Hearing lamenting from Arjuna about walking away from war in first chapter, chapter 2 starts with Shri Krishna lashing back at Arjuna with a strong reprimand and without any compassion or sympathy in his words. He does that after lending a patient, listening ear letting Arjun vent out all his emotions. Leveraging his close bond with Arjun as a childhood friend and maternal cousin, he issues an extremely strong first response calling his behavior weak hearted and unmanly. Ref V2.2 to V2.3
While Arjun continues his resistance, however now he comes to the main point that bothers him, i.e. his weakness to fight against his Bhishma and Drona. Per him, they are not just love-worthy, but worship worthy, fatherly figures and role models in his Arjun’s life. Arjun was a child born in Ashram, lost his father at young age and was invited to palatial life at a tender age of 10 or so., where he was alienated by his paternal cousins. Such emotional churn at tender age for a fatherless child created a natural attachment to the only two masculine figures in his early life – i.e. Bhishma and Drona. He saw them as fatherly figure who filled void of his father, showering him with love and providing with knowledge. (Ref V2.4)
While smriti instructs to abandon Guru / elders if they have committed sin, it also refrains one to attain anything by torturing one’s own mind or hurting others, creating trouble for others. It suggests to be content with what one has. It is interesting that Arjun is taking the later view to support his argument, implicitly demonstrating that he is fighting this war against guru / elders, to “attain something for himself”, and not as kshatriya, fighting against enemies. (Ref V2.5)
Arjun clearly acknowledged his confusion about whether wining is better or losing. He admits his mind is confused. Acceptance of problem within us is the first step towards gaining a clarity. Despite being in such mental chaos, he is reflective and humble enough to admit his confusion. (Ref V2.6). Such attitude makes him to surrender to Shree Krishna. Now he sees Krishna, not just as a charioteer, a friend and maternal cousin, but a teacher, who can guide him. And he is not just a student, who is desirer of knowledge (विद्यार्थी), but a disciple (शिष्यः) who wants his imperfections removed.
Arjun admits to Shree Krishna that his deluded mind is not capable to taking right decision about his duties. He is stuck in miserly, limited thinking that is covering the truth from him. Arjuna is asking Krishna to show him the right path which will bring goodness to him. (Ref V2.7)
Shruti says that the Great truths about life (about Dharma and Brahman) cannot be revealed to anyone unless asked. Jesus gives the same message in Bible – Do no throw pearls in front of pigs. However, that is not the case with Arjun. He is ready to receive.
श्रीकृष्णार्पणम् अस्तु ।
Leave a Reply