When Arjuna is born to Kunti, a celestial voice prophesied thus: “This child of Indra will be equal to Kartaviryarjuna in valour and to Siva in prowess. He will be invincible like Indra and he will maintain the prosperity of the Kurus. He will achieve great fame. He will fight with Siva and receive from him the great weapon Pasupata. He will acquire all kinds of celestial weapon0s and also retrieve the fortunes of his race.”
In a discourse, Sri Kesava Dikshitar drew attention to the legend of Krishna and Arjuna that starts way before the Mahabharata. In the Vana Parva, Krishna says to Arjuna that they both are the sages Nara and Narayana, come to this world for the purpose of establishing dharma. Arjuna and Krishna represent the concept of the twin incarnation of the Lord as Nara and Narayana where Arjuna is Nara and Krishna Narayana. In an earlier age, Nara and Narayana were sons of Dharma and his wife Murti or Ahimsa, and took avatars for the welfare of mankind. They were born as two sages who performed great penance in the sacred Badrinath. They defeated the invincible demon Sahasrakavacha who was protected by a thousand armours.
When Arjuna does penance to Siva to gain Pasupata, Siva, under the guise of a hunter along with Uma, tests Arjuna’s valour. After a long fight, Arjuna realises that the hunter is the very Siva whom he is propitiating. Siva blesses him with the Pasupata and also other celestial weapons. Siva alludes to the fact that Arjuna was Nara in a previous birth, with Narayana as his companion. It is believed that they continue to perform austerities and penance for the benefit of mankind. The incarnation is symbolic of the human soul which has the Supreme Lord as the eternal companion.
