Arjuna defeated Lord Shiva multiple times according to the Mahabharata.

{Edited on 9:13 PM March 30th 2024}

Since this post is still getting attention to this very day allow me to make it clear now. I made this post with a desire to create a point that can be used against people that always think BORI CE mahabharat is the most accurate version.

The point is that BORI CE says Shiva was defeated by Arjuna but KMG disagrees. So not a single person has the right to say that BORI was the most authentic version of MB (maha bharata). That was my main reason, the second reason to make this post was to troll/harass fans of karna. Lastly to those that often use FOOT NOTES of bori as an argument to say shiva was not in the khandava daha incident my reply is that means if you consider one footnote to be authentic then you need to acknowledge every other foot note too.

Examples would be like footnotes in BORI also say that karna was dambodbhava in his former life they also mention that bheem defeated karna during sabha parva when the pandavas were sent to collect tributes from various nations. So if a person uses footnotes to say Shiva did not lose or was absent from khandava daha then they also need to admit karna lost to bheem in rajasuya & that karna was dambodbhava in his previous life. If a person does not do that then they should be considered a hypocrite.

{Completed at 9:15 PM March 30th, 2024}

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Let's get this straight and clear, defeating anyone is not impossible. No one is infallible and everyone can be defeated in life. Same for Shiva, he was defeated by Arjuna many times. And i have proof of his defeat from authentic Mahabharata translations.

• The first defeat of Shiva, during Khandava Daha
• Shiva along with Indra made a promise to the Nagas that they would protect them as they were friends. Like "Manik" (played by Rajnikanth) and "Anwar" in the hit film "Baasha" (1995).
  
• Shiva's condition was described as so bad that he was in fear and actually fled away from the Khandava forest.

Screenshot

• The second defeat of Shiva, in the invasion of the himalayas

The roof of the world (Himalayas) were conquered by Arjuna this includes KAILASA parvat.

Quote:

And defeating, O king, the Rishikas in the field of battle, Arjuna took from them as tribute eight horses that were of the colour of the parrot's breast, as also other horses of the hues of the peacock, born in northern and other climes and endued with high speed. At last having conquered all the Himalayas and the Nishkuta mountains, that bull among men, arriving at the White mountains, encamped on its breast."

Source: sacred-texts.com/hin/m02/m02026.htm

And Kailasa was the abode of Shiva. He lived in the Himalayas, the mountain of Kailasha was a part of the Himalayan region during Arjuna's era.
Even Dhritarashtra said that Arjuna defeated eight (8) forms of Shiva.
Quote:

I have heard, O king, how Arjuna hath gratified in battle by means of his bow the god of gods--Sthanu of eleven forms. The illustrious lord of all the gods--Kapardin himself--desirous of testing Phalguna, fought with him, having assumed the guise of a Kirata. And there it was that the Lokapala, in order to give away their weapons unto that bull of the Kuru race, showed themselves unto him of undeteriorating prowess. What other man on earth, except Phalguna, would strive to have a sight of these gods in their own forms? And, O king, who is there that will weaken in battle Arjuna, who could not be weakened by Maheswara himself possessed of eight forms?

Analysis: Over here a anti-arjuna character (Dhritarashtra) stated that 8 (eight) ans-has of Mahadeva (Shiva) failed to win a fight against Arjuna. It is also stated very clearly in English that Arjuna was using his bow, this means it is not an incident of Kirata Parva. Dhritarashtra must be talking about either a fifth defeat or one of the defeats that Shiva suffered against Arjuna during the Digvijay Parva when Arjuna was still in Indraprastha. Either way its a defeat of Shiva.
Source:
http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03049.htm

• The third defeat of Shiva, at the digvijay Parva

Shiva was a citizen of Kuvera's territory [text from bori critical edition]:

‘Yudhishthira said, “O lord! O supremely eloquent one! From what you have described, it is as if the entire world of kings is in Vaivasvata’s sabha. O illustrious one! You have said that all the serpents, the lords of the daityas, the rivers and the oceans are in Varuna’s sabha. And that the yakshas, guhyakas, rakshasas, gandharvas, apsaras and Shiva166 are in that of the lord of riches.167

Analysis: the lord of riches is clearly Kuvera meaning that he was the king of Shiva. He was a part of Kuvera's "Sabha". So Arjuna could not have conquered Kuvera's kingdom without defeating Shiva first.

Source: Sabha Parva section 11 "236(11)"

• And here is when Arjuna conquered Kuvera's kingdom (the Guhyakas).

Quote:

The son of the chastiser of Paka used his army and determination to conquer the region known as Hataka, protected by Guhyaka. Having won them over with conciliation, he set his eyes on the supreme Laka Manasa.

Analysis:

Over here Arjuna defeated him through conciliation, and mediating the conflict instead of actually using his strength and force. But the text also clearly states that Arjuna used his army and determination to conquer that region.

Source: Sabha Parva Section 25

• Kiratarjuna - most famous incident

During the Kirata Parva, most people believe the fight between Shiva & Arjuna was a stalemate/no conclusion. But the truth is that Arjuna also won this fight.

Prior knowledge, Arjuna was hungry and starving, he was partaking fasts for the past four months straight before this fight occurred, so Arjuna was not healthy, he was not at his peak, he was not at his prime, he was not at his full strength when he fought Shiva, yet he still somehow manages to beat him.

Quote:

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.

Analysis: This means that for one hundred twenty days (120) Arjuna kept fasting. While Shiva never did so.

Source: http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03038.htm

• Arjuna dragged lord Shiva:

The illustrious Arjuna then, taking up his bow and dragging the Kirata with his bow-string, struck him some fierce blows that descended like thunderbolts.

Analysis:

He dragged the god of gods himself with ease over here. That too just by using the string of his bow. The attacks of Arjuna were compared to Indra's vajra.

Source: http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03039.htm

• Clashing sword with Shiva

Quote:

Arjuna took up his sword, and wishing to end the conflict, rushed at his foe. And then the Kuru prince, with the whole might of his arms, struck that sharp weapon upon the head of the Kirata, a weapon that was incapable of being resisted even by solid rocks. But that first of swords, at touch of the Kirata's crown, broke into pieces. Phalguna then commenced the conflict with trees and stones. The illustrious god in the form of the huge-bodied Kirata, however, bore that shower of trees and rocks with patience.

Analysis: Imagine a completely drained Karna, injured, wounded, starving, would he ever have been able to pull off such a good performance against Shiva?

Source: http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03039.htm

• Arjuna was throwing punches with Shiva.

Quote:

The mighty son of Pritha then, his mouth smoking with wrath, struck the invincible god in the form of a Kirata, with hi clenched fists, blows that descended like thunderbolts. The god in the Kirata form returned Phalguna's blows with fierce blows resembling the thunderbolts of Indra. And in consequence of that conflict of blows between the son of Pandu and the Kirata, there arose in that place loud and frightful sounds. That terrible conflict of blows, resembling the conflict of yore between Vritra and Vasava, lasted but for a moment. The mighty Jishnu clasping the Kirata began to press him with his breast, but the Kirata, possessed of great strength pressed the insensible son of Pandu with force. And in consequence of the pressure of their arms and of their breasts, their bodies began to emit smoke like charcoal in fire.

Analysis: Arjuna and Shiva both performed equally well over here. Their fight was compared to Indra's with Vritra's. Shiva punched Arjuna many times yet Arjuna still fought back.

Source: http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03039.htm

• Proof that Shiva cheated during this fight.

Quote:

Even this Gandiva is that bow, O son of Pritha, fit for thy hands. O foremost of male beings, I snatched it from thee, helped by my powers of illusion. This couple of quivers, fit for thee, will again be inexhaustible, O son of Pritha! And, O son of the Kuru race, thy body will be free from pain and disease. Thy prowess is incapable of being baffled.

Analysis: So even Shiva could fight with Arjuna only by cheating and theft and deception. He himself admitted it. People always call Indrajit Meghnath (the son of Ravana) to be a cheater who relied on illusions, magic tricks and tamsi maya etc, but never call out Shiva for his cheating with Arjuna!

Source: http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m03/m03040.htm

• Later references by Krishna claim this to be a victory of Arjuna and a defeat of Shiva.

Quote:

‘He is regarded as the supreme one among gods and humans. He is the wielder of Gandiva, the one with the white horses. The supreme of apes sits astride his standard. He is Jishnu. He defeated and satisfied Shankara, the one with the blue throat and Uma’s consort, the god who is the lord of the gods, himself in a duel.20 There is no other man on earth whom I love as much.

Analysis: Shankara is another name of Shiva, and Krishna claims that Arjuna had defeated him in a duel. Arjuna's superiority was confirmed by krishna himself.

Source: Souptika Parva section 12 - Bori Critical Edition

Screenshot [Krishna to Asvathamma]

So now as you can all read even Bori Mahabharata accepts the fact that Arjuna defeated Shiva. Don't mistake me to be a Vishnu bhakt, i am a firm believer that the shiva bhakt known as "Mandara" defeated lord Vishnu. I don't like Vishnu and i never did. For me Nara, Narayana, Krishna, Rama, Parasurama, Bhargava, Vishnu etc are all different people, they are not the same person. I am not playing favoritism.