विवेचन सारांश

Arjuna tells Bhagavān Śrī Krishna about his decision to not participate in the war

Arjuna questions Śrī Krishna as to what the benefit of is waging the war and winning it to secure the kingdom and the associated pleasure, if he has kill the very persons for whose sake he desired to win. What is the use of such a victory if he doesn’t have any loved ones to share the same with?

It is like Arjuna will have all the things to celebrate Diwali with like, sweets, crackers, lights and so forth, but there will not be family and friends to enjoy it with. His mind is filled with the question as to what is the use of such an occasion which he can’t celebrate with loved ones.

Arjuna says, by risking their lives on the battlefield were gathered the Guru, the father, the son, the grandfather, the uncle, the father-in-law, the grandson, the brother-in-law, and so many other family members. He was unwilling to be part of a war where brothers kill each other!

Arjuna’s state of compassion is such that he says that he doesn’t want to attack and kill his loved ones on the side of the Kauravas even if they do so. He is willing to get killed but not ready to kill.

Arjuna’s good moral values are exposed in this Shloka. He was prepared to die, rather than kill his kith and kin; his loved ones, even if it meant the loss of the kingdom. Even the rewarding offer of all the empires in the three lokas could not lure him to wage the war. Then, how can a small piece of land called Hastinapur make him fight?

Similar to the previous Shlokas, Arjuna continues to justify his unwillingness to kill his relatives. He asks Bhagavān, how can one be happy by killing one’s own people?Therefore, he argues that they were not justified to kill the Kauravas who are his uncle Dhritarashtra’s sons and his own relatives.

Arjuna asks Śrī Krishna that how can one be happy by killing one’s own people? Therefore, he argues that they were not justified to kill the Kauravas, who were their own relatives. His level of attachment is so strong that he starts to defend the Kauravas and argue why they should not be killed.

Arjuna puts forth to Bhagavān that the thoughts of the Kauravas are overpowered by greed and hence they are unable to see any wrong in destroying their relatives or friends. He then questions Krishna, why should they the Pāṇḍavas, who can clearly see the sin in killing their kindred, not turn away from this wrongdoing?

Arjuna’s level of attachment is so strong that he started defending the Kauravas, and justifying as to why they should not be killed.

Clearly, despite being a proclaimed warrior, Arjuna’s righteous nature coupled with his extreme attachment to his family and friends has led him to losing his practicality and sense of judgement.

Arjuna while putting forth his argument seems to have forgotten that it was Śrī Krishna who had gone to the Kauravas as a peace ambassador before the war and requested for just five villages in order to avoid the war. Duryodhana had refused to give even that thus leading to the battle. In fact,the Adharma or unrighteousness of Duryodhana and the Kauravas was on the constant rise.

Bhagavān in the famous seventh Shloka of Chapter – 4 of Bhagavadgītā had said to Arjuna,

yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati bhārata

abhyutthānam adharmasya tadātmānaṁ sṛijāmyaham

HE said that HE reveals HIMSELF whenever there is a decline in righteousness and an increase in unrighteousness.

Thus, in order to bring back Dharma or righteousness to the world, Bhagavān had no other option but to cause the war to destroy the Adharma being caused by the Kauravas.

Arjuna continues to defend his decision talks about another negative impact of such a big war. He says, every family has a set of rules known as Kula dharma which the members had to follow to keep the family tradition alive. These set of rules governed the ways of living, thinking, and acting as a united and well-integrated family. The kula dharma was our traditional right and duty by following which, we learnt to live as better citizens.  These traditions helped nurture positive values in families and help build a virtuous society.

We know that in the times of Mahabharata, there were four caste groups (Brahmāns,

Kṣatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras) which were based on the type of work each did. Each were associated with their set of Kula dharma.

However, if a family is destroyed in a calamity like a big war, the Kula dharma will ultimately get destroyed.

Arjuna says such war, where families completely lose the men would lead to gender inequality and women would be married to men of other caste groups thus destroying the social structure. He says, that when such an event occurs, adharma or evil takes over society.

Arjuna uses the knowledge he obtained from his elders, as a source of argument to justify his reluctance to wage the war. He says, those who are responsible for destroying the family traditions will have to stay in hell for a long period of time.

Arjuna uses the exclamation of ‘aho’ (alas) to dramatically express his emotions and disappointment of being involved in a great sin. He shows his astonishment at being prepared to kill their own people, just for the possession of a kingdom.

Finally, Arjuna decides that it would be better for him to face the Kauravas bare handed, not yielding any weapon, and get killed by them in the battlefield. At the current state of emotion, Arjuna was ready to keep aside his weapon and even be killed unarmed and unresisting by the Kauravas on the battlefield.

Sanjaya concludes the chapter by narrating that having thus spoken, Arjuna overwhelmed with dejection, sat down on his chariot casting aside his bow and arrow.

In Chapter – 1, there is no Shloka attributed to Bhagavān Śrī Krishna as he is a silent listener and observer here. HE starts his sermon of Bhagavadgītā to Arjuna from the next chapter.

All Sadhaks were once again wished a very blessed Deepavali. The session concluded with prayer to Bhagavān Śrī Krishna and rendition of the Hanuman Chalisa.

Questions from the Quiz

Sadhaks are encouraged to attempt to answer the questions so that they can score themselves against the answers that will be provided with next week’s summary.

1.     When which Indian tithi (day) is Deepavali celebrated?
2.     Which Indian epic talks about the festival of Deepavali?
3.     In the 5 days of festival, on which day does Deepavali come?
4.     What are the other festivals held on each day of the 5 days of festival during Deepavali?
5.     What is the most common thing we do on the night of Deepavali?
6.     Why is Lakshmi Ji and Ganesh Ji worshipped on Deepavali?
7.     Who is the author of Ramayana?
8.     Name the bird who tried to save Sita Ji in Ramayana?
9.     Why is Naraka-Chaturdasi celebrated?
10. What is the name of Arjuna’s bow?
11. Why were conches being blown at the start of the Battle of Mahabharata?
12. What was the name of Karna’s parents?
13. What does Śrī Krishna refer to the knowledge in Chapter – 9 of Bhagavadgītā?
14. What are the three guṇas mentioned in Chapter – 14 (Guṇa Traya Vibhāg Yoga) of Bhagavadgītā?
15. Name two Daivi Sampada or divine qualities enumerated in Chapter – 14 (Guṇa Traya Vibhāg Yoga) of Bhagavadgītā?
16. What are the three types of Shraddha ot faith described in Chapter – 17 (Śhraddhā Traya Vibhāg Yoga) of Bhagavadgītā?
17. With what is Tamasik Shraddha associated with?
18. Who is the son of King Parikshit?
19. What is the name of Ashwattma’s mother?