I don’t know what is meant by darkest..in this context.The Epic did not mention any such thing.
Arjuna is dark. That was true. One of his names is Krishna
When both Krishna and Arjuna were together described ..they were called The Two Krishnas.
Surprisingly Arjuna and Krishna both names contradict each other.
Arjuna means silver white.
Krishna means dark.
But Arjuna himself cleared the confusion in Virata Parva.
Arjuna tells Uttara Kumara how he got his ten names.
He said
कृष्ण इत्येव दशमं नाम चक्रे पिता मम |
कृष्णावदातस्य सतः प्रियत्वाद्बालकस्य वै ||२०||Bori
Arjuna confessed before Uttara Kumara that his father gave him his tenth name Krishna because of his complexion and charm
And he was called Arjuna because he is a man of white deeds but not due to his white complexion.
पृथिव्यां चतुरन्तायां वर्णो मे दुर्लभः समः |
करोमि कर्म शुक्लं च तेन मामर्जुनं विदुः ||१८|
They call me Arjuna because my complexion is very rare within the four boundaries of the earth and because also my acts are always stainless.
|Now we can come to the conclusion that Arjuna was dark only.
But darkest? Nowhere it was mentioned so.
Infact Arjuna Of the Epic got a unique complexion that enhanced his beauty.
Vedavyasa always made it a point to describe Arjuna’s charming looks.
Whenever five of them were together,it was Arjuna who dominated and cast a spell.
When Pandavas were going to Panchal to attend the Swayamvara of Draupadi,Brahmins on the way predicted that Arjuna would get selected by the princess.
Arjuna’s complexion never became a hindrance in winning hearts.Infact it added to his beauty.
Krishna also was dark. So both of them together were mentioned as Syamau ..
Sanjaya when visited Upaplavya in Udyogaparva described Krishna and Arjuna thus..
श्यामौ बृहन्तौ तरुणौ शालस्कन्धाविवोद्गतौ |
एकासनगतौ दृष्ट्वा भयं मां महदाविशत् ||१०||
Both Krishna and Arjuna are described as tall dark,youthful..
Dark complexion glorified their strikingly handsome looks….They were the most sought after..
Arjuna was described as dark,youthful and handsome..Vyasa praised his beauty even in war episodes..
Yudhishtira described Arjuna to Bheema on fourteeth day when he asked him to go and find out Arjuna who was in the middle of chakra Sakata vyuha chasing Jayathratha.
तस्य वै गमनं विद्मो भीम नावर्तनं पुनः |
श्यामो युवा गुडाकेशो दर्शनीयो महाभुजः ||३५||
व्यूढोरस्को महास्कन्धो मत्तद्विरदविक्रमः |
चकोरनेत्रस्ताम्राक्षो द्विषतामघवर्धनः ||३६||
Dark in complexion, youthful in years, of curly locks, exceedingly handsome mighty car-warrior, of broad chest and long arms, possessed of the tread of an infuriated elephant, of eyes of the colour of burnished copper and like those a chakra, that brother of thine enhances the fears of foes.
Among the Pandavas it was Arjuna who had multiple marriages. Unabridged versions of the epic narrated how apsara Urvasi was enamoured by Arjuna.
Draupadi despite her polyandrous marriage loved Arjuna more than others.
She was the most beautiful woman of that time. But she also was dark in complexion.
कुमारी चापि पाञ्चाली वेदिमध्यात्समुत्थिता |
सुभगा दर्शनीयाङ्गी वेदिमध्या मनोरमा ||४१||
श्यामा पद्मपलाशाक्षी नीलकुञ्चितमूर्धजा |
मानुषं विग्रहं कृत्वा साक्षादमरवर्णिनी ||४२
So complexion certainly counts…in making a person beautiful. Arjuna’s dark complexion contributed to his appeal and charm. Nakula was considered the most handsome.But he was dominated by Arjuna’s charm..Good features only can not captivate and elivate the looks of a person.Something else is needed..and Arjuna got that in abundance. It may be his over all persona, his friendly nature,his lightheartedness,his ability to be a crowd puller…The epic tells when Arjuna visited Dwaraka,men and women thronged the streets to have a look at him.
Coming back to dark complexion there might be another reason that made him bear the name Krishna..his Vishnu Ansh. Santi Parva tells Vishnu incarnated himself in four forms,Krishna,Hari,Nar Narayan..
Arjuna was identified as Nara..So it is quite natural if he was dark in complexion..
On the whole the epic upholds the charm of three Krishnas. Krishna,Krishna ( Arjuna) and Krishnaa (Draupadi )
Dark Darker Darkest..Doesn’t matter.
Foot Notes
Bori Critical Edition Of Mahabharata
Kisari Mohan Ganguli English Translation Of Mahabharat.
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