Krishnarjuna Sakhya

Relationship between Arjuna and Krishna

In Kritayuga, Vishnu incarnated as Narasimha to kill Hiranyakashyapa. After killing him, Narasimha went to Vindhya hills and there his Lion's head and human body got separated and became Nara and Narayana respectively. Together, they performed a long penance(ತಪಸ್ಸು)
for thousands of years.

There is a story of a demon named ‘Sahasrakavacha’ associated with Nara and Narayana. The demon had a boon of bearing 1000 kavachas. He can becomeled only after destroying those 1000 kavachas. To destroy each kavacha, a long and difficult penance had to be performed. Nara and Narayana did it and destroyed 999 of his kava has. Finally, when the demon got scared fearing for his life, he went and took shelter behind Sun. Later on, it was destined that Sahasrakavacha would be reborn as Surya’s son Karna, That is the reason behind Karna Being born with a Kavacha. That was the last shield left with him in his last life.

Nara-Narayana was reborn as Arjuna-Krishna.
Finally, they both assassinated Karna in Dwaparayuga.

Arjuna’s mother Kunti is the sister of Krishna’s father Vasudeva, thereby making Arjuna and Krishna cousins. It is believed that Krishna and Arjuna were approximately the same age, as Krishna is often seen addressing both Yudhishthira and Bheema as his older brothers. This added to them getting particularly close with each other as friends more than brothers. Krishna was like a confidante and counsellor for Arjuna at all times. Later on, Krishna’s sister Subhadra falls in love with Arjuna and marries him. It was the custom amongst the Yadava clan during those times to marry their cousins. In this way Krishna and Arjuna became brothers-in-law.

Times when KRISHNA rescued ARJUNA during KURUKSHETRA