A Classical Dictionary of Hindu Mythology and Religion, Geography, History, and Literature c5.132.1

c5.132.1

ARJUNA. ‘White.’ The name of the third Pāndu prince. All the five brothers were of divine paternity, and Arjuna’s father was Indra, hence he is called Aindri. A brave warrior, high-minded, generous, upright, and handsome, the most prominent and the most amiable and interesting of the five brothers. He was taught the use of arms by Drona, and was his favourite pupil. By his skill in arms he won Draupadi at her Swayamvara. For an involuntary transgression he imposed upon himself twelve years' exile from his family, and during that time he visited Parasu-rāma, who gave him instruction in the use of arms. He at this period formed a connection with Ulūpī, a Nāga princess, and by her had a son named Irāvat. He also married Chitrāngadā, the daughter of the king of Manipura, by whom he had a son named Babhru-vāhana. He visited Krishna at Dwārakā, and there he married Su-bhadrā, the sister of Krishna. (See Su-bhadrā.) By her he had a son named Abhimanyu. Afterwards he obtained the bow Gāndīva from the god Agni, with which to fight against Indra, and he assisted Agni in burning the Khāndava forest. When Yudhi-shthira lost the kingdom by gambling, and the five brothers went into exile for thirteen years, Arjuna proceeded on a pilgrimage to the Himālayas to propitiate the gods, and to obtain from them celestial weapons for use in the contemplated war against the Kauravas. There he fought with Siva, who appeared in the guise of a Kirāta or mountaineer;