Having
looked at the three fundamental points about understanding Gita in my previous posts namely :-
2. Who is Krishna? & 3. Who is Arjuna?
Let
us now look at the point why Krishna took the pain of illustrating whole of
Gita to Arjuna.
As
I have stated before Arjuna represents a devotee of the highest order. A
devotee so ideal that even Krishna says “among Pandavas I am Arjuna”… Chapter11, Sloka 37. We also learn from Gita that Arjuna is
Khatriya. (Before someone associates it with the four classes prevalent today
in the Hindu society I must clarify that it is not. To understand it in detail
please clicks on the hyperlink over the word.) When a yogi comes to this
Khatriya stage there begins a decisive battle between his good qualities and
bad qualities like kam, krodh etc. Even Krishna says in sloka 31 of chapter 2 even if you look at
your swadharma, there is no other better option available for you than to
engage in this battle. At this point it also became relevant to Arjuna that he
had to cut off ties with his families in order to proceed further as a yogi.
At this point in time Arjuna gets caught in a
big dilemma. His mind revolts and does not want to cutoff ties with his family.
His senses start getting better of him and he laments saying that he is not
ready for this war. He says “my mind is not under my control.” Chapter1, Sloka 30. He
goes on to add that I don’t want any thing. “Neither the kingdom of whole world
nor the position of Indra (ruler of gods) will convince me in fighting this
war.” Chapter2, Sloka 8. “How will I fight against my family members”
(how will I cut ties with them)... Chapter1, Sloka 32-33. These questions and dilemma are not of
Arjuna alone but every devotee who comes in this Khatriya stage and is of
Rajarsha characteristics has to face this dilemma. But every devotee is not so
lucky to get a teacher like Krishna. They get attracted to the psychic powers
that they receive due to the practice of yoga up to this stage. They do not
wish to go further and the process of spiritual development prematurely stops
in them. This is stated by lord Krishna as “evam paramparapraptamimang
rajashrayo biduh, Sa kaleneha mahata yoga nasta parantapa”… Chapter4, Sloka 2. So
Krishna clarifies this dilemma not only for arjuna but for all other devotees
in future.Infact Krishna clarifies the doubt so well that even Arjuna admits in the penultimate chapter that "All my doubts have ended and I have recovered my memory and now I am ready to do whatever you say"....
To be continued....4
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