ARJUNA AN ULTIMATE WARRIOR RESPECT THREAD PART 2: ARJUNA'S ACHIEVEMENTS WITHOUT THE GANDIVA BOW

Some criticizers of Arjuna try to degrade him by crediting all of his achievements to his great celestial bow Gandiva. But what these people forget is that Arjuna did not gain this bow Gandiva until after his 4th marriage and after he trained his sons and students.

Now i will try to present these great feats of Arjuna. The incredible achievements he accomplished without the Gandiva bow. I will present quotes from the English translation of Mahabharata. And i will highlight the important parts of the text as black bold to prove my point.

1. Arjuna surpassed every student of Drona in the science of arms - Arjuna, however, from devotion to the science of arms, always stayed by the side of his preceptor, and in skill, strength of arms, and perseverance, excelled all (his class-fellows). Indeed, although the instruction the preceptor gave, was the same in the case of all, yet in lightness and skill Arjuna became the foremost of all his fellow-pupils. And Drona was convinced that none of his pupils would (at any time) be able to be equal to that son of Indra. http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01135.htm - (Chapter linK)
1. The characters of Mahabharata that are included in the list of Drona's pupils may shock a few fans of the epic - And, O bull of the Bharata race, many other princes also flocked to that best of Brahmanas for instruction in arms. The Vrishnis and the Andhakas, and princes from various lands, and the (adopted) son of Radha of the Sutacaste, (Karna), all became pupils of Drona. http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01135.htm - (Chapter linK)
1. These are the disciples of Drona that were still inferior to Arjuna despite receiving the same teachings and training. Among these disciples includes Karna.
2. Despite being disadvantaged Arjuna was still able to beat Aswathamman (son of his preceptor Drona) in gathering water in the vessels - And while he gave unto every one of his pupils a narrow-mouthed vessel (for fetching water) in order that much time may be spent in filling them, he gave unto his own son Aswatthaman a broad-mouthed vessel, so that, filling it quickly, he might return soon enough. And in the intervals so gained, Drona used to instruct his own son in several superior methods (of using weapons). Jishnu (Arjuna) came to know of this, and thereupon filling his narrow-mouthed vessel with water by means of the Varuna p.280 weapon he used to come unto his preceptor at the same time with his preceptor's son. And accordingly the intelligent son of Pritha, that foremost of all men possessing a knowledge of weapons, had no inferiority to his preceptor's son in respect of excellence. http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01135.htm - (Chapter linK)
1. The reason this proves Arjuna's superiority over Aswathamman is because of Arjuna had a narrow-mouthed vessel but Aswathamman had a wide one. Yet Arjuna was still able to collect water within the same time as Aswathamman despite being disadvantaged.
3. Arjuna learnt how to shoot arrows in the darkness with his bow at night time - And Drona, beholding his pupil's devotion to arms, summoned the cook, and told him in secret, 'Never give Arjuna his food in the dark, nor tell him that I have told thee this.' A few days after, however, when Arjuna was taking his food, a wind arose, and thereupon the lamp that had been burning went out. But Arjuna, endued with energy, continued eating in the dark, his hand, from habit, going to his mouth. His attention being thus called to the force of habit, the strong-armed son of Pandu set his heart upon practising with his bow in the night. And, O Bharata, Drona, hearing the twang of his bowstring in the night, came to him, and clasping him, said, 'Truly do I tell thee that I shall do that unto thee by which there shall not be an archer equal to thee in this world.' http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01135.htm - (Chapter linK)
1. Arjuna learnt this just through his own habit.
4. Arjuna alone became an Atiratha far before he got the Gandiva bow - Yudhishthira surpassed everybody as a car-warrior; but Arjuna, however, outdistanced everyone in every respect in intelligence, resourcefulness, strength and perseverance. Accomplished in all weapons, Arjuna became the foremost of even the foremost of car-warriors; and his fame spread all over the earth to the verge of the sea. And although the instruction was the same, the mighty Arjuna excelled all (the princes in lightness of hand). Indeed, in weapons as in devotion to his preceptor, he became the foremost of them all. And amongst all the princes, Arjuna alone became an Atiratha (a car-warrior capable of fighting at one time with sixty thousand foes). http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01135.htm - (Chapter linK)
1. Thousands of monarchs, kings & princes started to train under Drona because they heard of the skills Arjuna acquired under Drona's tutelage - Thereafter Drona began to teach Arjuna the art of fighting on horse-back, on the back of elephants, on car, and on the ground. And the mighty Drona also instructed Arjuna in fighting with the mace, the sword, the lance, the spear, and the dart. And he also instructed him in using many weapons and fighting with many men at the same time. And hearing reports of his skill, kings and princes, desirous of learning the science of arms, flocked to Drona by thousands. http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01135.htm - (Chapter linK) 
5. Arjuna is the only one among the disciples of Drona to pass the test of  bird's eye - 'When everyone had failed, Drona smilingly called Arjuna and said unto him, 'By thee the aim must be shot; therefore, turn thy eyes to it. Thou must let fly the arrow as soon as I give the order. Therefore, O son, stand here with bow and arrow for an instant.' Thus addressed, Arjuna stood aiming at the bird as desired by his preceptor, with his bow bent. An instant after Drona asked him as in the case of others, 'Seest thou, O Arjuna, the bird there, the tree, and myself?' Arjuna replied, 'I see the bird only, but nor the tree, or thyself.' Then the irrepressible Drona, well-pleased with Arjuna, the instant after, again said unto that mighty car-warrior amongst the Pandavas, 'If thou seest the vulture, then describe it to me.' Arjuna said, I see only the head of the vulture, not its body.' At these words of Arjuna, the hair (on Drona's body) stood on end from delight. He then said to Partha, 'Shoot.' And the latter instantly let fly (his arrow) and with his sharp shaft speedily struck off the head of the vulture on the tree and brought it down to the ground. http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01136.htm - (Chapter linK)
1. Description of the failure of the other students - 'Then Drona, that foremost of all Angira's sons first addressed Yudhishthira saying, 'O irrepressible one, aim with thy arrow and shoot as soon as I give the order. Yudhishthira took up the bow first, as desired, O king, by his preceptor, and stood aiming at the bird. But, O bull of Bharata's race, Drona in an instant, addressing the Kuru prince standing with bow in hand, said, 'Behold, O prince, that bird on top of the tree.' Yudhishthira replied unto his preceptor, saying, 'I do.' But the next instant Drona again asked him, 'What dost thou see now, O prince? Seest thou the tree, myself or thy brothers?' Yudhishthira answered, 'I see the tree, myself, my brothers, and the bird.' Drona repeated his question, but was answered as often in the same words. Drona then, vexed with Yudhishthira, reproachingly said, 'Stand thou apart. It is not for thee to strike the aim.' Then Drona repeated the experiment with Duryodhana and the other sons of Dhritarashtra, one after another, as also with his other pupils, Bhima and the rest, including the princes that had come unto him from other lands. But the answer in every case was the same as Yudhishthira's viz., 'We behold the tree, thyself, our fellow-pupils, and the bird.' And reproached by their preceptor, they were all ordered, one after another, to stand apart.'" http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01135.htm - (Chapter linK)
1. This includes princes from other lands, not just Hastinapore.
6. Arjuna killed the crocodile and protected Drona - And when Drona had plunged into the stream, a strong alligator, sent as it were, by Death himself seized him by the thigh. And though himself quite capable, Drona in a seeming hurry asked his pupil to rescue him. And he said, 'O, kill this monster and rescue me.' Contemporaneously with this speech, Vibhatsu (Arjuna) struck the monster within the water with five sharp arrows irresistible in their course, while the other pupils stood confounded, each at his place. Beholding Arjuna's readiness, Drona considered him to be the foremost of all his pupils, and became highly pleased. The monster, in the meantime cut into pieces by the arrows of Arjuna, released the thigh of illustrious Drona and gave up the ghost. http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01136.htm - (Chapter linK)
7. Arjuna displayed his skill in the Tournament-exhibition - "Vaisampayana continued, 'When the spectators, excited with delight, had somewhat regained their equanimity, Vibhatsu began to display his lightness in the use of weapons. By the Agneya weapon, he created fire, and by the Varuna weapon he created water, by the Vayavya weapon, he created air, and by the Parjanya weapon he created clouds. And by the Bhauma weapon, he created land, and by the Parvatya weapon, he brought mountains into being. By the Antardhana weapon all these were made to disappear. Now the beloved one of his preceptor (Arjuna) appeared tall and now short; now he was seen on the yoke of his car, and now on the car itself; and the next moment he was on the ground. And the hero favoured p. 287 by his practised dexterity, hit with his various butts--some tender, some fine and some of thick composition. And like one shaft, he let fly at a time into the mouth of a moving iron-boar five shafts together from his bow-string. And that hero of mighty energy discharged one and twenty arrows into the hollow of a cow's horn hung up on a rope swaying to and fro. In this manner, O sinless one, Arjuna showed his profound skill in the use of sword, bow, and mace, walking over the lists in circles. http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01138.htm - (Chapter linK)
8. Arjuna vanquished Pancala general Satyajit - Then there arose a frightful uproar among the Panchala host like unto the roar of a mighty lion springing at the leader of a herd of elephants. And beholding Arjuna rushing at the king of Panchala to seize him, Satyajit of great prowess rushed at him. And the two warriors, like unto Indra and the Asura Virochana's son (Vali), approaching each other for combat, began to grind each other's ranks. Then Arjuna with great force pierced Satyajit with ten keen shafts at which feat the spectators were all amazed. But Satyajit, without losing any time, assailed Arjuna with a hundred shafts. Then that mighty car-warrior, Arjuna, endued with remarkable lightness of motion, thus covered by that shower of arrows, rubbed his bow-string to increase the force and velocity of his shafts. Then cutting in twain his antagonist's bow, Arjuna rushed at the king of the Panchalas, but Satyajit, quickly taking up a tougher bow, pierced with his arrows Partha, his chariot, charioteer, and horses. Arjuna, thus assailed in battle by the Panchala warrior, forgave not his foe. Eager to slay him at once, he pierced with a number of arrows his antagonist's horses, flags, bow, clenched (left) fist, charioteer, and the attendant at his back. Then Satyajit, finding his bows repeatedly cut in twain and his horses slain, desisted from the fight. http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01141.htm - (Chapter linK)
9. Arjuna captured king Drupada - The king of the Panchalas, beholding his general thus discomfited in the encounter, himself began to shower his arrows upon the Pandava prince. Then Arjuna, that foremost of warriors, crowned with success, began to fight furiously, and quickly cutting his enemy's bow in twain as also his flagstaff which he caused to fall down, pierced his antagonist's horses, and charioteer also with five arrows. Then throwing aside his bow Arjuna took his quiver, and taking out a scimitar and sending forth a loud shout, leaped from his own chariot upon that of his foe. And standing there with perfect fearlessness he seized Drupada as Garuda seizeth a huge snake after agitating the waters of the ocean. At the sight of this, the Panchala troops ran away in all directions. http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01141.htm - (Chapter linK)
10. Arjuna learned further arts of warfare - And Arjuna became celebrated for the firmness of his grasp (of weapons), for his lightness of motion, precision of aim, and his proficiency in the use of the Kshura, Naracha, Vala and Vipatha weapons, indeed, of all weapons, whether straight or crooked or heavy. And Drona certified that there was none in the world who was equal to Arjuna in lightness of hand and general proficiency. http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01142.htm - (Chapter linK)
11. Arjuna acquired a weapon that could burn the whole world - One day, Drona, addressing Arjuna before the assembled Kaurava princes, said, 'There was a disciple of Agastya in the science of arms called Agnivesa. He was my preceptor and I, his disciple. By ascetic merit I obtained from him a weapon called Brahmasira which could never be futile and which was like unto thunder itself, capable of consuming the whole earth. That weapon, O Bharata, from what I have done, may now pass from disciple to disciple. While imparting it to me, my preceptor said, 'O son of Bharadwaja, never shouldst thou hurl this weapon at any human being, especially at one who is of poor energy. Thou hast, O hero, obtained that celestial weapon. None else deserveth it. But obey the command of the Rishi (Agnivesa). And, look here, Arjuna, give me now the preceptorial fee in the presence of these thy cousins and relatives.' When Arjuna, on hearing this, pledged his word that he would give what the preceptor demanded, the latter said, 'O sinless one, thou must fight with me when I fight with thee.' And that bull among the Kuru princes thereupon pledged his word unto Drona and touching his feet, went away northward. Then there arose a loud shout covering the whole earth bounded by her belt of seas to the effect that there was no bowman in the whole world like unto Arjuna. And, indeed, Dhananjaya, in encounters with the mace and the sword and on the chariot as also with the bow, acquired wonderful proficiency. http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01142.htm - (Chapter linK)
12. Arjuna won over all of the enemies of Hastinapore - Indeed, Arjuna and the other Pandava princes became so powerful that they slew in battle the great Sauvira who had performed a sacrifice extending over three years, undaunted by the raids of the Gandharvas. And the king of the Yavanas himself whom the powerful Pandu even had failed to bring under subjection was brought by Arjuna under control. Then again Vipula, the king of the Sauviras, endued with great prowess, who had always shown a disregard for the Kurus, was made by the intelligent Arjuna to feel the edge of his power. http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01142.htm - (Chapter linK)
1. Sauvira - performed a sacrifice for over 3 years straight, was not affected by the constant raids of Gandharvas.
2. king of the Yavanas - Yavana is a synonym for greek, so the king of the greeks was subjugated by Arjuna alone. Even king Pandu failed to do that.
3. Vipula - the king of the Sauviras, was endued with great prowess, didn't even care about the Kurus, was put in his place by Arjuna.
13. Arjuna gained the name Dhanajaya and defeated Sumitra and subjugated all the kings of the east and the land of the south (possibly an exaggeration) - And Arjuna also repressed by means of his arrows (the pride of) king Sumitra of Sauvira, also known by the name of Dattamitra who had resolutely sought an encounter with him. The third of the Pandava p. 296 princes, assisted by Bhima, on only a single car subjugated all the kings of the East backed by ten thousand cars. In the same way, having conquered on a single car the whole of the south, Dhananjaya sent unto the kingdom of the Kurus a large booty. http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01142.htm - (Chapter linK)
14. Arjuna defeated the gandharva Angaraparna without any bow just used a flame torch (turned into the fire weapon Agneya), and he used this fire torch to defeat his enemy at the banks of the Bhagirathi river of Ganga - 'Saying these words, the Pandava wrathfully hurled at the Gandharva that blazing weapon made of fire which burnt the Gandharva's chariot in a trice. Deprived of consciousness by the force of that weapon, the mighty Gandharva was falling, head downward, from his chariot. Dhananjaya seized him by the hair of his head adorned with garlands of flowers and thus dragged the unconscious Gandharva towards his brothers. Beholding this, that Gandharva's wife Kumbhinasi, desirous of saving her husband, ran towards Yudhishthira and sought his protection. The Gandharvi said, 'O exalted one, extend to me thy protection! O, set my husband free! O lord, I am Kumbhinasi by name, the wife of this Gandharva, who seeketh thy protection!' Beholding her (so afflicted), the mighty Yudhishthira addressed Arjuna and said, 'O slayer of foes, O child, who would slay a foe who hath been vanquished in fight, who hath been deprived p. 346 of fame, who is protected by a woman, and who hath no prowess?' Arjuna replied, saying, 'Keep thou thy life, O Gandharva! Go hence, and grieve not I Yudhishthira, the king of the Kurus, commandeth me to show thee mercy.' http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01173.htm - (Chapter linK)
1. Arjuna was not wearing any special armor over here, not any armor at all actually. He also had no real weapons, he was not prepared to fight yet he still won he still gained his victory. So when foolish Karna fans make excuses for the defeats of karna (like he was drunk) it shows how weak karna was compared to Arjuna.
2. Arjuna won these horses from the gandharva aswell - 'The steeds of the Tittiri, Kalmasha, and Gandharva breeds, decked with ornaments, which Chitraratha having been vanquished in battle and subdued cheerfully gave unto Arjuna, the wielder of the Gandiva. With this wealth, O king, I will stake with thee." p. 118 http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m02/m02060.htm
15. Arjuna strung the bow that Karna, Rukmi, Salya, Duryodhana & Jarasandha could not string despite using all their might - And that bow which Rukma, Sunitha, Vakra, Radha's son, Duryodhana, Salya, and many other kings accomplished in the science and practice of arms, could not even with great exertion, string, Arjuna, the son of Indra, that foremost of all persons endued with energy and like unto the younger brother of Indra (Vishnu) in might, strung in the twinkling of an eye. http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01191.htm - (Chapter linK)
16. Arjuna was able to achieve the task that no one else in the Swayamvara could complete - And taking up the five arrows he shot the mark and caused it to fall down on the ground through the hole in the machine above which it had been placed. http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01191.htm - (Chapter linK)
17. Arjuna defeated Karna at Draupadi Swayamvara (Karna was equipped with coat of mail and earrings over here!)
1. Arjuna knocked Karna out - Then the illustrious Arjuna beholding Karna, the son of Vikartana (Surya), advancing towards him, drew his tough bow and pieced him with his sharp arrows. And the impetus of those whetted arrows furnished with fierce energy made Radheya (Karna) faint. http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01193.htm - (Chapter linK)
2. karna tries to comeback from this - Recovering consciousness Karna attacked Arjuna with greater care than before. Then Karna and Arjuna, both foremost of victorious warriors, desirous of vanquishing each other, fought madly on. And such was the lightness of hand they both displayed that (each enveloped by the other's shower of arrows) they both became invisible (unto the spectators of their encounter). 'Behold the strength of my arms.' 'Mark, how I have counteracted that feat,' those were the words intelligible to p. 379 heroes alone in which they addressed each other. And incensed at finding the strength and energy of Arjuna's arms unequalled on the earth, Karna, the son of Surya, fought with greater vigour. And parrying all those impetuous arrows shot at him by Arjuna, Karna sent up a loud shout. And this feat of his was applauded by all the warriors. http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01193.htm - (Chapter linK)
3. Karna's opinion about his opponent - Then addressing his antagonist, Karna said, 'O thou foremost of Brahmanas, I am gratified to observe the energy of thy arms that knoweth no relaxation in battle and thy weapons themselves fit for achieving victory. Art thou the embodiment of the science of weapons, or art thou Rama that best of Brahmanas, or Indra himself, or Indra's younger brother Vishnu called also Achyuta, who for disguising himself hath assumed the form of a Brahmana and mustering such energy of arms fighteth with me? No other person except the husband himself of Sachi or Kiriti, the son of Pandu, is capable of fighting with me when I am angry on the field of battle.' http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01193.htm - (Chapter linK)
4. Arjuna's response to karna - Then hearing those words of his, Phalguna replied, saying, 'O Karna, I am neither the science of arms (personified), nor Rama endued with superhuman powers. I am only a Brahmana who is the foremost of all warriors and all wielders of weapons. By the grace of my preceptor I have become accomplished in the Brahma and the Paurandara weapons. I am here to vanquish thee in battle. Therefore, O hero, wait a little.' http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01193.htm - (Chapter linK)
5. Karna runs away from the Swayamvara - 'Thus addressed (by Arjuna), Karna the adopted son of Radha desisted from the fight, for that mighty chariot-fighter thought that Brahma energy is ever invincible. http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01193.htm - (Chapter linK)
18. Arjuna rescued a Brahmin's wealth with the use of an ordinary bow - Dhananjaya, arriving at this resolution, entered the chamber and talked with Yudhishthira. Coming out with the bow, he cheerfully told the Brahmana, 'Proceed, O Brahmana, with haste, so that those wretched robbers may not go much ahead of us. I shall accompany thee and restore unto thee thy wealth that hath fallen into the hands of the thieves.' Then Dhananjaya, capable of using both his arms with equal skill, armed with the bow and cased in mail and riding in his war-chariot decked with a standard, pursued the thieves, and piercing them with his arrows, compelled them to give up the booty. Benefiting the Brahmana thus by making over to him his kine, and winning great renown, the hero returned to the capital. http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01216.htm - (Chapter linK)
1. Some haters say Arjuna lost to robbers yet he just defeated robbers in the above narrative.
19. Arjuna dragged a celestial crocodile - As soon as that tiger among men had plunged into the water a great crocodile (that was in it) seized him by the leg. But the strong-armed Dhananjaya the son of Kunti, that foremost of all men endued with might, seized that struggling ranger of the water and dragged it forcibly to the shore. But dragged by the renowned Arjuna to the land, that crocodile became (transformed into) a beautiful damsel bedecked with ornament.http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01219.htm - (Chapter linK)
1. Opinion of the sages about the crocodiles - Hearing him, the ascetics replied, 'There dwell in these waters five large crocodiles which take away the ascetics that may happen to bathe in them. It is for this, O son of Kuru's race, that these waters are shunned.' http://sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01219.htm - (Chapter linK)
20. Arjuna trained several great students including the sons of Krishna and Draupadi & his brothers, Yadavas etc.
1. Abhimanyu - The child began to grow up like the Moon of the bright fortnight. That grinder of foes soon became conversant with the Vedas and acquired from his father the science of weapon both celestial and human, consisting of four branches and ten divisions. http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01224.htm - (Chapter linK)
2. Upapandavas (sons of the Pandavas through Draupadi, this includes another son of Arjuna) - All of them, of excellent behaviour and vows, after having studied the Vedas, acquired from Arjuna a knowledge of all the weapons, celestial and human. And, O tiger among kings, the Pandavas, having obtained sons all of whom were equal unto the children of the celestials and endued with broad chests, and all of whom became great warriors, were filled with joy. http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01224.htm - (Chapter linK)
3. Vrishni princes - And those princes also, endued with great strength, who dressing themselves in deer-skins learnt the science of weapons under Arjuna, waited upon Yudhishthira. And O king, the princes also of the Vrishni race, viz., Pradyumna (the son of Rukmini) and Samva, and Yuyudhana the son of Satyaki and Sudharman and Aniruddha and Saivya that foremost of men who had learnt the science of arms under Arjuna these and many other kings, O lord of the Earth, used to wait on Yudhishthira on that occasion. http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m02/m02004.htm - (Chapter linK)
1. These above achievements that Arjuna accomplished was right before Khandava-daha (the incident where he was given the Gandiva bow). Arjuna trained many great warriors and made the princes and future generation of warriors into great fighters before he was rewarded the bow Gandiva.
21. Arjuna survived for 4 months with little to no food - And the delighted Arjuna of fierce energy and high soul then devoted himself to rigid austerities in that delightful and woody region. Clad in rags made of grass and furnished with a black deerskin and a stick, he commenced to eat withered leaves fallen upon the ground. And he passed the first month, by eating fruits at the interval of three nights; and the second by eating at the interval of the six nights; and the third by eating at the interval of a fortnight. When the fourth month came, that best of the Bharatas the strong-armed son of Pandu began to subsist on air alone. With arms upraised and leaning upon nothing and standing on the tips of his toes, he continued his austerities. http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03038.htm - (Chapter linK)
1. Keep in mind that Arjuna had to continue practicing tapas, austerity and penance during the full four months.
22. The earth was being heated by the energy of Arjuna's austerity - And bowing unto that god of gods, they informed him of Arjuna's austerities saying, 'This son of pritha possessed of great energy is engaged in the most difficult of ascetic austerities on the breast of the Himavat. Heated with his asceticism, the earth is smoking all round, O god of gods. We do not know what his object is for which he is engaged in these austerities. He, however, is causing us pain. It behoveth thee to prevent him!' http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03038.htm - (Chapter linK)
23. He held back Lord Krishna on the 3rd day (of the Kurukshetra war) - Meanwhile, jumping down from his car, Partha, himself of massive and long arms, quickly ran on foot after that chief of Yadu's race possessed of massive and long arms, and seized him by his two hands. That first of all gods devoted in self, Krishna, was excited with rage. And therefore, though thus seized, Vishnu forcibly dragged Jishnu after him, like a tempest bearing away a single tree. The high-souled Partha, however, seizing them with great force his legs as he was proceeding at a quick pace towards Bhishma, succeeded, O king, in stopping him with difficulty at the tenth step. http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m06/m06059.htm - (Chapter linK)
24. Arjuna once again seized Lord Krishna at the 9th day (of the Kurukshetra war) - Meanwhile, the mighty-armed Partha. quickly following Kesava behind, seized him by encircling him with his two arms. That best of male beings, viz., Krishna, of eyes like lotus petals, seized by Partha, still proceeded with great speed, bearing the latter away with him. The mighty Partha, that slayer of hostile heroes, however, forcibly catching hold of his legs, stopped Hrishikesa with great difficulty at the tenth step. Then Arjuna his dear friend, filled with sorrow, affectionately addressed Kesava, who was then sighing like a snake and whose eyes were troubled in wrath, saying, 'O thou of mighty arms, stop, O Kesava, it behoveth thee not to make those words false which thou hadst spoken before, viz., I will not fight. O Madhava, people will say that thou art a liar. http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m06/m06107.htm - (Chapter linK)
25. Arjuna dragged Bhima with some help and support from Krishna during the 15th day of the Kurukshetra war - Then Nara and Narayana, for the pacification of Narayana weapon, began forcibly to drag Bhima and all his weapons. Thus dragged by them, Kunti's son, that mighty car-warrior, began to roar aloud. http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07197.htm - (Chapter linK)

In the Mahabharata Arjuna was always regarded as the greatest bowman, archer, warrior, fighter, ratha etc. No one ever defeated him as long as he was alive. And about the Gandiva bow. Well clearly on the basis of the above 25 mentioned feats of Arjuna it should remain obvious that Arjuna was not the warrior that he was because of his bow but because of his own competence.