, which was part of their concealment strategy.

Arjuna traveled to the Himalayas and performed severe penance to obtain the Pashupatastra from Lord Shiva. This was one of the most powerful weapons in the Mahabharata, capable of destroying any target. Lord Shiva tested Arjuna's devotion by appearing as a hunter (Kirata) and engaging him in battle before granting the weapon.

Hanuman promised to stabilize and strengthen Arjuna's chariot during the Kurukshetra war. He appeared on Arjuna's flag (dwijah) and protected his chariot from the powerful weapons of the enemy. This blessing was sought by Arjuna through Krishna's advice and helped ensure his chariot remained stable despite devastating attacks.

In the Mahabharata, Abhimanyu was the son of Arjuna and Subhadra (Krishna's sister). While Arjuna had other wives including Chitrangada and Ulupi, and Draupadi was shared among the Pandavas, Subhadra alone was Abhimanyu's mother.

Shaktiastra was the divine weapon Karna received from Indra in exchange for his Kavacha (armor) and Kundala (earrings). This weapon was guaranteed to kill Arjuna, though Karna ultimately could not use it against Arjuna due to a curse. Brahmastra, Pashupatastra, and Suryastra are other celestial weapons in the Mahabharata.

In the Mahabharata, Arjuna took a terrible vow to kill Jayadratha by sunset of the next day or end his own life, because Jayadratha had helped prevent Arjuna's son Abhimanyu from escaping the chakravyuh formation, leading to Abhimanyu's death. Despite the Kauravas protecting Jayadratha with a layered formation, Arjuna fulfilled his vow on the 14th day of war.

Karna was arguably the most powerful warrior among the Kauravas, superior even to Arjuna in martial skill. He had divine weapons, impenetrable armor, and was equal to Arjuna in archery. However, due to curses, his chariot getting stuck in mud, and his promise not to attack Arjuna twice, Karna was killed by Arjuna on the 17th day of the war.