Bhagavad Geetha Chapter 1: Arjuna Vishaada Yoga — Arjuna's Dilemma and Depression

Chapter 1: Arjuna Vishaada Yoga

Arjuna's Dilemma and Depression

Part of the Bhagavad Geetha — Complete Commentary by Guruji M. Mohan Sundar

Emperor Dhritarashtra said, " Hey Sanjaya, what are my children and Pandu's children, having assembled in the war field of Kurukshetra, doing ? ".

Note: Emperor Dritarashtra having sat along with his aid Sanjaya wanted to know what was going on in the war field of Kurukshetra. The children of Dhritarashtra who are hundred in number led by prince Duryodhana, and Dritarashtra's brother Pandu's children five in number led by Yudhisthira assembled in the battlefield of Kurukshetra along with their armies to wage war. The children of King Pandu were entitled for half of the empire which Duryodhana and his brothers usurped deceitfully, driving away Pandavas to forest for a total of 13 years on several conditions. Pandavas having fulfilled all the conditions have come back and demanded their half share in the empire which Duryodhana rejected to handover. Therefore, Pandavas were forced to wage the "Kurukshetra" war against Duryodhana and his brothers in order to gain back their half share of the empire. This war was calamitous and the one which became popularly known as Kurukshetra War. It was a Mega War in the world that was waged in Bhaarat (India) roughly 5,125 years ago. Sanjaya who was the aid of Dritarashtra had a special talent of 'televiewing' through a tray of fire which was given to him by Sage VedaVyasa (The author of Mahabharatha history). Thus, he could see the events that are going on in the War-field of Kurukshetra and narrated in detail to emperor Dhritarashtra.

Sanjaya said, " Prince Duryodhana having seen Pandavas placement of their army went up to his Guru Dronachaarya and said..." " Oh, revered teacher did you see that your intelligent disciple Drushtadyumna who is on the side of Pandavas has tactfully arranged Pandava's army " . Duryodhana further said, " The army of Pandavas have the great heroes like Bheema, Arjuna, Sathyaki, King Virata, King Drupada, Drushtaketu, Chkethana and powerful King of Kashi, Purujitha, Kunthibhoja and best among men, Shaibhya, Valliant Yudhamanyu, Utthamouja, Subhadra's son Abhimanyu and Draupadi's five sons. All of these are great warriors ". " Revered teacher, I will tell you what all changes I have made in placing the great warriors at appropriate positions in our army ". Great grandfather Bheeshma, Karna, Krupacharya and yourself who are most efficient warriors and Ashwatthama, Vikarna, Bhurishrava, Jayadratha and myself, are part of my group. Apart from those, Shalya, Kruthavarma and others having donned the appropriate weaponries are willing to sacrifice themselves in the war for my victory. Our army is unlimited led by the great Bheeshma and by all reasons our army is invincible and it is easy to win the army of Pandavas protected and led by Bheemasena. All of you are placed at crucial places, be attentive and follow Acharya Bheeshma and protect him from all sides. The supreme warrior Bheeshma blew the conch (Shanka) like a roar of a Lion, getting ready for the war. After Bheeshma blowing the conch, all the war signals at a time came into action, creating a tremendous war atmosphere. Lord Shree Krushna and Arjuna, riding a chariot drawn by white horses also blew their divine conches. The Lord Krushna blew his conch known as "Panchajanya", Arjuna blew his conch called "Devadattha", Bheema blew his conch known as "Paundram", thus happened a blowing of great conchs. Similarly, Kunthi's son King Yudhishtira blew his conch known as "Anantavijaya" and his other brothers Nakula and Sahadeva also blew their conches known as "Sughosha" and "Manipushpaka" respectively.

Note: Readying for the war, Pandavas - the five brothers i.e., King Yudhishthira, Bheema, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva along with Lord Krushna blew their respective conchs. The great warrior Kings of Kashi, Shikhandi, Drushtadyumna, Virata, undefeatable Satyaki, King Drupada and Draupadi's sons and Subhadra's son Abimanyu, all of them blew their conchs from all directions showing their readiness. This type of thunderous blowing of conchs by Pandavas and their army terrified the hearts of Duryodhana and others.

Note: Here, this type of ferocious blowing of conchs by the Pandavas has virtually hinted Duryodhana that what was going to come further in the war.

Arjuna said to Lord Krushna, who was his charioteer, to drive the chariot to the area which is between the two armies. So, Arjuna continued, " Let me see who are all the great warriors in the opposite camp, from whom I can select the warriors and fight with " . Arjuna further said, " I will look at all the Kings and other warriors who are standing in support of evil Duryodhana, and I will select them and fight with them". Notes:- Here, Arjuna who is one of the Greatest warriors of his era, has the moral duty to fight an equally talented enemy so that he would be doing justice to his war skills and that was the tradition followed in that era.

So, Sanjaya viewing through his tele-mechanism informed Dhritarashtra that, Lord Krushna according to the wish of Arjuna drove the chariot between the two armies and said to Arjuna " Partha take a clear view of who are all assembled here in support of the Kauravas " . After this Arjuna saw his uncles, grand uncles, teachers, even great grand uncle, maternal uncles, brothers, sons, cousins, grand cousins and nephews and even some good-hearted relatives. Having seen all those blood relations, cousins, teachers and others, Arjuna was overcome by tremendous compassion.

Arjuna said, "seeing all this war ready relatives in the opposite camp, I am loosing my self-control on my body and mind and my bow 'Gaandeeva' is slipping from my hands and I am in a confused state of mind. I am not able to stand to fight the war.

Arjuna said, " By killing all my relations in this war who are facing me, I do not see any positive achievement being done by me " . Ajuna continued " Hey Krushna! I do not look for victory or feel that getting back our Kingdom is of any worth, and all the pleasure coming along with that. Life with this type of victory is not of any worth " .

Note: Arjuna having lost his courage because of weakening of his heart due to high compassion towards his own relatives and his teachers who are in the opposite camp, he felt war is not of any worth with so much of sufferings leaving behind on both the sides, merely because of Kingly pleasures that may arise from gaining the entire Kingdom, if war is fought. When we seek the welfare of all people in the Kingdom, yet, it is sad to see their army is ready to sacrifice their lives not achieving their well- being. It is disheartening to see my teachers and my closest relatives in the opposite side are willing to fight this war. I would not like to kill all these relatives, even if I get authority over the three planes of the universe or on this earth. It does not matter to me anymore. Arjuna further said to Krushna, " Killing all these Dhritarashtra's sons and their army would result in only accumulating sins and nothing more than that and definitely not happiness " . There are those people who are not worried about the sin of causing disharmony and chaos in the society for their selfish purposes, but people like us are aware of this great sin of disturbing and destroying the social orders.

Arjuna said, " Krushna, social disorder and chaos occurring in the society due to this war, people with bad intentions would not mind cheating their own friends and relatives not caring about the sins. At the same time they become mentally corrupt in all possible ways. When people like us are aware of this social disaster, then why should we not restrain from this sinful act ? " . Each clan in the society will be deprived of their traditional righteous way of conduct and thereby Sanathana Dharma will take a beating. The intermixing of Varnas would result in not performing offerings to the dead elders and thereby the souls of the dead would also go down to the darker layers of the creation. Similarly, people who would get confused in performing their inherited traditional professions, result in the loss of occupational and professional output. Krushna, the people who have lost their traditional ( Dharmic duties ) track of doing spiritual duties, we know that they enter into the darker realms of creation for unknown quantum of time. Even though we are endowed with intelligence, we are willing to kill for the sake of Kingdom and sensual pleasures. What a pity ! It's a blessing to me, even though I would not fight with weapons, if Dhritarashtra's sons kill me.

Sanjaya said to Dhritarashtra, " Arjuna saying so to Krushna, dropped his bow and arrows, and sat down besides the chariot with a tragic state of mind " . HERE ENDS THE ARJUNA'S VISHAADA YOGA ( DEJECTION PHASE )