"Uttara said, 'Indeed, these weapons adorned with gold, belonging to the
light-handed and high-souled Partha, look exceedingly beautiful. But
where are that Arjuna, the son of Pritha, and Yudhishthira of the Kuru
race, and Nakula, and Sahadeva, and Bhimasena, the sons of Pandu? Having
lost their kingdom at dice, the high-souled Pandavas, capable of
destroying all foes, are no longer heard of. Where also is Draupadi, the
princess of _Panchala_, famed as the gem among women, who followed the
sons of Pandu after their defeat at dice to the forest?'
"Arjuna said, 'I am Arjuna, called also Partha. Thy father's courtier is
Yudhishthira and thy father's cook Vallava is Bhimasena, the groom of
horses is Nakula, and Sahadeva is in the cow-pen. And know thou that the
_Sairindhri_ is Draupadi, for whose sake the Kichakas have been slain.'
"Uttara said, 'I would believe all this if thou canst enumerate the ten
names of Partha, previously heard by me!'
"Arjuna said, 'I will, O son of Virata, tell thee my ten names. Listen
thou and compare them with what thou hadst heard before. Listen to them
with close attention and concentrated mind. They are _Arjuna, Phalguna,
Jishnu, Kiritin, Swetavahana, Vibhatsu, Vijaya, Krishna, Savyasachin_
and _Dhananjaya_.'
"Uttara said, 'Tell me truly why art thou called Vijaya, and why
Swetavahana. Why art thou named Krishna and why Arjuna and Phalguna and
Jishnu and Kiritin and Vibhatsu, and for what art thou Dhananjaya and
Savyasachin? I have heard before about the origin of the several names
of that hero, and can put faith in thy words if thou canst tell me all
about them.'
"Arjuna said, 'They called me Dhananjaya because I lived in the midst of
wealth, having subjugated all the countries and taking away their
treasures. They called me Vijaya because when I go out to battle with
invincible kings, I never return (from the field) without vanquishing
them. I am called Swetavahana because when battling with the foe, white
horses decked in golden armour are always yoked unto my car. They call
me Phalguna because I was born on the breast of the Himavat on a day
when the constellation _Uttara Phalguna_ was on the ascendent. I am
named Kiritin from a diadem, resplendent like the sun, having been
placed of old on my head by Indra during my encounter with the powerful
_Danavas_. I am known as Vibhatsu among gods and men, for my never
having committed a detestable deed on the battle-field. And since both
of my hands are capable of drawing the _Gandiva_, I am known as
Savyasachin among gods and men. They call me Arjuna because my
complexion is very rare within the four boundaries of the earth and
because also my acts are always stainless. I am known among human beings
and celestials by the name of Jishnu, because I am unapproachable and
incapable of being kept down, and a tamer of adversaries and son of the
slayer of Paka. And Krishna, my tenth appellation, was given to me by my
father out of affection towards his black-skinned boy of great purity.'"
Vaisampayana continued, "The son of Virata then, approaching nearer
saluted Partha and said, 'My name is Bhuminjaya, and I am also called
Uttara. It is by good luck, O Partha, that I behold thee. Thou art
welcome, O Dhananjaya. O thou with red eyes, and arms that are mighty
and each like unto the trunk of an elephant, it behoveth thee to pardon
what I said unto thee from ignorance. And as wonderful and difficult
have been the feats achieved by thee before, my fears have been
dispelled, and indeed the love I bear to thee is great.'"