ARJUNA

one of the five Pandava brothers, who are the heroes of the Indian epic the Mahabharata (Great Epic of the Bharata Dynasty). Arjuna's hesitation before a battle became the occasion for his friend and charioteer, the god Krishna, to deliver a discourse on duty, or the right course of human action. These verses, which are in the form of a quasi-dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna, are collectively known as the Bhagavadgita, which is the most celebrated religious text of India. See also Mahabharata.