Arjuna: Due to his rare splendour and virtuous deeds, he got the
name Arjuna, which means white, pure and radiant.
Phalguna: As he was born on a Himālayan peak in the Uttar
Phalguni nakshatra, he is called Phalguna.
Jishnu: Being the son of Indra and difficult to be conquered, he
came to be known as Jishnu (vanquishing) in the world of men and
gods.
Kiriti: While fighting the dānavas, Indra placed a crown as radiant as
the sun on Arjuna’s head, making him known as Kiriti (kirita: crown).
Shwetavāhana: When he fought on the battlefield, his chariot was
yoked with white horses covered in golden armour. Because he rode
a chariot pulled by white horses, he got called Shwetavāhana
(shweta: white, vāhana: vehicle).
Bibhatsu: Never did he indulge in any loathsome or cruel action, not
even on the battlefield. Thus, he came to be known as Bibhatsu
(bibhatsa: loathsome, cruel).
Vijay: Having never returned from a battlefield without defeating the
enemy, he was called Vijay (vijay: victorious).
Krishna: Krishna was the name given by his father Pāndu, out of
love for this son with a resplendent dark complexion and a heart that
attracted (krishna: dark, one that attracts).
Savyasāchi: With equal ease and dexterity, he could use both his
left and right hand to shoot arrows from his Gāndiva. This skill made
him known as Savyasāchi among humans and gods.
Dhananjaya: Having won over various janapadas, he acquired a lot
of treasure from them. He lived surrounded by wealth, hence the
name Dhananjaya (dhana: wealth, jaya: the one who has won).