Great warriors, valiant men, heroes, and mighty archers - all stood in their ranks on one side, while, the opposite side had equally brave men, distinguished commanders and army officers armed with various weapons, skilled in warfare, the latter having the added advantage of being more in numbers as well.
Couches blew from one side, then, the other, followed by thunderous war cries; beating of drums and trumpets, and uproars of excitement of the impending war.; vibrating across the earth and skies shaking as everyone including those in the celestial realms gazed down from the heavens to watch the war that was about to unfold.
Arjun told Krishna to bring the chariot in between the two armies to have a closer look at who exactly he was fighting against - in the opposing end stood his uncles, grandfathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons, and other comrades - they were all his kinsmen - he wondered, how to fight his own?
In a moment of weakness, sorrow and dilemma Arjun wanted to give up and lay down his arms as he didn't want to fight his own kin - what would be the use, killing his own relatives, he cast aside his bows and arrows overwhelmed with compassion and despair; he wanted to turn back as he could not fathom enjoying victory after slaying his own close ones.
Krishna urged him not to be a coward - do not grief for those not worthy, if they've done injustice to you, then, its a righteous war and infact its a duty to fight injustice; else, no one will forgive if one abandons their duty; its a sin to tolerate injustice - fight for what's right because, even if someone dies in line of duty and is righteous he is granted heaven; besides the spirit is indestructible - it never dies - so, its no use mourning someone's physical death.
Persuaded and finally convinced by strong encouraging words of Krishna, not to abandon his duty midway out of fear or cowardice, Arjun finally understood what he had to do - he picked his bow and arrow ready to fight and complete his karma and fulfil the purpose he was in that position for!
Nice presentation of tension felt by Arjun in the Bhagavad Gita which is the only part of the Mahabarata that I've read.
ReplyDeleteKrishna was the Ultimate Motivator to achieve aims many did not understand, not even the mediums like Arjun.
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