Mahabharat describes Arjuna as the best warrior of that time,Vyasa again and again retell events where Arjun's lightness of hands and dexterity is shown.From the beginning to end, Arjuna's archery exhibition is really a treat to read.
Let's begin with some incidents involving archery skills -
# 1) ARJUNA,THE 'ONLY' PUPIL TO HIT THE BIRD'S EYE AT GURUKUL -
"Vaisampayana said, '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. No sooner was the deed done than Drona clasped Phalguna to his bosom and thought Drupada with his friends had already been vanquished in fight.
# 2) ARJUNA,THE 'ONLY' SUITOR TO SUCCEED IN HITTING THE MATSYA YANTRA AT DRAUPADI SWAYAMWAR -
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. 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. Then there arose a loud uproar in the firmament, and the amphitheatre also resounded with a loud clamour. And the gods showered celestial flowers on the head of Partha the slayer of foes.
FROM BORI CE
Adi Parva Chapter 179,
4 यत कर्ण शल्य परमुखैः पार्थिवैर लॊकविश्रुतैः
नानृतं बलवद्भिर हि धनुर्वेदा परायणैः
नानृतं बलवद्भिर हि धनुर्वेदा परायणैः
5 तत कथं तव अकृतास्त्रेण पराणतॊ दुर्बलीयसा
बटु मात्रेण शक्यं हि सज्यं कर्तुं धनुर दविजाः
बटु मात्रेण शक्यं हि सज्यं कर्तुं धनुर दविजाः
TRANSLATION:
How can a weak brahmin string the bow which powerful warriors like Karna and Salya and others endued with might and accomplished in the science and practice of arms could not?
# 3) ARJUNA CREATES A ROOF OF ARROWS AT KHANDAVA TO STOP INDRA -
"Vaisampayana said, 'Then Vibhatsu, the son of Pandu, invoking his excellent weapons, prevented that shower of rain by Indra, by means of a shower of his own weapons. And Arjuna of immeasurable soul soon covered the forest of Khandava with innumerable arrows like the moon covering the atmosphere with a thick fog. When the sky above that forest was thus covered with the arrows of Arjuna no living creature could then escape from below.
# 4) ARJUNA WAS CAPABLE OF SHOOTING ARROWS IN THE DARK WITH THE SAME PROFICIENCY -
"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"
# 5) ARJUNA, THE ONLY WARRIOR IN MAHABHARAT WHO WAS CAPABLE OF SHOOTING ARROWS FROM BOTH HANDS -
"And since both of my hands are capable of drawing the Gandiva, I am known as Savyasachin among gods and men."
O king, in consequence of Partha's shooting arrows with both his right and left hands, the bent Gandiva seemed like a continuous circle of fire. And the son of Kunti then covered Bhishma with hundreds of sharp and keen-edged arrows, like a cloud covering the mountain-breast with its heavy downpour.
# 6) ARJUNA, THE ONLY ARCHER TO KNOW ALL FIVE ARCHERY VIDHIS -
Below are the five archery vidhi's,Arjuna knew them all.
1)Prayoga Vidhi(Simply using/hurling a weapon)
2)Upsanhara Vidhi(Recall/Withdrawing a weapon)
3)Avarti Vidhi(Distress prevention)
4)Prayashachitya Vidhi(This enables the Archer to bring back to life in case an innocent is killed by the Astra)
5)Pratighat Vidhi(Repulsing/Turning back an astra)
2)Upsanhara Vidhi(Recall/Withdrawing a weapon)
3)Avarti Vidhi(Distress prevention)
4)Prayashachitya Vidhi(This enables the Archer to bring back to life in case an innocent is killed by the Astra)
5)Pratighat Vidhi(Repulsing/Turning back an astra)
And, O Partha, together with (a knowledge of) the five modes, using (them), thou hast obtained five and ten weapons and, therefore, there existeth none, who is thy peer. And thou hast perfectly learnt the discharge (of those weapons) and (their) withdrawal, and (their) re-discharge and re-withdrawal, and the
Prayaschitta connected (with them), and also their revival, in case of their being baffled.
# 7) ARJUNA CREATES AN ARTIFICAL LAKE IN THE MIDDLE OF BATTLE,FOR HIS HORSES TO DRINK WATER -
Then, in course of that battle, the mighty-armed Janardana, fearlessly addressing that dear friend of his, that foremost of men, viz., Arjuna, said unto him. 'There is no well here in the field of battle, O Arjuna, for the steeds to drink from. The steeds want water for drink, but not for a bath.' Thus addressed by Vasudeva, Arjuna cheerfully said, 'Here it is!' And so saying, he pierced the earth with a weapon and made an excellent lake from which the steeds could drink. And that lake abounded in swans and ducks, and was adorned with Chakravakas. And it was wide and full of transparent water, and abounded in full-blown lotuses of the finest species. And it teemed with diverse kinds of fish.
# 8 ) ARJUNA CREATES A HALL MADE OF ARROWS FOR HIS HORSES TO REST,HE IS COMPARED TO VISHWAKARMA HERE,EVEN LORD KRISHNA WAS DELIGHTED ON THIS ACT -
And Partha, capable of achieving wonderful works like (the celestial artificer) Tvashtri himself, also constructed there an arrowy hall, having arrows for its beams and rafters, arrows for its pillars, and arrows for its roof. Then Govinda smiling in joy, said, 'Excellent, Excellent,' upon seeing the high-souled Partha create that arrowy hall.'"
# 9) ARJUNA DISPLAYS AN EXCELLENT SKILL IN TAKING JAYADRATH'S HEAD TO HIS FATHER'S LAP -
Dhananjaya, then, with his shafts, sent that head along in the welkin (without allowing it to fall down). For grieving his foes and gladdening his friends, the son of Pandu, by shooting his shafts repeatedly at it, sent that head outside the limits of Samantapanchaka.
So it should be clear that Arjuna didn't use Pashupatastra for killing Jayadrath,but using his own archery skill he kept on shooting Jayadrath's head and took it to his father.
# 10) DAY 2 KURUKSHETRA WAR,ALL KURU WARRIORS INCLUDING BHISHMA AND DRONA FAIL TO CROSS THE ARROWS OF ARJUN AND ATLAST THEY WERE FORCED TO RETREAT -
And those thousands of elephants and hundreds of kings, when they came within reach of Arjuna's arrows, were all unable to make any further advance.And all creatures there set up loud wails, and the points of the compass became dark. And then the transgression of the Kurus assumed a fierce and dreadful aspect as regards its consequences. Neither the welkin, nor the cardinal points of the compass nor the earth, nor the sun, could be distinguished, O best of men, in consequence of the arrows shot by Kiritin. 1 And many were the elephants there deprived of the standards (on their backs), and many car-warriors also, deprived of their steeds. And some leaders of car divisions were seen wandering, having abandoned their cars. And other car-warriors, deprived of their cars, were seen to wander hither and thither, weapon in hand and their arms graced with Angadas. And riders of steeds abandoning their steeds and of elephants abandoning their elephants from fear of Arjuna, O king, fled away in all directions. And kings were seen felled or falling from cars and elephants and steeds in consequence of Arjuna's shafts. And Arjuna, assuming a fierce countenance, cut off with his terrible shafts, the upraised arms of warriors, mace in grasp, and arms bearing swords, O king, or darts, or quivers, or shafts, or bows, or hooks, or standards, all over the field. And spiked maces broken in fragments, and mallets, O sire, and bearded darts, and short arrows, and swords also, in that battle, and sharp-edged battle-axes, and lances, O Bharata, and shields broken into pieces, and coats of mail also, O king, 2 and standards, and weapons of all kinds thrown away and umbrellas furnished with golden staves, and iron hooks also, O Bharata, and goads and whips, and traces also, O sire, were seen strewn over the field of battle in heaps.There was no man in thy army, O sire, who could advance against the heroic Arjuna in battle. Whoever, O king, advanced against Pritha's son in battle, pierced by sharp shafts was despatched to the other world. When all these combatants of thine broke had fled away, Arjuna and Vasudeva blew their excellent conches.
# 11) ARJUNA ALONE VANQUISHES THE PROTECTORS OF JAYADARTH,A BEAUTIFUL DESCRIPTION OF ARJUN'S ARCHERY FEAT HERE -
READ ON... 
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So quick was he in the use of weapons that no one could mark when Arjuna took out his arrows, when he fixed them on the bowstring, when he stretched---the bow and let them off. Indeed, while striking the foe, his bow was seen incessantly drawn to a circle. His arrows also were seen incessantly issuing out of his bow and scattered in all directions.
# 12) ARJUNA NEEDED GANDIVA BOW AND INFINITE ARROWS BECAUSE HE WAS SUCH A POWERFUL AND EXTRAORDINARY ARCHER THAT ORDINARY BOWS COULD NOT BEAR THE STRENGTH OF HIS ARMS AND LIMITED ARROWS WOULD BE EQHAUSTED QUICKLY DUE TO THE LIGHTNESS OF HIS HANDS -
(Arjuna to Agni)
But, O exalted one, I have no bow suited to the strength of my arms, and capable of bearing the might I may put forth in battle. In consequence of the lightness of my hands also I require arrows that must never be exhausted
www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m01/m01227.htm
# 13) ARJUNA DEFEATS DURYODHAN WHO WAS EQUIPPED WITH SHIVA'S IMPENETRABLE ARMOUR BY SHOOTING ARROWS ON AREAS WHICH WERE UNCOVERED WITH ARMOUR LIKE HANDS,FINGERS ETC. AGAIN A GREAT ARCHERY FEAT-
And soon also the valiant Partha cut off Duryodhana's bow and the leathern fence of his fingers. Then, Savyasachin commenced to cut off his enemy's car in fragments. And with a couple of keen arrows he made Duryodhana carless. And then Arjuna pierced both the palms of the Kuru king. Beholding that great bowman afflicted with the shafts of Dhananjaya and fallen into great distress, many warriors rushed to the spot, desirous of rescuing him. These, with many thousands of cars, well-equipped elephants and horses, as also with large bodies of foot-soldiers, excited with wrath, encompassed by large bodies of men, neither that car of theirs nor of Arjuna and Govinda could any longer be seen. Then Arjuna, by the might of his weapons, began to slaughter that host. And car-warriors and elephants, by hundreds, deprived of limbs, fell fast on the field. Slain, or in the act of being slain, those failed to reach the excellent car. Indeed, the car on which Arjuna rode, stood motionless full two miles from the besieging force on every side
# 14) ARJUNA CUT THE MIGHTY AGNEYASTRA SHOT BY KARNA JUST BY USING ORDINARY ARROWS
Then (Karna) that foremost of Bharata car-warriors, that delighter of all the Bharatas, that first of all persons acquainted with weapons, invoked into existence the Agneya weapon. Dhananjaya, however, baffled by means of his own arrowy downpours the flights of arrows shot by Radha's son,
# 15) ARJUNA WAS THE ONLY ARCHER WHO COULD SHOOT THE ARROWS WITHIN A RANGE OF 2 MILES
He taketh a large number of arrows and shooteth them as if they were one. Quickly fixing them on the bow-string, he propelleth them to the distance of two miles. They always fall on the foe.
Meanwhile Bhima and Arjuna, learning the enemy was full two miles ahead of them urged their horses to greater speed in pursuit of him. And the mighty Arjuna performed a wonderful deed, killing the horse of Jayadratha although they were full two miles ahead of them. Armed with celestial weapons undaunted by difficulties he achieved this difficult feat with arrows inspired with Mantras. And then the two warriors, Bhima and Arjuna, rushed towards the terrified king of Sindhu whose horses had been slain and who was alone and perplexed in mind.
# 16). ARJUNA WAS THE ONLY ARCHER WHO COULD SHOOT 500 ARROWS AT SINGLE STRETCH
O Krishna, that Arjuna of two arms who always regardeth himself as superior to his namesake of old with thousand arms, and who at one stretch shooteth five hundred arrows, that son of Pandu who in the use of weapons is equal unto king Kartavirya, in energy unto Aditya, in restraint of senses unto a great sage, in forgiveness unto the Earth, and in prowess unto Indra himself.
# 17) ARJUNA SHOT 600 ARROWS IN LESS THAN A SECOND AS IF THEY WERE ONLY ONE. WARRIORS LIKE KARNA HAVE NEVER ACHIEVED SUCH A FEAT
Meantime, stringing his large bow anew, Partha, that foremost of all persons conversant with arms, getting the better of his preceptor, quickly shot six hundred arrows as if he had taken and shot only one arrow.
# 18) ARJUNA KILLED TEN LAKHS GANDHARVAS IN A SINGLE SHOT
And in that encounter, the mighty Arjuna, by means of his Agneya weapon, sent ten hundreds of thousands of Gandharvas to the abode of Yama.
# 19) ARJUNA PRAISED BY HIS FRIEND CHITRASENA FOR HIS SUPERHUMAN ARCHERY SKILLS WHEN HE SHOT ARROWS IN ONE CONTINUOUS LINE DURING VIRATA WAR
And beholding that wonderful weapon of great beauty, the mighty Gandiva, Chitrasena, highly pleased, addressed the lord of celestials, saying, 'Behold these arrows shot by Partha coursing through the sky in one continuous line. Wonderful is the dexterity of Jishnu in evolving this celestial weapon! Human beings are incapable of shooting such a weapon, for it does not exist among men. How wonderful again is this concourse of mighty weapons existing from days of old!
# 20) ARJUNA KILLED 7 AKSHOUHINI ARMY IN A SINGLE DAY
( Duryodhana to Drona )
Another disciple of thine, viz ., the invincible Savyasachin, having slain seven. Akshauhinis of troops hath despatched king Jayadratha to Yama's abode.
( Sauti to sages )
then after the death of Abhimanyu, the destruction by Arjuna, in battle of seven Akshauhinis of troops and then of Jayadratha;
# 21) ARJUNA WAS THE ONLY WARRIOR WHO WAS CAPABLE TO DESTROY ALL THE THREE WORLDS IN THE TWINKLING OF THE EYE
I tell thee truly that with Vasudeva as my ally, I can, on a single car, exterminate the three worlds with even the immortals, indeed, all mobile creatures that were, are, will be, in the twinkling of the eye. This is what I think. That terrible and mighty weapon which the Lord of all creatures (Mahadeva) gave me on the occasion of my hand-to-hand encounter with him (in the guise of) a hunter, still existeth with me. Indeed, O tiger among men, that weapon which the Lord of all creatures useth at the end of Yuga for destroying created things, existeth with me. Ganga's son knoweth not that weapon; nor Drona nor Gautama (Kripa); nor Drona's son, O king! How, therefore, can the Suta's son know it. It is not, however, proper to slay ordinary men in battle by means of celestial weapons. We shall (on the other band) vanquish our foes in a fair fight.
CREDIT:- Arjun vs Karna fb page
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