Itihasa / Mahabharata
Gandivaगाण्डीव
The celestial bow
Gandiva is the celestial bow wielded by Arjuna. The Mahabharata’s Adi Parva describes its presentation to him in the Khandava episode.
STORY & TRADITION
The world of Gandiva.
The Adi Parva describes Varuna providing Gandiva at Agni’s request, and Arjuna taking up the bow. The weapon belongs to the narrative setting of the Khandava episode. Its profile is connected to Arjuna and to its textual source.
FOLLOW THE THREADS
Connected worlds.
READ THE SOURCES
Texts & references.
01
Mahabharata
Adi Parva, Section CCXXVII; K. M. Ganguli translation
Itihasa · English section numbering differs from some Sanskrit critical editions.