Arjuna's Conquering - The Victorious Friend of Kṛṣṇa
Arjuna is celebrated throughout Vedic history as the ultimate, invincible warrior. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that his ability to conquer enemies, gather immense wealth, and even overcome the bodily demands of sleep were all direct results of his unalloyed friendship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Kṛṣṇa.
Dhanañjaya: The Conqueror of Wealth
To perform grand sacrifices, a king requires vast amounts of riches. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that Arjuna earned the title Dhanañjaya because he successfully conquered foreign lands and fetched the necessary wealth for his elder brother, Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira.
- Arjuna's another name is Dhananjaya. Dhananjaya means "one who can conquer over riches." His brother was in need of money, and he brought money. Therefore, from that day, his name was Dhananjaya, "one can conquer over riches."
- Arjuna is referred to as Dhananjaya in this verse (Bhagavad-gita 1.15) because he helped his elder brother in fetching wealth when it was required by the king to make expenditures for different sacrifices.
- In Bhagavad-gita (7.7) Krsna asserts His superiority Himself in this way: O conqueror of wealth (Arjuna), there is no truth superior to Me. Everything rests upon Me, as pearls are strung on a thread.
- O conqueror of wealth, Arjuna, have you heard this attentively with your mind? And are your illusions and ignorance now dispelled? Bhagavad-gita 18.72.
Guḍākeśa: Conquering Sleep and Ignorance
A true conqueror must overcome internal enemies as well as external ones. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that Arjuna was addressed as Guḍākeśa because his constant absorption in Kṛṣṇa allowed him to conquer the darkness of sleep and material illusion.
- Arjuna is referred to as Gudakesa (in Bhagavad-gita 1.24). Gudaka means sleep, and one who conquers sleep is called gudakesa. Sleep also means ignorance. So Arjuna conquered both sleep and ignorance because of his friendship with Krsna.
- In this verse (of Bhagavad-gita 10.20) Arjuna is addressed as Gudakesa, which means one who has conquered the darkness of sleep.
- At that time Arjuna, the great warrior and conqueror of sleep, who is the intimate friend of the most beloved Supreme Lord (Krsna), took up an umbrella which had a handle of jewels and was embroidered with lace and pearls.
- O scion of Bharata (Arjuna), O conqueror of the foe, all living entities are born into delusion, overcome by the dualities of desire and hate. This is an explanation of how the living entity falls down into this material world.
Military Conquests Across the World
As the chief military commander of the Pāṇḍavas, Arjuna's conquests were legendary. Śrīla Prabhupāda describes how he subjugated vast tracts of the earth, mystical northern provinces, and even the demigods when empowered by the Lord.
- He (Yudhisthira) sent Arjuna, accompanied by the soldiers of Kekayadesa, to conquer the kings of the northern side, and he ordered Bhimasena, accompanied by the soldiers of Madradesa (Madras), to conquer the kings on the eastern side.
- Ketumala was conquered by Arjuna. A description of this part of the world is available in the Mahabharata. It is said that it is situated on the western side of the Meru Parvata, and inhabitants of this province used to live up to ten thousand years.
- Kimpurusa-varsa is situated north of the great Himalaya Mountain, which is eighty thousand miles in length and height and which covers sixteen thousand miles in width. These parts of the world were also conquered by Arjuna.
- Because He (Krsna) was near me (Arjuna), it was possible for me to conquer with great dexterity the powerful King of heaven, Indradeva, along with his demigod associates and thus enable the fire-god to devastate the Khandava Forest.
The True Source of Victory
Despite his immense personal strength and skill, Arjuna's success was never independent. Śrīla Prabhupāda concludes that Arjuna was a conqueror simply because Kṛṣṇa was his friend, arranging all victories beforehand and allowing His devotee to take the glorious credit.
- Arjuna was always a conqueror because the Lord (Krsna) was his friend.
- Arjuna is described here as the conqueror, and Krsna is described as his intimate friend. Bhismadeva, on his bed of arrows after the Battle of Kuruksetra, is remembering the particular dress of Lord Krsna which He put on as the driver of Arjuna's chariot.
- It was Krsna's program that the warriors were all destined to die, and Krsna gave Arjuna the opportunity of taking the credit of conquering them.
- If he (Arjuna) should conquer his enemies, he would enjoy the kingdom; and if he should die in the battle, he would be elevated to the heavenly planets whose doors were wide open to him. Fighting would be for his benefit in either case.
Conclusion
As Śrīla Prabhupāda masterfully reveals, the conquests of Arjuna were not merely historical military feats, but profound spiritual lessons in the power of devotion. Whether he was acting as Dhanañjaya to gather wealth for his brother's sacred sacrifices, or as Guḍākeśa to conquer the darkness of sleep and ignorance, Arjuna's invincibility stemmed entirely from his unbreakable bond with the Supreme Lord. By himself, no human can conquer the powerful demigods or overcome the dualities of material nature. However, because Arjuna placed his full faith in Kṛṣṇa and fought strictly according to the Lord's divine program, he was given the ultimate credit for conquering the greatest foes. His life stands as the eternal proof that whoever aligns their will with the Supreme Personality of Godhead becomes the supreme conqueror in both the material and spiritual worlds.
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