Arjun Quotes in Sanskrit With Meaning: Bio, WhatsApp Status and Shlokas
Arjun is the archer who never turned back without winning — and also the man who sat down in his chariot and said he would not fight. That's why people quote him: for focus, for a promise kept, and for the honesty of admitting doubt. Here are the Arjun shlokas people reach for most for an Instagram bio, a WhatsApp status or a tattoo — each one complete in Sanskrit, never cut in half, with how to read it and its meaning in Hindi and English.
Every shloka comes with who says it and where it is in the Mahabharata. A few belong to Krishna or Sanjaya, speaking to or about Arjun — we say so. And some of the most shared "Arjun quotes" are modern lines; those are marked near the end.
Arjun Sanskrit shlokas with meaning
The most loved first. The Gita verses are the text as it is usually printed, checked word for word against the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute's critical edition of the Mahabharata; the other verses are from that critical edition, with references as Parva · chapter.verse. Each card is a whole shloka, with how to read it and its meaning in English and Hindi — use all of it, or the line that speaks to you.
नष्टो मोहः स्मृतिर्लब्धा त्वत्प्रसादान्मयाच्युत ।
स्थितोऽस्मि गतसन्देहः करिष्ये वचनं तव ॥
स्थितोऽस्मि गतसन्देहः करिष्ये वचनं तव ॥
naṣṭo mohaḥ smṛtir labdhā tvatprasādān mayācyuta
sthito 'smi gatasandehaḥ kariṣye vacanaṃ tava
sthito 'smi gatasandehaḥ kariṣye vacanaṃ tava
“My delusion is destroyed; by your grace, Achyuta, I have regained my memory of who I am. I stand firm, free of doubt. I will do as you say.”
हे अच्युत, आपकी कृपा से मेरा मोह नष्ट हो गया और मुझे स्मृति मिल गई। मैं संदेह-रहित होकर स्थित हूँ; मैं आपका वचन पूरा करूँगा।
Bhagavad Gita 18.73 · Arjun to Krishna
कार्पण्यदोषोपहतस्वभावः पृच्छामि त्वां धर्मसम्मूढचेताः ।
यच्छ्रेयः स्यान्निश्चितं ब्रूहि तन्मे शिष्यस्तेऽहं शाधि मां त्वां प्रपन्नम् ॥
यच्छ्रेयः स्यान्निश्चितं ब्रूहि तन्मे शिष्यस्तेऽहं शाधि मां त्वां प्रपन्नम् ॥
kārpaṇyadoṣopahatasvabhāvaḥ pṛcchāmi tvāṃ dharmasammūḍhacetāḥ
yac chreyaḥ syān niścitaṃ brūhi tan me śiṣyas te 'haṃ śādhi māṃ tvāṃ prapannam
yac chreyaḥ syān niścitaṃ brūhi tan me śiṣyas te 'haṃ śādhi māṃ tvāṃ prapannam
“My nature is overcome by weakness and pity; my mind is confused about dharma. I ask you: tell me for certain what is right. I am your student; teach me, for I have come to you.”
दीनता के दोष ने मेरे स्वभाव को दबा लिया है, धर्म के विषय में मेरा मन भ्रमित है। मैं आपसे पूछता हूँ — जो निश्चित रूप से कल्याणकारी हो, वह मुझे बताइए। मैं आपका शिष्य हूँ, आपकी शरण में आया हूँ, मुझे सिखाइए।
Bhagavad Gita 2.7 · Arjun to Krishna
चञ्चलं हि मनः कृष्ण प्रमाथि बलवद्दृढम् ।
तस्याहं निग्रहं मन्ये वायोरिव सुदुष्करम् ॥
तस्याहं निग्रहं मन्ये वायोरिव सुदुष्करम् ॥
cañcalaṃ hi manaḥ kṛṣṇa pramāthi balavad dṛḍham
tasyāhaṃ nigrahaṃ manye vāyor iva suduṣkaram
tasyāhaṃ nigrahaṃ manye vāyor iva suduṣkaram
“The mind is restless, Krishna — turbulent, strong and stubborn. Holding it still seems to me as hard as holding the wind.”
हे कृष्ण, मन बड़ा चंचल, विचलित करने वाला, बलवान और हठी है। उसे वश में करना मुझे वायु को रोकने जितना कठिन लगता है।
Bhagavad Gita 6.34 · Arjun to Krishna
त्यक्त्वाधर्मं च लोभं च मोहं चोद्यममास्थिताः ।
युध्यध्वमनहंकारा यतो धर्मस्ततो जयः ॥
एवं राजन्विजानीहि ध्रुवोऽस्माकं रणे जयः ।
यथा मे नारदः प्राह यतः कृष्णस्ततो जयः ॥
युध्यध्वमनहंकारा यतो धर्मस्ततो जयः ॥
एवं राजन्विजानीहि ध्रुवोऽस्माकं रणे जयः ।
यथा मे नारदः प्राह यतः कृष्णस्ततो जयः ॥
tyaktvādharmaṃ ca lobhaṃ ca mohaṃ codyamam āsthitāḥ
yudhyadhvam anahaṃkārā yato dharmas tato jayaḥ
evaṃ rājan vijānīhi dhruvo 'smākaṃ raṇe jayaḥ
yathā me nāradaḥ prāha yataḥ kṛṣṇas tato jayaḥ
yudhyadhvam anahaṃkārā yato dharmas tato jayaḥ
evaṃ rājan vijānīhi dhruvo 'smākaṃ raṇe jayaḥ
yathā me nāradaḥ prāha yataḥ kṛṣṇas tato jayaḥ
“Give up adharma, greed and delusion, take up effort, and fight without ego: where there is dharma, there is victory. Know this, king — our victory in battle is certain. As Narada told me: where Krishna is, there is victory.”
अधर्म, लोभ और मोह को छोड़कर, उद्यम का सहारा लेकर, अहंकार-रहित होकर युद्ध करो — जहाँ धर्म है, वहीं विजय है। हे राजन्, जान लो कि रण में हमारी विजय निश्चित है; जैसा नारद ने मुझसे कहा था — जहाँ कृष्ण हैं, वहीं विजय है।
Mahabharata · Bhishma Parva 6.21.11–12 · Arjun to Yudhishthira, before the battle
यत्र योगेश्वरः कृष्णो यत्र पार्थो धनुर्धरः ।
तत्र श्रीर्विजयो भूतिर्ध्रुवा नीतिर्मतिर्मम ॥
तत्र श्रीर्विजयो भूतिर्ध्रुवा नीतिर्मतिर्मम ॥
yatra yogeśvaraḥ kṛṣṇo yatra pārtho dhanurdharaḥ
tatra śrīr vijayo bhūtir dhruvā nītir matir mama
tatra śrīr vijayo bhūtir dhruvā nītir matir mama
“Wherever there is Krishna, lord of yoga, and wherever there is Partha the archer, there are fortune, victory, prosperity and sound policy that does not waver. That is my belief.”
जहाँ योगेश्वर कृष्ण हैं और जहाँ धनुर्धर पार्थ हैं, वहीं श्री, विजय, ऐश्वर्य और अटल नीति है — ऐसा मेरा मत है।
Bhagavad Gita 18.78 · Sanjaya to Dhritarashtra, about Krishna and Arjun
क्लैब्यं मा स्म गमः पार्थ नैतत्त्वय्युपपद्यते ।
क्षुद्रं हृदयदौर्बल्यं त्यक्त्वोत्तिष्ठ परन्तप ॥
क्षुद्रं हृदयदौर्बल्यं त्यक्त्वोत्तिष्ठ परन्तप ॥
klaibyaṃ mā sma gamaḥ pārtha naitat tvayy upapadyate
kṣudraṃ hṛdayadaurbalyaṃ tyaktvottiṣṭha paraṃtapa
kṣudraṃ hṛdayadaurbalyaṃ tyaktvottiṣṭha paraṃtapa
“Don't give in to unmanliness, Partha; it does not become you. Shake off this petty weakness of heart and rise, scorcher of foes.”
हे पार्थ, कायरता को मत अपनाओ, यह तुम्हें शोभा नहीं देती। हे परन्तप, हृदय की इस तुच्छ दुर्बलता को त्यागकर उठ खड़े हो।
Bhagavad Gita 2.3 · Krishna to Arjun
तस्मात्त्वमुत्तिष्ठ यशो लभस्व
जित्वा शत्रून् भुङ्क्ष्व राज्यं समृद्धम् ।
मयैवैते निहताः पूर्वमेव
निमित्तमात्रं भव सव्यसाचिन् ॥
जित्वा शत्रून् भुङ्क्ष्व राज्यं समृद्धम् ।
मयैवैते निहताः पूर्वमेव
निमित्तमात्रं भव सव्यसाचिन् ॥
tasmāt tvam uttiṣṭha yaśo labhasva
jitvā śatrūn bhuṅkṣva rājyaṃ samṛddham
mayaivaite nihatāḥ pūrvam eva
nimittamātraṃ bhava savyasācin
jitvā śatrūn bhuṅkṣva rājyaṃ samṛddham
mayaivaite nihatāḥ pūrvam eva
nimittamātraṃ bhava savyasācin
“So rise and win glory. Conquer your enemies and enjoy a flourishing kingdom. They have already been slain by me; be only the instrument, Savyasachin.”
इसलिए उठो और यश प्राप्त करो। शत्रुओं को जीतकर समृद्ध राज्य भोगो। ये सब मेरे द्वारा पहले ही मारे जा चुके हैं; हे सव्यसाची, तुम केवल निमित्त बनो।
Bhagavad Gita 11.33 · Krishna to Arjun
गाण्डीवं स्रंसते हस्तात्त्वक्चैव परिदह्यते ।
न च शक्नोम्यवस्थातुं भ्रमतीव च मे मनः ॥
न च शक्नोम्यवस्थातुं भ्रमतीव च मे मनः ॥
gāṇḍīvaṃ sraṃsate hastāt tvak caiva paridahyate
na ca śaknomy avasthātuṃ bhramatīva ca me manaḥ
na ca śaknomy avasthātuṃ bhramatīva ca me manaḥ
“The Gandiva slips from my hand, and my skin is burning. I cannot stand steady; my mind seems to whirl.”
गाण्डीव मेरे हाथ से फिसल रहा है, और त्वचा जल रही है। मैं खड़ा नहीं रह पा रहा, मेरा मन घूम-सा रहा है।
Bhagavad Gita 1.30 · Arjun, seeing his family on both sides
पश्याम्येनं भासमिति द्रोणं पार्थोऽभ्यभाषत ।
न तु वृक्षं भवन्तं वा पश्यामीति च भारत ॥
भासं पश्यसि यद्येनं तथा ब्रूहि पुनर्वचः ।
शिरः पश्यामि भासस्य न गात्रमिति सोऽब्रवीत् ॥
न तु वृक्षं भवन्तं वा पश्यामीति च भारत ॥
भासं पश्यसि यद्येनं तथा ब्रूहि पुनर्वचः ।
शिरः पश्यामि भासस्य न गात्रमिति सोऽब्रवीत् ॥
paśyāmy enaṃ bhāsam iti droṇaṃ pārtho 'bhyabhāṣata
na tu vṛkṣaṃ bhavantaṃ vā paśyāmīti ca bhārata
bhāsaṃ paśyasi yady enaṃ tathā brūhi punar vacaḥ
śiraḥ paśyāmi bhāsasya na gātram iti so 'bravīt
na tu vṛkṣaṃ bhavantaṃ vā paśyāmīti ca bhārata
bhāsaṃ paśyasi yady enaṃ tathā brūhi punar vacaḥ
śiraḥ paśyāmi bhāsasya na gātram iti so 'bravīt
“"I see the bird," Partha told Drona, "but not the tree, and not you." (Drona, pleased, asked again:) "If you see the bird, tell me once more what you see." "I see the bird's head, not its body," he said.”
पार्थ ने द्रोण से कहा, "मुझे यह पक्षी दिखता है, पर न पेड़ दिखता है, न आप।" (द्रोण ने प्रसन्न होकर फिर पूछा) "यदि तुम्हें पक्षी दिखता है, तो फिर बताओ।" अर्जुन बोले, "मुझे पक्षी का सिर दिखता है, उसका शरीर नहीं।"
Mahabharata · Adi Parva 1.123.62 and 1.123.64 · Arjun in Drona's archery test
सर्वाञ्जनपदाञ्जित्वा वित्तमाच्छिद्य केवलम् ।
मध्ये धनस्य तिष्ठामि तेनाहुर्मां धनंजयम् ॥
अभिप्रयामि संग्रामे यदहं युद्धदुर्मदान् ।
नाजित्वा विनिवर्तामि तेन मां विजयं विदुः ॥
मध्ये धनस्य तिष्ठामि तेनाहुर्मां धनंजयम् ॥
अभिप्रयामि संग्रामे यदहं युद्धदुर्मदान् ।
नाजित्वा विनिवर्तामि तेन मां विजयं विदुः ॥
sarvāñ janapadāñ jitvā vittam ācchidya kevalam
madhye dhanasya tiṣṭhāmi tenāhur māṃ dhanaṃjayam
abhiprayāmi saṃgrāme yad ahaṃ yuddhadurmadān
nājitvā vinivartāmi tena māṃ vijayaṃ viduḥ
madhye dhanasya tiṣṭhāmi tenāhur māṃ dhanaṃjayam
abhiprayāmi saṃgrāme yad ahaṃ yuddhadurmadān
nājitvā vinivartāmi tena māṃ vijayaṃ viduḥ
“Having conquered every land and taken its wealth, I stood in the midst of riches — so they call me Dhananjaya. When I go out to battle against fierce fighters, I never return without winning — so they know me as Vijaya.”
सब देशों को जीतकर और उनका धन लेकर मैं धन के बीच खड़ा रहा, इसलिए मुझे धनंजय कहते हैं। जब मैं रण में उन्मत्त योद्धाओं पर चढ़ाई करता हूँ, तो बिना जीते नहीं लौटता — इसलिए मुझे विजय कहते हैं।
Mahabharata · Virata Parva 4.39.11–12 · Arjun to Prince Uttara
हन्त तेऽहं समाचक्षे दश नामानि यानि मे ।
अर्जुनः फल्गुनो जिष्णुः किरीटी श्वेतवाहनः ।
बीभत्सुर्विजयः कृष्णः सव्यसाची धनंजयः ॥
अर्जुनः फल्गुनो जिष्णुः किरीटी श्वेतवाहनः ।
बीभत्सुर्विजयः कृष्णः सव्यसाची धनंजयः ॥
hanta te 'haṃ samācakṣe daśa nāmāni yāni me
arjunaḥ phalguno jiṣṇuḥ kirīṭī śvetavāhanaḥ
bībhatsur vijayaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ savyasācī dhanaṃjayaḥ
arjunaḥ phalguno jiṣṇuḥ kirīṭī śvetavāhanaḥ
bībhatsur vijayaḥ kṛṣṇaḥ savyasācī dhanaṃjayaḥ
“Listen, I will tell you my ten names: Arjuna, Phalguna, Jishnu, Kiriti, Shvetavahana, Bibhatsu, Vijaya, Krishna, Savyasachi and Dhananjaya.”
सुनो, मैं तुम्हें अपने दस नाम बताता हूँ — अर्जुन, फल्गुन, जिष्णु, किरीटी, श्वेतवाहन, बीभत्सु, विजय, कृष्ण, सव्यसाची और धनंजय।
Mahabharata · Virata Parva 4.39.8 · Arjun to Prince Uttara
सत्यं वः प्रतिजानामि श्वोऽस्मि हन्ता जयद्रथम् ।
न चेद्वधभयाद्भीतो धार्तराष्ट्रान्प्रहास्यति ॥
इमां चाप्यपरां भूयः प्रतिज्ञां मे निबोधत ।
यद्यस्मिन्नहते पापे सूर्योऽस्तमुपयास्यति ।
इहैव संप्रवेष्टाहं ज्वलितं जातवेदसम् ॥
न चेद्वधभयाद्भीतो धार्तराष्ट्रान्प्रहास्यति ॥
इमां चाप्यपरां भूयः प्रतिज्ञां मे निबोधत ।
यद्यस्मिन्नहते पापे सूर्योऽस्तमुपयास्यति ।
इहैव संप्रवेष्टाहं ज्वलितं जातवेदसम् ॥
satyaṃ vaḥ pratijānāmi śvo 'smi hantā jayadratham
na ced vadhabhayād bhīto dhārtarāṣṭrān prahāsyati
imāṃ cāpy aparāṃ bhūyaḥ pratijñāṃ me nibodhata
yady asminn ahate pāpe sūryo 'stam upayāsyati
ihaiva saṃpraveṣṭāhaṃ jvalitaṃ jātavedasam
na ced vadhabhayād bhīto dhārtarāṣṭrān prahāsyati
imāṃ cāpy aparāṃ bhūyaḥ pratijñāṃ me nibodhata
yady asminn ahate pāpe sūryo 'stam upayāsyati
ihaiva saṃpraveṣṭāhaṃ jvalitaṃ jātavedasam
“I promise you truly: tomorrow I will kill Jayadratha — unless, terrified of death, he deserts the sons of Dhritarashtra. And hear one more vow of mine: if the sun sets with this sinner still alive, I will enter blazing fire, right here.”
मैं तुमसे सत्य प्रतिज्ञा करता हूँ — कल मैं जयद्रथ को मारूँगा, यदि वह मृत्यु के भय से धृतराष्ट्र के पुत्रों का साथ न छोड़ दे। और मेरी यह दूसरी प्रतिज्ञा भी सुनो — यदि इस पापी के जीवित रहते सूर्य अस्त हो गया, तो मैं यहीं जलती अग्नि में प्रवेश कर जाऊँगा।
Mahabharata · Drona Parva 7.51.20 and 7.51.37 · Arjun's vow after Abhimanyu's death
The other side of the story
दद गाण्डीवमन्यस्मा इति मां योऽभिचोदयेत् ।
छिन्द्यामहं शिरस्तस्य इत्युपांशुव्रतं मम ॥
छिन्द्यामहं शिरस्तस्य इत्युपांशुव्रतं मम ॥
dada gāṇḍīvam anyasmā iti māṃ yo 'bhicodayet
chindyām ahaṃ śiras tasya ity upāṃśuvrataṃ mama
chindyām ahaṃ śiras tasya ity upāṃśuvrataṃ mama
“Whoever tells me, 'Give the Gandiva to someone else' — I would cut off his head. That is my secret vow.”
जो मुझसे कहे कि 'गाण्डीव किसी और को दे दो', मैं उसका सिर काट दूँ — यह मेरा गुप्त व्रत है।
Mahabharata · Karna Parva 8.49.9 · Arjun to Krishna, sword drawn against Yudhishthira
The Mahabharata doesn't make Arjun flawless either. Stung when his elder brother Yudhishthira tells him to hand his bow to someone else, Arjun draws his sword on him because of this vow — and it is Krishna who talks him down. The same fierce pride that made him the archer he was nearly made him kill his own brother.
Famous "Arjun quotes" that aren't from the Mahabharata
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सब खिलाफ हैं माधव, सब हारेंगे पार्थA much-loved modern Hindi line (we print it on one of our own posters), imagined as Arjun and Krishna talking. It isn't in the Gita or the Mahabharata, and we couldn't find who first wrote it.Modern motivational line · author unknown
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आरंभ है प्रचंड…Often set over Arjun art — including our own Brahmastra poster — but it is a song written and sung by Piyush Mishra for the film Gulaal (2009), not a line from the Mahabharata. It's in copyright, so we quote only its opening.Gulaal (2009) · Piyush Mishra
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"I can see only the bird's eye"The famous answer in Drona's archery test. In the critical edition of the Mahabharata, Arjun actually says he sees the bird's head, not its body (Adi Parva 1.123.64). The "eye" is from later retellings.Retelling · the Mahabharata says "head"
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शस्त्र उठाओ पार्थ…A modern Hindi line (it's on one of our posters too). It carries the spirit of Krishna's words in Gita 2.3 and 11.33, but it isn't a verse.Modern line · inspired by the Gita
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TV serial dialoguesMany "Arjun said…" captions come from TV serials such as Mahabharat (2013). Those scripts are copyrighted and not the epic's words, so we don't reproduce them.TV serials
Questions people ask
What is Arjun's most famous quote?
From the Gita, “नष्टो मोहः स्मृतिर्लब्धा… करिष्ये वचनं तव” — my delusion is gone, I will do as you say (18.73). From the rest of the Mahabharata, “नाजित्वा विनिवर्तामि” — I never turn back without winning (Virata Parva 4.39.12).
Did Arjun say "yato dharmas tato jayah"?
Yes. Before the battle, when Yudhishthira loses heart, Arjun tells him to fight without ego, “यतो धर्मस्ततो जयः” — where there is dharma, there is victory (Bhishma Parva 6.21.11). Others in the epic say it too, including Gandhari, Drona and Vyasa.
Is "sab khilaf hai Madhav, sab harenge Parth" from the Mahabharata?
No. It's a modern Hindi motivational line written as a conversation between Arjun and Krishna. It isn't in the Mahabharata or the Gita, and we couldn't trace its author.
Why does Arjun have so many names?
He explains ten of them himself in the Virata Parva (4.39): Arjuna, Phalguna, Jishnu, Kiriti, Shvetavahana, Bibhatsu, Vijaya, Krishna, Savyasachi and Dhananjaya. Savyasachi, for example, means both his hands can draw the Gandiva.
Where do these meanings come from?
The Sanskrit is from the Bhagavad Gita and the critical edition of the Mahabharata (Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute). The English and Hindi meanings are our own close renderings.
Bring the whole war home
