View source for Arjuna's Brothers - Transcending Bodily Attachments

The great Battle of Kurukṣetra was a profound family conflict that tested the limits of material attachment and spiritual duty. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that Arjuna's relationship with his own brothers, the Pāṇḍavas, and his cousin-brothers, the Kauravas, forms the very foundation upon which the supreme philosophy of the ''Bhagavad-gītā'' was spoken by Lord Kṛṣṇa.

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=== The Bodily Concept of Life ===

When placed before the opposing army, Arjuna's vision became clouded by material affection. Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights that Arjuna's reluctance to fight was not born of spiritual enlightenment, but entirely from the bodily concept of life, as he calculated his happiness based on the survival of his relatives.

* [[Vaniquotes:Arjuna was hesitating to fight in bodily relationship. He was thinking that he is this body; his other side, the relatives, brothers or nephews or grandfather, the other side, they are also the bodies|Arjuna was hesitating to fight in bodily relationship. He was thinking that he is this body; his other side, the relatives, brothers or nephews or grandfather, the other side, they are also the bodies.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:When Arjuna was speaking - "If I kill my brother, if I kill my grandfather on the other side..." - he was simply thinking on the basis of the bodily concept of life|When Arjuna was speaking - "If I kill my brother, if I kill my grandfather on the other side..." - he was simply thinking on the basis of the bodily concept of life.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Arjuna was thinking only in terms of this body. "He is my grandfather. He is my brother. He is my countryman. He is my this." Why? Because they have got some bodily relation|Arjuna was thinking only in terms of this body. "He is my grandfather. He is my brother. He is my countryman. He is my this." Why? Because they have got some bodily relation.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:This is material calculation, because he (Arjuna) was giving more importance to the material body, what is his brother, what is his grandfather or teacher. He was seeing the material|This is material calculation, because he (Arjuna) was giving more importance to the material body, what is his brother, what is his grandfather or teacher. He was seeing the material.]]

=== Material Compassion vs. Spiritual Duty ===

To ordinary vision, Arjuna appeared extremely noble for wanting to spare his enemies. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that Kṛṣṇa sternly rebuked this behavior, teaching Arjuna that neglecting his duty as a warrior out of sentimental attachment to his cousin-brothers was a sign of ignorance, not virtue.

* [[Vaniquotes:Apparently Arjuna was very nice gentleman that he is forgetting his claim over the kingdom, he's nonviolent, he's not willing to fight with his brothers, and he was crying so compassionate|Apparently Arjuna was very nice gentleman that he is forgetting his claim over the kingdom, he's nonviolent, he's not willing to fight with his brothers, and he was crying so compassionate.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Arjuna was sympathetic with his brothers and relatives, and he was practically crying, with tears in his eyes, and Krsna said that it is non-Aryan. It is not befitting for an Aryan|Arjuna was sympathetic with his brothers and relatives, and he was practically crying, with tears in his eyes, and Krsna said that it is non-Aryan. It is not befitting for an Aryan.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:He said - "Krsna, the opposite side, they are all my brothers and nephews and fathers and grandfather. So there is no use of fighting like this, to kill them. let them enjoy." But Krsna induced Arjuna, - No. This is the right cause. You must fight|He said - "Krsna, the opposite side, they are all my brothers and nephews and fathers and grandfather. So there is no use of fighting like this, to kill them. let them enjoy." But Krsna induced Arjuna, - No. This is the right cause. You must fight.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Before his (Arjuna) hearing Bhagavad-gita he was a soldier, and after hearing Bhagavad-gita he remained a soldier. But in the beginning of the fight he was not willing to fight with his brothers|Before his (Arjuna) hearing Bhagavad-gita he was a soldier, and after hearing Bhagavad-gita he remained a soldier. But in the beginning of the fight he was not willing to fight with his brothers.]]

=== Serving Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira ===

While Arjuna struggled with his cousin-brothers, his dedication to his own brothers was flawless. Śrīla Prabhupāda describes how Arjuna utilized all his abilities to serve his eldest brother, Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, ensuring that the righteous king would ascend the throne.

* [[Vaniquotes:Arjuna and his brother. His brother . . . eldest brother Maharaja Yudhisthira, he was very moralist, Dharmaraja. His name was "The king of religious principles," Dharmaraja|Arjuna and his brother. His brother . . . eldest brother Maharaja Yudhisthira, he was very moralist, Dharmaraja. His name was "The king of religious principles," Dharmaraja.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:The fight was actually between Duryodhana and Yudhisthira. Arjuna was fighting on behalf of his elder brother, Yudhisthira. Because Krsna and Arjuna were on the side of Yudhisthira, Yudhisthira's victory was certain. BG 1972 purports|The fight was actually between Duryodhana and Yudhisthira. Arjuna was fighting on behalf of his elder brother, Yudhisthira. Because Krsna and Arjuna were on the side of Yudhisthira, Yudhisthira's victory was certain.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Arjuna is referred to as Dhananjaya in this verse (BG 1.15) because he helped his elder brother in fetching wealth when it was required by the king to make expenditures for different sacrifices. BG 1972 purports|Arjuna is referred to as Dhananjaya in this verse (Bhagavad-gita 1.15) because he helped his elder brother in fetching wealth when it was required by the king to make expenditures for different sacrifices.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Karna is the half brother of Arjuna and Yudhisthira, as they were born of Kunti before her marriage with King Pandu|Karna is the half brother of Arjuna and Yudhisthira, as they were born of Kunti before her marriage with King Pandu.]]

=== The Final Journey of the Pāṇḍavas ===

After ruling the world with religious principles, the time came for the brothers to depart. When Lord Kṛṣṇa left the material world, the Pāṇḍavas understood their mission was complete, willingly renouncing their opulence to focus entirely on spiritual liberation.

* [[Vaniquotes:Maharaja Yudhisthira inquired from his brother (Arjuna) whether anything undesirable happened on the way home from Dvaraka|Maharaja Yudhisthira inquired from his brother (Arjuna) whether anything undesirable happened on the way home from Dvaraka.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Maharaja Yudhisthira said: Is it that you are feeling empty for all time because you might have lost your most intimate friend, Lord Krsna? O my brother Arjuna, I can think of no other reason for your becoming so dejected|Maharaja Yudhisthira said: Is it that you are feeling empty for all time because you might have lost your most intimate friend, Lord Krsna? O my brother Arjuna, I can think of no other reason for your becoming so dejected.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Advised by Vyasadeva, all the brothers (the five Pandavas) began their maha-prasthana. On the way, at the request of his brother (Yudhisthira), he (Arjuna) gave up all important weapons as useless, and he dropped them all in the water|Advised by Vyasadeva, all the brothers (the five Pandavas) began their maha-prasthana. On the way, at the request of his brother (Yudhisthira), he (Arjuna) gave up all important weapons as useless, and he dropped them all in the water.]]
* [[Vaniquotes:Maharaja Yudhisthira, like his brother Arjuna, began to concentrate and gradually became freed from all material bondage|Maharaja Yudhisthira, like his brother Arjuna, began to concentrate and gradually became freed from all material bondage.]]

=== Conclusion ===

As Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches, the history of Arjuna and his brothers is a perfect study in overcoming material illusion. Arjuna's initial paralysis on the battlefield was the direct result of falsely identifying the self with the material body, which caused him to lament over the inevitable fate of his cousin-brothers. However, by hearing the ''Bhagavad-gītā'', Arjuna transcended this mundane sentimentality and executed his duty flawlessly on behalf of his righteous brother, Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira, and the Supreme Lord. Ultimately, the lives of these great brothers perfectly demonstrate how to utilize worldly abilities in the service of Kṛṣṇa, and how to unhesitatingly renounce those same worldly opulences at the end of life to attain freedom from all material bondage.

=== Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani ===

Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category [[Vaniquotes:Category:Arjuna's_Brothers|Arjuna's Brothers]]. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.

(See our [[Vanipedia:Methodology for AI-Assisted Articles|Vanipedia:Methodology for AI-Assisted Articles]])
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