The Ten Names of Arjuna

 

There is an age-old Indian mantra that grandmothers passed over from one generation to another. It is known as Arjuna’s ten, which are the 10 names of Arjuna.

Children are instructed to chant the ten names of Arjuna from the Mahabharata before sleeping, as this practice is believed to effectively protect them from bad dreams. Additionally, it offers protection for elders during thunderstorms and helps to dispel fear.

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

The names of Arjuna that are chanted for this purpose are:

Arjuna

 Arjuna means "the white one," "bright," or "clear." He represents a person with a clear inner nature, possessing a mind that is spotless and free from impurities. Such a pure and unblemished mind is open to receiving divine wisdom and the highest understanding. This is why Lord Krishna imparted the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita during a time when Arjuna was experiencing indecision and doubt.

 Arjuna’s hands are clean and never tainted, because he does not do anything wrong. Even when he fights, he plays by the rules.

 Arjuna is the archetypal hero, eminently worthy of being emulated by the world today for the development of a better class of Men, who are true Karma yoddhas capable of building a world order based on goodness and strength.

 Phalguna

 He is so-called because he was born in the month of Phalguna. The Exterminator of enemies, born under the asterism Uttara Phalguni.

Partha 

  Arjuna got the name Parth because of his mother Kunti. Kunti is also known by the name "Pritha".(The daughter of Earth, ‘Prithvi’). That is why Arjun is called "Parth" Here, Pritha means the son of Pritha.

Vijaya

  He was Vijaya, because he was always victorious. Ever victorious in war, the vanquisher of invincible kings.

Kireedi

  As a resplendent diadem was placed on his head by his father, Lord Indra, after the destruction of the “Nivaatakavachas”, a powerful class of netherworld demons. These demons were said to be invincible and undefeated even by Indra and the gods. Exemplifies that the Crown of success adorns the courageous and self-believing man, or “Fortune favours the brave!”

Shwetavaahana 

  He is called Swetavahana because his horse is white (sweta) in colour. Why did Arjuna always have to use white horses to draw his chariot? This was to show what a skilled warrior he was. At the end of a day of fighting, his horses would return without a nick or a scratch on their bodies. While this would be true regardless of what colour the horses were, the fact that they were uninjured would be more evident in the case of white horses. And so, to show everyone what a skilled archer he was, Arjuna always had white horses draw his chariots.

The Warrior with snow white horses, clad in gold-plated armour, yoked to his Chariot. The snow white horses symbolise the purity of character.

 Dhananjaya

  The Conqueror of immense wealth. Here, wealth stands for all valuable things, including the most useful qualities of personality.

 Jishnu

 The irrepressible one, of lofty and unapproachable standard, the tamer of adversaries, the son of Indra. The hero always has high standards and principles in his life.

Savyasaachi

  The Warrior who can draw the bowstring of Khandiva, using either hand with equal ease, is highly and equally skilled with both hands. This name illustrates the value of skill development through hard work.

Bibhatsa

 One who never performs an act unworthy of himself. Bhibatsa, because he would be filled with a sense of revulsion at the thought of doing something wrong. He not only did not do wrong things, but never even contemplated doing wrong. 

[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), kounteya (son of Kunti), Gutakesa, Mahabaho, Parantapa in Bhagavat Gita.]

Meditating on the meaning of these ten names of Arjuna develops character and willpower, which are the essential firepower badly missing in the apathetic and rudderless world of today.. Heroic figures shaped by Vyasa’s great epic will be essential for steering India and the world safely through the ominous challenges of the new century.