Mahabharata: the ten glorious names of the great warrior Arjuna and their meanings

The great warrior Arjuna has ten names: 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 countries and taking their treasures. He was called Vijaya because when he goes out to battle with invincible kings, he never returns from the battlefield without defeating them. He was called Swetavahana because when he fought with the enemy, the horses dressed in golden armor were always yoked to his carriage. He was called Falgula because he was born in the bosom of the Himavat on a day when the constellation of Uttara Falgula was on the rise. He was named Kiritin after a diadem, resplendent like the sun, having formerly been placed on his head by Indra during his encounter with the mighty Danavas.

He was known as Vibhatsu among gods and men, for never having committed a detestable act on the battlefield. And since his two hands were capable of drawing his Gandiva, he was known as Savyasachin, popularly known as Arjuna because his complexion was very rare within the four limits of the earth and because his actions were always immaculate. He was known as Jishnu because he was unapproachable and incapable of being suppressed and a tamer of adversaries and son of Paka’s assassin. He was called Krishna because his father gave him this name. Out of affection for her boy with black skin and great purity, she called him Krishna.

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

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

Arjuna’s great qualities can be understood if all his names described in various chapters of the Mahabharata are known. By studying these names, we can conclude that none could match Arjuna, even if we consider all the world literature.