Mahabharata: Great Warrior Arjuna’s Glorious Ten Names and Their Meanings

The great warrior Arjuna has ten names namely Arjuna, Falguna, Jishnu, Kiritin, Swetavahana, Vibhatsu, Vijaya, Krishna, Savyasachin and Dhananjaya.

Each name has its own deep meaning. He was called Dhananjaya,because he lived in the midst of wealth, having subjugated all the countries and taking away their treasures. He was called Vijaya because when he goes out to battle with invincible kings, he never returns from the battle field without vanquishing them. He was called Swetavahana because when battling with the foe, while horses decked in golden armour were always yoked unto his car. He was called Falgula because he was born on the breast of the Himavat on a day when the constellation Uttara Falgula was on the ascendant. He was named Kiritin from a diadem, resplendent like the sun, having been placed of old on his head by Indra during his encounter with the powerful Danavas.

He was known as Vibhatsu among gods and men, for his never having committed a detestable deed on the battle-field. And since both of his hands were capable of drawing his Gandiva, he was known as Savyasachin.He was popularly known as Arjuna because his complexion was very rare within the four boundaries of earth and because his acts were always stainless. He was known as Jishnu because he was unapproachable and incapable of being kept down and a tamer of adversaries and son of the slayer of Paka. He was called as Krishna because his father gave this name to him. Out of affection towards his black skinned boy of great purity, he called him Krishna.

It is given in Mahabharata itself that wild animals will not harm to those persons who recite these ten names of Arjuna daily and all of their enemies will be defeated without doubt.

Apart from these ten names Lord Krishna called him as purusarsabha ( best of men), paranthapa (chastiser of foes),kurunandana (delighter of kurus), anagha (sinless ),Bharata sreshta (best of bharatas),purushavyaghra (tiger among men),Bharatasattama (best of bharatas) in Bhagavat Gita.

Great qualities of Arjuna can be understood by knowing all his names described in various chapters of Mahabharata. By studying these names we may conclude that none could equal Arjuna even if we consider the whole of the world literature.