Arjuna. This hero in Indian lore appears in many diverse forms. He is probably a composite figure. In the ever-popular Bhagavadgītā he appears as a central figure, but he is found in so many other legends and in such various roles that it is difficult to attach him to any particular historic framework.

Geddes MacGregor, Dictionary of Religion and Philosophy, New York: Paragon House, 1989

árjuna mfn. (cf. ṛjrá and √raj) white, clear (the colour of the day RV. vi, 9, 1
• of the dawn RV. i, 49, 3
• of the lightning
• of the milk
• of silver, &c.)
• made of silver AV. iv, 37, 4
• m. the white colour' L
• a peacock L
• cutaneous disease Sāy. on RV. i, 122, 5
• the tree Terminalia Arjuna W. and A
• N. of a man RV. i, 122, 5
• of Indra VS. ŚBr., of the third of the Pinḍava princes (who was a son of Kṛitaviirya who was slain by Paraśurāma) ib
• of a Śāskya (known as a mathematician)
• of different other persons
• the only son of his mother L
• (ī), f. a cow MBh. xiii, 3596
• a kind of serpent, (voc. áijuni)' AV. ii, 24, 7
• a procuress, bawd L
• N. of Ushā (wife of Aniruddha) L
• of the river Bāhudā or Karatoys L
• (○nyau, or ○nyas), f. du. or Pl., N. of the constellation Phalgunī RV. x, 85, 13 ŚBr
• (am), n. silver AV. v, 28, 5 and 9
• gold L
• slight inflammation of the conjunctiva or white of the eye Suśr
• a particular grass (used as a substitute for the Soma plant) PBr. &c
• (= rūpa) shape Naigh
• (ās), m. pl. the descendants of Arjuna Pāṇ. 2-4, 66 Sch

Sanskrit-English Dictionary, by M. Monier William