The Relationship between Lord Krishna and Arjuna

Lord Krishna and the Pandava prince Arjuna are two major characters in the Mahabharata epic. They were relatives as well as close friends. However, their relationship was complex, as one was a God (Krishna) and the other, a human (Arjuna). Krishna was a guide and mentor to Arjuna during the war.

Krishna’s father, Vasudeva, is Kunti’s (mother of the Pandavas) brother. Arjuna was Kunti’s son by Lord Indra. Arjuna married Krishna’s sister Subhadra. Arjuna and Krishna were born as Nara and Narayana in one of their previous births. Nara and Narayana are also manifestations of the human soul and the supreme spirit.  The love between Krishna and Arjuna was boundless, and they were more like soul mates.

Krishna and Arjuna in the Mahabharata

The Mahabharata contains many incidents that reveal their friendship. Once, Krishna had promised Indra that he would always help Arjuna. He also kept his promise. 

Krishna became Arjuna’s charioteer during the Kurukshetra war and helped the Pandavas win the war.

Krishna was always present to guide Arjuna. It was Krishna who told him about Nishkama karma and encouraged him to do his duty as a warrior when he hesitated to fight his kith and kin. The relationship between Arjuna and Krishna reveals that God is our one true companion with whom we can have a perfect relationship.

Together, the duo form a great and invincible team. They symbolize the relationship between God and Man.

Arjuna Marries Krishna’s Sister

Arjuna fell in love with Krishna’s sister Subhadra and married her after abducting her.  This caused problems in Krishna’s family. But Krishna approved of their marriage. He considered his friendship with Arjuna more important than his family's wishes.

As brothers-in-law, the bond between Krishna and Arjuna became stronger.

Burning of the Khandava Forest

Once, Agni, the fire god, felt very weak and sick. Lord Brahma told him that it was due to excessive consumption of ghee (during Yagnas, people offer lots of ghee to Agni). He advised him to go to earth and burn a big forest to recover his health.

So, Agni Dev went to earth and set fire to the forest. All the creatures in the forest began running helter-skelter. The king of snakes, Takshaka, was a friend of Lord Indra, the king of gods, and he dwelt in that forest. To save him, Indra caused rain, which doused the fire. Lord Brahma told Agni to approach Arjuna and Krishna, who were camping near the Khandava forest. The two agreed to help Agni, who gave Arjuna a magic quiver (Gandiva) with an inexhaustible supply of arrows.

Arjuna shot his arrows in the sky and blocked the rain. An annoyed Indra took his large army and fought Arjuna and Lord Krishna. Meanwhile, the asuras in the forest came out. Lord Krishna fought the asuras, while Arjuna fought Indra’s army. Finally, Indra conceded defeat.

War Between Krishna And Arjuna

Once, Krishna and Arjuna went to war against each other on behalf of Sage Galav and Chitrasen Gandharva, respectively. While Krishna had promised the sage that he would kill the Gandharva, Arjuna promised Subhadra that he would save his life. Neither won the battle which ended after Arjuna requested him to stop his leela.

Krishna Becomes Arjuna's Charioteer

Before the Kurukshetra war, Arjuna and his opponent Duryodhana tried to recruit Krishna to fight for their own side. Krishna gave them the option to choose either his army or himself as an advisor.  Arjuna chose Krishna as his advisor. This reveals his loyalty and friendship with Krishna.

During the war, Krishna chose the role of Arjuna’s charioteer, though  Arjuna felt uncomfortable about it, as Krishna was his dear friend.

Little did he know that Krishna had already written the script of the great war and who would win and lose, even before the first arrow left his bow.

Krishna Preaches the Bhagwad Geeta To Arjuna

On the very first day of the war, Arjuna was upset when he saw the elders of his family, like Bhishma, Drona, etc., ranged opposite him on the battlefield. Arjun did not wish to fight them, so he asked Krishna to show him a way out. Krishna then preached the Bhagwad Gita to Arjuna. He reminded Arjuna that, as a warrior, his duty was to fight. He also encouraged him to be a Karma yogi. On hearing Krishna’s discourse, Arjuna’s doubts vanished, and he went into battle. He realized that he was fighting Adharma rather than his relatives. Krishna also revealed his cosmic form (Virat rupa) to him.

Krishna Faces 12 Arrows to Save Arjuna

During the Mahabharata war, Karna shot a snake arrow at Arjuna. Karna had kept this arrow just to attack Arjuna. The arrow was actually a snake called Aswasena in Patal lok and was an enemy of Arjuna. Arjuna had killed the snake’s mother in the Khandava forest, and Aswasena wanted revenge.

Aswasena sat on Karna’s arrow. Arjuna did not recognize the serpent in the form of an arrow, but Krishna recognized Aswasena and pressed the chariot with his feet. The chariot wheels sank into the ground, and the horses sat down. Hence, the arrow hit Arjuna’s head, not neck, and his crown fell down. Thus, Krishna saved Arjuna. When Krishna and Arjuna got down to lift the wheels of the chariot, Karna shot 12 arrows, which Krishna took. 

Krishna Saves the Life of Arjuna

Jayadratha killed Arjuna’s son Abhimanyu, and on hearing it, Arjuna became very angry and vowed to kill Jayadratha before sunset the next day or take his own life. But Jayadradha had a boon from his father, by which the one who killed Jayadratha and dropped his head would have his head broken into several thousand pieces. Hence, killing Jayadratha proved very difficult.

The next day, the Kauravas hid Jayadratha. As it was nearing sunset, Krishna used his Sudarshan Chakra to obscure the Sun. Thinking that the Sun had set, Jayadratha came out.  Arjuna cut off Jayadratha’s head with his arrow. It fell into the lap of Jayadratha’s father. Jayadratha’s father, who was doing penance, stood up suddenly, and Jayadratha’s head fell down, and his head broke into thousands of pieces.

Krishna Shatters Arjuna's Pride

Karna and Arjuna were fighting face to face. The moment Arjuna’s arrow was released, Karna’s chariot would retreat. When Karna released his arrow, Arjuna’s chariot went back seven steps. But Krishna only praised Karna’s skills in battle.

On seeing this, Arjuna got upset and questioned Krishna. Krishna replied that both Lord Hanuman and himself were seated in Arjuna’s chariot. In their absence, his chariot would fail to exist. So, Karna, who had no such divine help, was indeed a Mahabali (Supreme fighter). Arjuna realized his mistake.

Arjuna understood this truth better when the war came to an end. Every day, when they returned from the war, Krishna would descend, then help Arjuna down. On the final day of the war, Krishna told Arjuna to get down from the chariot and move a little farther. The moment Krishna got down from the chariot, it was burnt to ashes. 

On seeing Arjuna’s surprise, Krishna said that his chariot had been consumed long before, as it was destroyed by the divine weapons of Bhishma, Kripacharya, Dronacharya, and Karna. It was Krishna’s resolve that had kept it alive till the war ended. His words shattered Arjuna’s pride and ego. Bowing down, he touched the Lord’s feet.

Arjuna thought that he was the greatest devotee of Krishna. One day, Krishna and Arjuna went for a walk. On the way, they ran into a poor Brahmin who was eating dry grass, a sword hanging from his waist. Arjuna asked him why he was carrying a sword. The Brahmin replied, “I wish to punish four people. Narada is first of all, as he does not let my Lord rest. The second is Draupadi. She was audacious enough to call on my Lord when he was about to eat. Also, she gave him leftover food.’ Arjuna asked, “And who is your third enemy?” “Heartless Prahlad,” replied the Brahmin. “He put my Lord in a pan of hot oil and made him appear from the pillar. My fourth enemy is Arjuna. He made my Lord his charioteer. How much trouble he must have undergone?” While saying this, his eyes welled up with tears. Hearing this, Arjuna’s pride vanished. He asked for Krishna’s forgiveness, saying, “I did not know you had so many devotees in this world. I am nothing.”

Conclusion

In the modern world and lingo, the relationship between Krishna and Arjuna would probably be called a bromance. They were first cousins and close friends who understood each other and delighted in each other’s company, but their relationship often went beyond friendship. 

Supposedly, when they first met as young men, Krishna told Arjuna that, though he didn’t know it yet, they would become great friends one day, and it was destiny.

Their relationship grows and changes with time as they learn how to deal with different events in life and how to act righteous always. They also learn from and with one another, as in the burning of the Khandava Forest and during the Kurukshetra war.

The two men – one human and the other a god - complete one another. In some versions of the Mahabharata, they are even referred to as the two Krishnas, as they are totally in sync with one another. They are two beings with the same mind.

There is stability, equality, and emotional support in this bond, on both sides. Krishna guides Arjuna and ensures that he does not stray from his dharmic duties. 

The ‘warrior friendship’ theme exists in many cultures and mythologies, for example, Patroklos and Achilles. In most such cases, one man will be greater or more important than the other.

The Arjuna-Krishna bond signifies our relationship with God and how human beings should treat God and vice versa. It is a perfect friendship informed by trust, enlightenment, guidance, and support. 

It teaches us that God is our true companion in life. Krishna and Arjuna make a great team. They are God and man working as one. Together, they are unbeatable. They are equals who support and respect one another.