Was Arjuna really the undefeated warrior of Mahabharata?
Defeats Of Arjuna
Was Arjuna really the undefeated warrior of Mahabharata? Let's look at some 40 of his defeats which says otherwise.
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1ST DEFEAT OF ARJUNA AT THE HANDS OF KARNA:
BORI CE, Section- 12, Draupadi swayamvar parva:
‘Seeing
Vaikartana Karna rush towards him, the wise Arjuna stretched his mighty
bow and pierced him with three arrows. The impact of these sharp arrows
stunned Radheya31 and he approached with greater circumspection. Then
those two invincible warriors fought violently,
each
eager to vanquish the other. Such was the speed that they became
invisible.32 “Look at the strength in my arms”, “See how I countered
that”, they taunted each other in words that
only
warriors understand. Seeing the valour in Arjuna’s arms, unparalleled
on earth, Vaikartana Karna fought even more vigorously. REPULSING
ARJUNA’S SWIFT ARROWS, KARNA SHOUTED OUT ALOUD AND THE WARRIORS
APPLAUDED HIS FEAT. ‘Karna said, “O foremost among Brahmanas! I am
pleased with the strength of
(Arjun
fans will say that Karna lost as he left because they know actual
analysis of the fight will prove Karna won. As you can see here. Karna
clearly had the upper hand. Both Karna and Arjuna fought vigorously but
Karna finally baffled Arjuna's weapons so much that all the warrior's
there applauded Karna. He even started to randomly talk to Arjun. If
Maharathi
Arjuna had the upper hand then he wouldn't let Karna talk and would
have kept shooting. Karna later impressed at a good warrior and fearing
brahmahatya left the spot.)
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2ND DEFEAT OF ARJUNA ONCE AGAIN BY KARNA:
On 12th day of War:
Satyaki, Bhima, Dhritdyumn attacked Karna IN ORDER TO RESCUE ARJUNA and Satyaki defeated by karna. Drona Parv, Section-30
And
similarly, Adhiratha's son also baffled the shafts of Arjuna of supreme
energy. Resisting Arjuna's weapons thus by his own, Karna uttered loud
shouts and shot many shafts at his antagonist. Then Dhristadyumna and
Bhima and the mighty car-warrior Satyaki, all approached Karna, and each
of them pierced in with three straight shafts. The son of Radha,
however, checking Arjuna's weapons by his own arrowy showers, cut off
with three sharp shafts the bows of those three warriors. Their bows cut
off, they looked like snakes without poison.
Last part of encounter -
And
foot-soldiers and steeds and cars and elephants, belonging to thy army
and numbering by hundreds, all accomplished in smitting RUSHED TO THE
SPOT WHERE KARNA WAS FRIGHTENING (HIS ASSAILANTS). Then Dhrishtadyumna,
and Bhima and Subhadra's son, and Arjuna himself, and Nakula, and
Sahadeva, began to protect Satyaki in that battle.
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3RD DEFEAT OF ARJUNA AT THE HANDS OF KARNA:
On 14th day:
Bhima, ARJUNA and Satyaki attacked alone Karna and Karna checked them. Drona Parv, Section-141
Karna,
however, O king, with his arrows, resisted him in that battle in the
very sight, O Bharata, of Bhimasena and Satwata. The mighty-armed
Partha, in the very sight of all the troops, pierced the Suta's son, in
return, with ten arrows, on the field of battle. Then Satwata, O sire,
pierced Karna with three arrows. And Bhimasena pierced him with three
arrows, and Partha himself, once more, with seven. The mighty
car-warrior, Karna, then pierced each of those three warriors with sixty
arrows. And thus, O king, raged that battle between Karna alone (on one
side) and the many (on the other). The prowess, O sire, that we then
beheld of the Suta's son was wonderful in the extreme, since, excited
with wrath in battle, he singly resisted those three great car-warriors.
(Here
Karna even made Bhima and Satyaki retreat after overpowering Arjuna but
later Arjuna fights Karna again. Both have a great fight but Arjuna
manages to break Karna's ordinary chariot. One noticeable thing here is
Arjuna had received the boon of victory from lord Shiva on this day)
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4TH DEFEAT OF ARJUNA BY KARNA:
BORI CE, Karna Parva- Chapter 1166(16)
“O
supreme among kings! Yet again, there was a terrible encounter and
clash between Karna and the PANDAVAS and it extended Yama’s kingdom.
Wishing to kill each other, they swiftly grasped bows, arrows, clubs,
swords, lances, spikes, maces, catapults, spears, scimitars, battle
axes, bludgeons, javelins, cutlasses, darts, slings and large hooks and
descended.
(HERE ON 16th DAY ARJUNA ALONG WITH HIS BROTHERS and whole Pandava force attack Karna who singly resists and defeats them all)
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5TH DEFEAT OF ARJUNA BY KARNA:
BORI CE, Karna Parva- Chapter 1166(16)
IN
THE BATTLE, ATIRATHA KARNA CRUSHED MANY OF THEM WITH HIS ARROWS. With
his arrows, Karna conveyed FIVE HEROES FROM PANCHALA, TEN RATHAS AND
FIVE OTHERS, WITH THEIR HORSES, CHARIOTEERS AND STANDARDS, TO YAMA’S
ETERNAL ABODE. Many FOREMOST and IMMENSELY VALOROUS WARRIORS FROM THE
PANDUS swiftly ATTACKED KARNA in that battle and SURROUNDING HIM FROM
ALL SIDES, covered the sky with their weapons. Karna agitated the enemy
soldiers with his shower of arrows. He was like the leader of a herd
plunging into a lake full of birds and lotuses.
(Even
with such a large group attack Karna was clearly winning, he beat
everyone. He also kills 20 great Maharathas and overpowers entire
Pandava squadron comprised of Arjuna himself once again single handedly)
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6TH DEFEAT OF ARJUNA BY KARNA :
BORI CE, Karna Parva- Chapter 1166(16)
RADHEYA
PENETRATED INTO THE MIDST OF THE ENEMY. He brandished his supreme bow
and using his sharp arrows, began to bring down their heads. The shields
and armour were shattered and the bodies were deprived of life. THERE
WAS NO ONE AMONG THEM WHO NEEDED THE TOUCH OF A SECOND ARROW. The arrows
that were released from the bow crushed armour and bodies. The
bowstrings and palm-guards were shattered, like horses lashed with a
whip.
(Finally
Karna defeated all of Pandava heroes probably including Arjuna again
and bravely enters into the midst of the enemy and kills thousands of
warrior's that too WITH SINGLE ARROWS EACH)
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7TH DEFEAT OF ARJUNA BY KARNA:
BORI CE, Karna Parva- Chapter 1166(16)
Whenever
PANDUS, Srinjayas and Panchalas came within the reach of his arrows,
Karna quickly struck them in the inner organs, like a lion among large
numbers of deer.
(Once again Karna kept defeating all the Pandava's repeatedly)
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8TH DEFEAT OF ARJUNA AT THE HANDS OF KARNa:
BORI CE, Karna Parva- Chapter 1171(21)
Having
severed Hardikya’s bow and standard and killed his horses, he cut down
Duhshasana’s supreme bow AND ATTACKED RADHEYA. At this, KARNA abandoned
Satyaki and STRUCK ARJUNA WITH THREE ARROWS. HE THEN PIERCED KRISHNA
WITH TWENTY ARROWS AND STRUCK PARTHA WITH THREE MORE.
However,
SATYAKI ADVANCED AGAINST Karna and pierced him with sharp arrows, first
with ninety-nine fierce arrows and yet again with one hundred. All the
foremost among the Pandus oppressed Karna—YUDHAMANYU, SHIKHANDI,
DROUPADI’S SONS, THE PRABHADRAKAS, UTTAMOUJA, YUYUTSU, THE TWINS and
PARSHATA.
(Here
Karna absolutely overpowers Arjuna so much that he gets rescued by more
than 17 warrior's. This was last battle of Karna for the 16th day. He
defeats enormous host then proceeds towards Arjuna who keeps running
away until the day ends)
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9TH DEFEAT OF ARJUN AT THE HANDS OF BHISHMA BUT LORD KRISHNA SAVED ARJUN:
Bhishma Parv, Chapter 102
Bhishma
released many arrows towards Partha’s chariot. Vasudeva displayed
supreme skill in handling the horses. He executed circular motions and
avoided all those arrows. Wounded by arrows, Bhishma and Partha, tigers
among men, looked beautiful. They were like two angry bulls, marked with
the signs of horns.
(Here Arjuna would have died if not for lord Krishna as usual)
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10TH DEFEAT OF ARJUNA AT THE HANDS OF SRUTAYUDHA but lord Krishna saved Arjun once again.
Srutayudha threw his mace to kill Arjuna but Lord Krishna took it on his shoulders thus again saved life of Arjuna
Drona Parv, Chapter 67
He
used that slayer of enemies to strike Janardana. Then the valiant king
Srutayudha abandoning that steedless car, rushed in that encounter
against Partha, uplifting his mace. The valiant KRISHNA RECEIVED THAT
MACE on one of his well-formed and stout shoulders."
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11TH DEFEAT OF ARJUNA AT THE HANDS OF BHAGDATTA'S ELEPHANT:
Drona Parv, Chapter 27
ततः प्राग्ज्योतिषो राजा शरवर्षं निवार्य तत् |
शरैर्जघ्ने महाबाहुं पार्थं कृष्णं च भारत ||२६||
ततः स शरजालेन महताभ्यवकीर्य तौ |
चोदयामास तं नागं वधायाच्युतपार्थयोः ||२७||
तमापतन्तं द्विरदं दृष्ट्वा क्रुद्धमिवान्तकम् |
चक्रेऽपसव्यं त्वरितः स्यन्दनेन जनार्दनः ||२८||
O descendant of the Bharata lineage! King Pragjyotisha
also
repulsed that shower of arrows and tried to kill the mighty-armed
Partha and Krishna with his arrows. Those two were enveloped with a
giant shower of arrows and he urged the elephant on, to kill Achyuta and
Partha. On seeing that the elephant was descending, like angry Death,
Janardana quickly wheeled the chariot, so that it remained on the left.
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12TH DEFEAT AT THE HANDS OF BHAGDATTA. Lord Krishna once again saved Arjuna from his Vaishnavastra:
Drona Parv, Chapter 28
विद्धस्तथाप्यव्यथितो वैष्णवास्त्रमुदीरयन् |
अभिमन्त्र्याङ्कुशं क्रुद्धो व्यसृजत्पाण्डवोरसि ||१६||
विसृष्टं भगदत्तेन तदस्त्रं सर्वघातकम् |
उरसा प्रतिजग्राह पार्थं सञ्छाद्य केशवः ||१७||
वैजयन्त्यभवन्माला तदस्त्रं केशवोरसि |
ततोऽर्जुनः क्लान्तमनाः केशवं प्रत्यभाषत ||१८||
‘“Having
been thus pierced and pained, he angrily resorted to the vaishnava
weapon. He invoked the mantra on his goad and hurled it towards
Pandava’s chest.That weapon was
capable
of slaying everything and was released by Bhagadatta. Covering Partha,
Keshava received it on his own chest. On Keshava’s chest, that weapon
became the vaijayanti
garland
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13TH DEFEAT OF ARJUNA AT THE HANDS of ASHWATHAMA
KRISHNA SAVED HELPLESS ARJUNA FROM NARAYANASTRA
Krishna to Pandava warriors after Aswattham used Narayanastra :-
"Speedily
lay down your weapons, all of you and alight from your vehicles."The
warriors of the Pandava army, hearing, O Bharata, these words of
Vasudeva, threw their weapons"
[Here,
all Pandava warriors (obviously Arjuna too) except Bhima threw their
weapons hearing Krishna's words. Thus Lord Krishna again saved Arjuna's
life]
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14TH DEFEAT OF ARJUNA BY ORDINARY SAMSPATAKA FOOT SOLDIERS -
SAMSAPTAKAS
(FOOT SOLDIERS) CAUGHT ARJUNA WITH BARE ARMS, ARJUNA STOOD INACTIVE ON
THE VERGE OF DEATH AND AS USUAL KRISHNA SAVED HIM
Assailing
his steeds, his car-wheels, his car-shaft, and every other limb of his
vehicle, with great force, O sire, they uttered many leonine roars. Some
among them seized the massive arms of Keshava, and some among them, O
king, SEIZED PARTHA HIMSELF WITH GREAT JOY as he stood on his car. Then
KESHAVA, shaking his arms on the field of battle, THREW DOWN ALL those
that had SEIZED THEM, like a wicked elephant shaking down all the riders
from his back
[Foot soldiers easily captured Arjuna and were about to kill him but Krishna caught all of them and threw away]
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15TH
TIME AT THE HANDS OF KARNA AND DRONA. We don't know how many times
Arjuna would be dead or burnt to ashes if not for his celestial
chariot':
ARJUNA'S CHARIOT BLASTED AS PER RESULT OF KARNA'S WEAPON HAS SANCTIONED THE FACT ARJUNA AGAIN SAVED BY GOD
the celestial Ape that topped the mantle of Arjuna's vehicle,
disappeared there and then. The top of the vehicle, which had
before been BURNT BY Drona and
KARNA with their celestial weapons, quickly blazed forth to
ASHES,"
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16TH DEFEAT AT THE HANDS OF DRONA ON 14TH NIGHT:
The
skill we then beheld of Drona was exceedingly wonderful, since Arjuna,
though young, and though struggling vigorously, could not pierce Drona
with a single shaft. Like a mass of clouds pouring torrents of rain, the
Drona cloud rained shower on the Partha-mountain. Possessed of great
energy, Arjuna received that arrowy downpour, O king, by invoking the
Brahma weapon, and cut off all those arrows by arrows of his own. Drona
then afflicted Partha of white steeds with five and twenty arrows. And
he struck Vasudeva with seventy arrows on the chest and arms. Partha
then, of great intelligence, smiling the while resisted the preceptor in
that battle who was incessantly shooting sharp arrows. Then those two
foremost of car-warriors, while thus struck by Drona, avoided that
invincible warrior, who resembled the raging Yuga fire. Avoiding those
sharp shafts shot from Drona's bow, the diadem-decked son of Kunti,
adorned with garlands of flowers, began to slaughter the host of the
Bhojas. Indeed, avoiding the invincible Drona who stood immovable like
the Mainaka mountain, Arjuna took up his position between Kritavarman
and Sudakshina the ruler of the Kamvojas.
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17TH DEFEAT AT THE HANDS OF ASHWATHAMA:
The
sound of Ashvatthama's bow, inspiring foes with terror, was repeatedly
heard by us in that battle, O king, to resemble that of a roaring lion.
While careering in that battle and striking right and left the string of
his bow looked beautiful like flashes of lightning in the midst of a
mass of clouds. Though endued with great firmness and lightness of hand
the son of Pandu, for all that, beholding the son of Drona then, became
greatly stupefied. Indeed, Arjuna then regarded his own prowess to be
destroyed by his high-souled assailant. The form of Ashvatthama became
such in that battle that men could with difficulty gaze at it. During
the progress of that dreadful battle between Drona's son and the
Pandava, during that time when the mighty son of Drona, O monarch, thus
prevailed over his antagonist and the son of Kunti lost his energy,
Krishna became filled with rage. Inspired with wrath he drew deep
breaths, O king, and seemed to burn with his eyes both Ashvatthama and
Phalguna as he looked at them repeatedly. Filled with rage, Krishna
addressed Partha in an affectionate tone, saying, "This, O Partha, that I
behold in battle regarding thee, is exceedingly strange, since Drona's
son, O Partha, surpasseth thee today! Hast thou not now the energy and
the might of thy arms thou hadst before?
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18TH DEFEAT AT THE HANDS OF NIKUMBHA:
Nikumbha,
the best among the powerful, as he came out, struck the son of Pritha
Arjuna on the head, with a terrible mace, full of thorns. Nikumbha
vanished. the valiant son of Pritha Arjuna who was struck on his head by
the mace became unconscious. He vomited blood and became unconscious.
[Nikumbha struck Arjuna on the head with a mace. Arjuna vomited blood and became unconscious]
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19TH DEFEAT AT THE HANDS OF ASWATTHAMA:
Drona's
son took up another bow that was still more formidable. Stringing it
within the twinkling of an eye, he pierced Arjuna and Keshava, the
latter with three hundred arrows, and the former with a 1,000. And then
Drona's son, with good care, STUPEFYING ARJUNA in that battle, shot
thousands and tens of thousands
and millions of arrows.
[Aswatthama struck Arjuna and Arjuna lost his sense. He would have died without lord Krishna]
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20TH DEFEAT AT THE HANDS OF ORDINARY WARRIOR SUSHARMA.
Then
Susharma, O king, with a straight arrow, pierced Arjuna in the CHEST,
and then he pierced him with three other shafts. DEEPLY PIERCED
therewith and feeling GREAT PAIN, Arjuna sat down on the terrace of his
car. Then all the troops loudly cried out, saying, "PARTH IS SLAIN."
[Susharma
pierced Arjuna in the chest and Arjuna fell unconscious. All warrior
regarded Arjuna as almost dead. Susharma stopped attacking following
dharma of war]
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21ST DEFEAT AT THE HANDS OF ASWATTHAMA
"With
those falling shafts, O monarch sped by Drona's son, both Krishna and
Dhananjaya were completely shrouded on the car. Then the valiant
Ashvatthama, with hundreds of keen arrows, STUPEFIED both Madhava and
the son of Pandu in that battle. the son of Pandu, for all that,
beholding the son of Drona then, became GREATLY STUPEFIED.
[Aswatthama pierced Arjuna and Arjuna lost his senses]
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22ND DEFEAT AT THE HANDS OF DEVRAJ INDRA (But Arjun was as usual spared by his daddy)
Indra
saw all this, and desire to save his friend's son, the wielder of the
thunderbolt, by raising a violent wind, deprived Arjuna of
consciousness. During those few moments, Aswasena succeeded in effecting
his escape
[Indra caused arjuna to fly in air and arjuna fell unconscious. Indra struck him unconscious without any weapon]
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23RD DEFEAT AT THE HANDS OF ACHYUTAYUS STRUCK ARJUNA AND ARJUNA FELL UNCONSCIOUS
"Meanwhile, the mighty car-warrior
Achyutayus
forcibly struck the son of Pandu with a keen-pointed spear. Deeply
pierced therewith, Partha supported himself by seizing the flag-staff.
Then a leonine shout was sent forth by all the troops, O monarch, in the
belief that Dhananjaya was DEPRIVED OF LIFE".
[Arjuna
fell unconscious. They could have killed Arjuna when the latter was
unconscious, but they followed the rules of war and spared Arjuna]
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24TH DEFEAT AT THE HANDS OF SRUTAYUS:
Then
that foremost of car-warriors viz., Srutayus filled with wrath, struck
Dhananjaya with a well-tempered lance. That crusher of foes viz.,
Arjuna, then, deeply pierced by his mighty foe, swooned away in that
battle, stupefying Kesava also (by that act). Meanwhile, the mighty
car-warrior Achyutayus forcibly struck the son of Pandu with a
keen-pointed spear. By the act he seemed to pour an acid upon the wound
of the high-souled son of Pandu. Deeply pierced therewith, Partha
supported himself by seizing the flag-staff. Then a leonine shout was
sent forth by all the troops, O monarch, in the belief that Dhananjaya
was deprived of life. And Krishna also was scorched with grief upon
beholding Partha senseless. Then Kesava comforted Dhananjaya with
soothing words..
(Arjuna
Literally was so overcome with the attack by Srutayus that he needed to
be comforted by lord Krishna like an old person comforts a kid who is
scared of lightening)
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25TH
DEFEAT AT THE HANDS OF ORDINARY WARRIOR DHRITAVARMAN. Once again Arjun
was spared because the great Dhritavarman did not keep attacking.
Dhritavarman
shot a blazing arrow at him. Deeply pierced in the hand by that arrow,
Vijaya became stupefied and his bow Gandiva fell down on the Earth from
his relaxed grasp. The form of that bow, O king, when it fell from the
grasp of Arjuna, resembled O Bharata, that of the bow of Indra (that is
seen in the welkin after a shower). When that great and celestial bow
fell down, O monarch, Dhritavarman laughed loudly in battle.
[Dhritavarman struck Arjuna deeply. Gandiva fell from his hand. Arjuna fell unconscious along with Gandiva]
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26TH DEFEAT AT THE HANDS OF SUDAKSHINA who STRUCK ARJUNA AND ARJUNA LOST HIS SENSE
Then
the brave Sudakshina, filled with wrath, hurled at the wielder of
Gandiva a terrible dart made wholly of iron and decked with bells. That
dart blazing as a large meteor, and emitting sparks of fire, approaching
that mighty car-warrior pierced him through and fell down on the earth.
Deeply struck by that dart and overcome with a swoon, Arjuna soon
enough recovered.
[Sudakshina struck Arjuna and Arjuna was almost dead. Arjuna fell unconscious]
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27TH DEFEAT OF ARJUNA AT THE HANDS of ORDINARY SAINDHIVA FOOT SOLDIERS:
Even
such was the aspect which all nature assumed when that hero was
OVERWHELMED with showers of shafts. Indeed, when Phalguna, that foremost
one among the Bharatas, was thus AFFLICTED, those marvels were seen.
Overwhelmed by that dense cloud of arrows, Arjuna became STUPEFIED. His
bow, Gandiva, fell down from his relaxed grip and his leathern fence
also slipped down.
[Arjuna
became stupefied and his bow slept from his hand. Finally, Arjuna fell
unconscious. At last, Saptarishi helped Arjuna to regain his sense]
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28TH DEFEAT OF ARJUNA AT THE HANDS OF DURYODHANA:
DURYODHAN DEFEATED ARJUN, BHIMA, YUDHISTIR, NAKULA AND SAHEDEVA IN A GROUP ATTACK SIMULTANEOUSLY:
Like
the sun himself at midday scorching everything with his rays, thy son
scorched the hostile host with his arrowy showers. The PANDAVAS became
INCAPABLE OF EVEN LOOKING AT their brother (Duryodhana). Despairing of
vanquishing their foes, they set their hearts ON FLYING AWAY FROM THE
FIELD."
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29TH DEFEAT AT THE HANDS OF DURYODHANA. Once again Duryodhan routed Arjuna in a group attack:
Then
Duryodhana CHALLENGED ALL THE PANDAVAS TO BATTLE, like the Asura Vali
in days of yore challenging all the celestials. The Pandavas then,
UNITING TOGETHER and filled with rage, upbraiding him repeatedly and
SHOOTING DIVERSE WEAPONS. rushed against the roaring Duryodhana. The
latter, however, FEARLESSLY SMOTE his foes with shafts. The prowess then
we saw of thy son was EXCEEDINGLY WONDERFUL, since all the Pandavas
TOGETHER were UNABLE TO TRANSGRESS him."
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30TH DEFEAT AT THE HANDS OF DURYODHANA. This time it was Arjuna and 5 Pandava's along with Satyaki:
Then
Duryodhana, seeing from a near point his army broken, alone resisted
all the Parthas advancing furiously. Beholding the Pandavas on their
cars as also Dhrishtadyumna the son of Prishata and the invincible chief
of the Anartas (Satyaki), the Kuru king covered all of them with sharp
arrows. The enemy (at that time) approached him not, like mortal
creatures fearing to approach the Destroyer standing before them.
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31ST DEFEAT AT THE HANDS OF BHISHMA:
roars,
and also blew their conches, O sire. And Drona's son and Duryodhana,
and thy son Vikarna, surrounding Bhishma in that combat, stood, O sire,
for battle. And so all the Pandavas, surrounding Dhananjaya, stood for
fierce conflict. And the battle then commenced. And the son of Ganga
pierced Partha in that combat with nine shafts. And Arjuna pierced him
in return with ten shafts penetrating into the very vitals. Then, with a
thousand arrows, well shot, Pandu's son Arjuna, famed for his skill in
battle, shrouded Bhishma on all sides. That arrowy net, however, of
Partha, O king, Bhishma the son of Santanu baffled with an arrowy net
(of his own). And both well-pleased, and both delighting in battle,
fought with each other without each gaining any advantage over the
other, and each desirous of counteracting the other's feats. And the
successive flights of arrows shot from Bhishma's bow were seen to be
dispersed by the shafts of Arjuna. And so the flights of arrows shot by
Arjuna, cut off by the arrows of Ganga's son, all fell down on the
ground. And Arjuna pierced Bhishma with five and twenty arrows of sharp
points. And Bhishma, too, in that combat, pierced Partha in return with
nine arrows. And those two mighty warriors, those chastisers of foes,
piercing each other's steeds, and also the shafts and the wheels of each
other's cars, began to sport. Then, O king, Bhishma, that foremost of
smiters, struck Vasudeva between his two breasts with three arrows. And
the slayer of Madhu, struck with those shafts shot from Bhishma's bow,
shone in that battle, O king, like a flowering Kinsuka. Then Arjuna,
indignant at seeing Madhava
(Here
as usual Sanjaya doesn't call it Defeat but Arjuna stops fighting
Bhishma and goes elsewhere. He effectively abandoned the fight after
seeing Bhishma constantly routing him and injuring lord Krishna)
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32ND DEFEAT AT THE HANDS OF BHISHMA:
Dhananjaya
hath engaged in the dreadful battle. Celebrated over the whole world,
why O hero, art thou afraid today of Bhishma. 1'--Hearing these words of
king, Yudhishthira the just, that were harsh, though fraught with sound
reason, the high-souled Sikhandin, regarding them as good counsel,
speedily set himself about slaying Bhishma. 2 And while Sikhandin was
proceeding to battle with great impetuosity for falling upon Bhishma,
Salya began to resist him with terrible weapons that were difficult of
being baffled. The son of Drupada, however, O king, of prowess equal to
that of Indra himself, beholding those weapons effulgent as the fire
that blazeth forth at the hour of universal dissolution (thus)
displayed, was not confounded in the least. Checking those weapons by
means of his own shafts, that mighty bowman, viz., Sikhandin, stayed
there without moving. And then he took up another weapon, viz., the
fierce Varuna weapon for baffling (those fiery weapons of Salya). Then
the celestials staying in the firmament, and the kings of the earth
also, all beheld Salya's weapons baffled by that Varuna weapon of
Sikhandin. Meanwhile, the high-souled and heroic Bhishma, O king, in
that battle, cut off the bow and the variegated standard also of Pandu's
son, king Yudhishthira of the Ajamida race. Thereupon casting aside his
bow and arrows upon beholding Yudhishthira overwhelmed with fear, and
taking up a mace in that battle, Bhimasena rushed, on foot,
at.......Then Arjuna, having vanquished those kings headed by Susarman
along with all their followers, in the midst of their division,
proceeded towards his tent.
(Here
Arjuna is fighting Bhishma. Sikhandi already having gotten defeated is
running away. Yudhistira stops him and ridicules him into fighting, then
the whole group of Pandavas join in and later the epic Mentions
everyone on Pandava to be running away including Yudhistira and
sikhandi. Bhishma Literally routed everyone and later Arjuna is seen
silently fighting Susharma instead of engaging with Bhishma)
_________________________________________
33RD DEFEAT AT THE HANDS OF BHISHMA once again:
Sanjaya
said, "The Pandavas were incapable of even looking at Bhishma excited
with rage in battle and scorching every side like the Sun himself
shedding scorching heat. Then all the (Pandava) troops, at the command
of Dharma's son, rushed at the son of Ganga who was grinding
(everything) with his whetted arrows, Bhishma, however, who delighted in
battle felled the mightiest of bowmen amongst the Srinjayas and the
Panchalas, with his shafts. Though thus slaughtered by Bhishma, the
Panchalas along with the Somakas still rushed impetuously at him,
forsaking the fear of death. The heroic Bhishma, the son of Santanu,
however, in that battle, cut off, O king, the arms and heads of their
car-warriors. Thy sire, Devavrata deprived their car-warriors of cars.
_______________________________________
34TH DEFEAT OF ARJUNA BY KARNA'S BHARGAVASTRA:
Beholding
them thus slaughtered, O sire, by the Suta's son, all creatures, even
beasts and birds, were filled with fear. The Srinjayas then, thus
slaughtered in battle by the Suta's son, repeatedly called upon Arjuna
and Vasudeva like the spirits of the dead within Yama's dominions
calling upon Yama to rescue them. Hearing those wails of the troops
slaughtered with Karna's shafts, and beholding the terrible bhargava
weapon invoked into existence Kunti's son Dhananjaya said unto Vasudeva
these words, "Behold, O Krishna of mighty arms, the prowess of the
bhargava weapon! It cannot, by any means, be baffled! Behold the Suta's
son also, O Krishna, filled with rage in this great battle and
resembling the Destroyer himself, in prowess and employed in achieving
such a fierce feat! Urging his steeds incessantly, he is repeatedly
casting angry glances upon me! I will never be able to fly away from
Karna in battle! The person that is living, may, in battle, meet with
either victory or defeat. To the man, however, that is dead, O
Hrishikesha, even death is victory. How can defeat be his that is dead?"
Thus addressed by Partha, Krishna replied unto that foremost of
intelligent men and chastiser of foes, these words that were suitable to
the occasion,
(Karna
Invoked his Bhargavastra. Arjuna got so scared that he clearly said how
they can win the war if one is dead and also confessed at his inability
to counter Bhargavastra)
_________________________________________
35TH DEFEAT OF ARJUNA AT THE HANDS of KARNA:
he then entered the car-division of the Suta's son. Seeing the troops
overwhelmed by me in battle, and struck with fear, and beholding the
elephants and steeds flying away, that grinder (of hostile hosts), viz.,
Karna approached me quickly with fifty great carwarriors. Slaying them
all and avoiding Karna, I have quickly come hither for seeing thee. All
the Pancalas are afflicted with fear at sight of Karna like kine at the
scent of a lion. The Prabhadrakas also, O king, having approached Karna,
are like persons that have entered the wide open jaws of Death. Karna
has already despatched to Yama's abode full seventeen hundred of those
distressed car-warriors.
(Arjuna
himself describes how Karna approached Arjuna once again. Here Arjuna
killed 50 of Karna's car warriors so Karna in return' killed 1700 of
Arjuna's troops. Finally Arjuna avoided Karna and ran into the tent)
_________________________________
36TH DEFEAT OF ARJUNA AT THE HANDS OF DRONA:
.
Then Arjuna, deprived of strength, shook in all his limbs, like a hill
during an earthquake. Soon, however, regaining for fortitude, Vibhatsu
pierced Drona with many winged arrows. Then Drona struck Vasudeva with
five arrows. And he struck Arjuna with three and seventy arrows, and his
standard with three. Then, O king, the valorous Drona getting the
better of his disciple, within the twinkling of an eye made Arjuna
invisible by means of his arrowy showers. We then beheld the shafts of
Bharadwaja's son falling in continuous lines, and his bow also was seen
to present the wonderful aspect of being incessantly drawn to a circle.
And those shafts, countless in number, and winged with the Kanka
feathers, shot by Drona in that battle, incessantly fell, O king, on
Dhananjaya and Vasudeva. Beholding then that battle between Drona and
the son of Pandu, Vasudeva of great intelligence began to reflect upon
the accomplishment of the (important) task.
____________________________________
37TH DEFEAT OF ARJUNA AND ALL THE PANDAVA'S AT THE HANDS OF SHALYA:
We
then beheld the highly wonderful feat that Shalya achieved, since,
alone, he fought with the whole Pandava army. Shalya then, as he stayed
in the vicinity of Yudhishthira in that battle, looked like the planet
Saturn in the vicinity of the Moon. Afflicting the king with shafts that
resembled snakes of virulent poison, Shalya rushed against Bhima,
covering him with showers of arrows. Beholding that lightness of hand
and that mastery over weapons displayed by Shalya the troops of both the
armies applauded him highly. Afflicted by Shalya the Pandavas,
exceedingly mangled, fled away, leaving the battle, and disregarding the
cries of Yudhishthira commanding them to stop.
_________________________________________
38TH DEFEAT OF ARJUNA AT THE HANDS OF KARNA:
Then
Karna, with a number of whetted shafts endued with great energy, cut
off the string of Arjuna's bow. Similarly he cut off the second string,
and then the third, and then the fourth, and then the fifth. The sixth
also was cut off by Vrisha, and then the seventh, then the eighth, then
the ninth, then the tenth, and then at last the eleventh. Capable of
shooting hundreds upon hundreds of arrows, Karna knew not that Partha
had a hundred strings to his bow.
(Here if it hadn't been for celestial bow of Arjuna he would be dead countless times)
______________________________________
39TH DEFEAT AT THE HANDS OF KARNA:
The
son of Kunti then, aiming at Karna sped another favourite weapon of his
that was inspired with the energy of Agni. Sped by Arjuna, that weapon
blazed up with its own energy. Karna, however, quenched that
conflagration with the Varuna weapon. The Suta's son also, by the clouds
he created, caused all the points of the compass to be shrouded with a
darkness such as may be seen on a rainy day. The son of Pandu, endued
with great energy, fearlessly dispelled those clouds by means of the
Vayavya weapon in the very sight of Karna. The Suta's son then, for
slaying the son of Pandu, took up a terrible arrow blazing like fire.
When that adored shaft was fixed on the bow-string, the earth, O king,
trembled with her mountains and waters and forests. Violent winds began
to blow, bearing hard pebbles. All the points of the compass became
enveloped with dust. Wails of grief, O Bharata, arose among the gods in
the welkin. Beholding that shaft aimed by the Suta's son, O sire, the
Pandavas, with cheerless hearts, gave themselves up to great sorrow.
That shaft of keen point and endued with the effulgence of Sakra's
thunder, sped from Karna's arms, fell upon Dhananjaya's chest and
penetrated it like a mighty snake penetrating an ant-hill. That grinder
of foes, viz., the high-souled Vibhatsu, thus deeply pierced in that
encounter, began to reel. His grasp became loosened, at which his bow
Gandiva dropped from his hand. He trembled like the prince of mountains
in an earthquake. Availing himself of that opportunity, the mighty
car-warrior Vrisha, desirous of extricating his car-wheel that had been
swallowed up by the earth, jumped down from his vehicle.
(Here
Karna made Arjuna unconsious but spared his life and instead tried to
extract his wheels. Karna was Literally under the effect of curse yet he
overcame Arjuna)
_________________________________
40TH
DEFEAT ONCE AGAIN AT THE HANDS OF KARNA. Here lord Krishna saved
Arjuna's life as always from the Naga weapon of Karna that was going to
behead Arjun:
Bent
upon winning the victory, O king, he quickly said unto his rival, "Thou
art slain, O Phalguna!" Sped from Karna's arms, that shaft of awful
whizz, resembling fire or the sun in splendour, as it left the
bow-string, blazed up in the welkin and seemed to divide it by a line
such as is visible on the crown of a woman dividing her tresses.
Beholding that shaft blazing in the welkin, the slayer of Kamsa,
Madhava, with great speed and the greatest ease, pressed down with his
feet that excellent car, causing it to sink about a cubit deep. At this,
the steeds, white as the rays of the moon and decked in trappings of
gold, bending their knees, laid themselves down on the ground. Indeed,
seeing that snake (in the form of an arrow) aimed by Karna, Madhava,
that foremost of all persons endued with might, put forth his strength
and thus pressed down with his feet that car into the earth, whereat the
steeds, (as already said) bending down their knees, laid themselves
down upon the earth when the car itself had sank into it. Then loud
sounds arose in the welkin in applause of Vasudeva. Many celestial
voices were heard, and celestial flowers were showered upon Krishna, and
leonine shouts also were uttered. When the car had thus been pressed
down into the earth through the exertions of the slayer of Madhu, the
excellent ornament of Arjuna's head, celebrated throughout the earth,
the welkin, heaven, and the waters, the Suta's son swept off from the
crown of his rival, with that arrow, in consequence of the very nature
of that snaky weapon and the great care and wrath with which it had been
shot.
_________________________________________
■ CONCLUSION:-
-
A total of 5 times Gandiva fell from the grasp of Arjuna. It proves
that Arjuna was a poor warrior who didn't know the technique to hold a
celestial bow.
-
He remained alive because Lord Krishna was there as protector of
unconscious Arjuna. Otherwise, Arjuna would have been slain by ordinary
soldiers.
-
Disclaimer to Arjunbhakts: Arjuna did get defeated here, don't start
crying that Arjuna only fell unconscious, blah blah because he had
protections of celestial Armour of Brishapati, Lord Krishna, Lord
Hanuman, Lord Shiva, celestial chariot' and divine Gandiva. So each time
he fell unconscious and got defeated despite having so many protections
just proves how overrated he was and without protections, he would have
been cut to smithereens.
In the Kurukshetra War
1) Lord Krishna saved Arjuna-
•Five times from certain death by Karna
•Three Time from certain death by Bhishma
•Twice from certain death by Bhagdatta
•Once from certain death by ashwatthama
•Once from certain death by srutayudha
•Once from certain death by foot soldiers (samsaptakas)
2) Lord Hanuman saved Arjuna from certain death by Karna and Drona.
3) Satyaki saved Arjuna twice from Karna
4) Many other defeats like Arjuna's defeat against the robbers and baburvyahuna isn't mentioned.
5) In the same way even Dusasana prevailed over all the warrior's while helping Bhishma fight.
6) Similarly Defeats of Arjuna by Drona on many a says isn't mentioned.
7)
Overall even with the help of god's and so many protections, celestial
chariot', etc. Arjuna is just an overrated warrior. Also you can see
from quite a few fights above how Sanjaya doesn't use the word defeat.
Arjun bhakts use that to justify Arjuna was undefeated. That's just poor
excuse for Arjuna retreating, falling unconsious for a long time and
getting protected by Krishna time and again from certain death does
prove he is nothing but overglorified product of nepotism.
Last but not least.Ghatotkacha sacrificed his life to save Arjuna's
life. Again Lord Krishna helped Arjuna in killing Jayadratha using his
illusions, otherwise Arjuna had to burn himself in fire according to his
vow.
Credits: Arya
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