Arjuna's Fighting - From Material Compassion to Devotional Service
A superficial reading of the Bhagavad-gītā often leads to the misunderstanding that Kṛṣṇa is inciting immoral violence. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda clearly explains that Arjuna's fighting was not an act of mundane aggression, but the ultimate expression of surrender. By transitioning from sentimental, bodily compassion to fighting on the direct order of the Supreme Lord, Arjuna demonstrated how to turn one's occupational duty into pure devotional service.
The Illusion of Nonviolence
At the outset of the battle, Arjuna appeared extremely pious by wanting to spare his relatives. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that Kṛṣṇa immediately shattered this illusion, explaining that avoiding one's duty out of bodily attachment is an act of cowardice, not genuine spiritual compassion.
- Arjuna took compassion that, "I don't want victory. Better not to fight." So that is the cause of describing the science of Bhagavad-gita before Arjuna, just to induce him to act as a dutiful soldier. This is the background of Bhagavad-gita.
- When Arjuna declined to fight, Krsna condemned him, "Oh, you are just like talking like a non-Aryan, not Aryan.
- He (Arjuna) argued, - No, no. If I fight, my people will die, and their wives will become widow, and they will be adulterated, and then, by adulteration, unwanted population will increase, and who will offer sraddha.
- Out of sentiment, Arjuna was thinking, "Why should I fight against my own kinsmen?" That reluctance to fight was due to Arjuna's illusion, and just to eradicate that illusion, Sri Krsna spoke the Bhagavad-gita to him.
- Forgetting his prime duty, he (Arjuna) wanted to cease fighting, because he thought that by not killing his relatives and kinsmen he would be happier than by enjoying the kingdom after conquering his cousins and brothers, the sons of Dhrtarastra.
Executing Occupational Duty
The Vedic system is designed so that individuals make progress by performing their specific societal roles. Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that Kṛṣṇa strictly forbade Arjuna from artificially imitating a peaceful brāhmaṇa; as a kṣatriya, his unavoidable duty was to fight for justice.
- Krsna says (to Arjuna) that - Don't try to imitate the business of a sannyasi or a Brahmin. You are ksatriya. You . . . your duty is to fight, so you should follow your own prescribed duty. Don't try to imitate others.
- Arjuna was a military man, and born of the nature of the ksatriya. Therefore his natural duty was to fight. But, due to false ego, he was fearing that by killing his teacher, grandfather and friends, there would be sinful reactions.
- In the Gita, Krsna says to Arjuna, - As a fighter, you have to fight. You cannot step away from the fighting. It is your duty.
- The Lord further tells Arjuna that as a ksatriya he cannot give up his fighting, but if Arjuna fights remembering Krsna, then he will be able to remember Him at the time of death.
- Any attachment, positive or negative, is cause for bondage. Inaction is sinful. Therefore, fighting as a matter of duty was the only auspicious path of salvation for Arjuna.
Fighting Under Divine Order
A critical distinction must be made between mundane warfare and the Battle of Kurukṣetra. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that because Arjuna fought strictly under the direct order and guidance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, his actions were transcendental and free from any sinful reaction.
- Arjuna fought the Battle of Kuruksetra under the direct order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna. Similarly, here (Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.20.13) Prthu Maharaja is also being given orders by Lord Visnu regarding the execution of his duty.
- Arjuna did not fight without Krsna's order; therefore we must receive our orders also.
- The fighting to be executed by Arjuna at the instruction of Krsna is with full knowledge, so there is no possibility of sinful reaction.
- Krsna engaged Arjuna on the battlefield under His order, and so the fighting became devotional service. Therefore, Arjuna was not subjected to any sinful reaction.
- Externally we can see that both parties are engaged in fighting, but we should understand that Arjuna is not bound by reactions because he is fighting under the order of Krsna.
The Instrument of the Lord
True knowledge means realizing that one is not the ultimate doer. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that Kṛṣṇa had already arranged the outcome of the battle; He simply required Arjuna to give up his false ego, act as His instrument, and take the glorious credit for the victory.
- Therefore get up and prepare to fight. After conquering your enemies you will enjoy a flourishing kingdom. They are already put to death by My arrangement, and you, O Savyasacin, can be but an instrument in the fight. Bhagavad-gita 11.33.
- The Lord tells Arjuna, O Arjuna, merely be an instrument in the fight. Lord Krsna had the competence to win the Battle of Kuruksetra, but nonetheless He induced His devotee Arjuna to fight and become the cause of victory.
- Arjuna was then advised by God to fight and take credit; otherwise the party of Duryodhana would be killed anyway by the will of the Lord. Arjuna was advised just to become the agent and take the credit for killing great generals like Bhisma and Karna.
- Arjuna was entrusted with the work of fighting on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra, and before he was so entrusted, the Lord had already arranged for his victory.
- Arjuna fought because the Supreme Personality of Godhead wanted him to; therefore he was not responsible for the outcome of the fighting.
Fighting as Pure Devotional Service
Devotional service is not limited to chanting in a temple. Śrīla Prabhupāda concludes that Arjuna achieved the highest perfection of life precisely because he utilized his specific military skills entirely for the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa, proving that any profession can become bhakti.
- Arjuna's prescribed duty was to fight, and the perfection of his fighting was tested by the satisfaction of Krsna. Krsna wanted him to fight, and when he fought for the satisfaction of the Lord, that was the perfection of his professional devotional duty.
- Another vivid example is Arjuna, who was a fighter. By fighting, he became a devotee. He did not become a devotee by chanting Hare Krsna but by fighting in the Battle of Kuruksetra.
- He (Arjuna) was a military man, and his sva-dharma, his occupational duty, was to fight. So that fighting capacity he engaged himself in the service of Krsna, and he became a devotee. Krsna certified, bhakto 'si.
- Arjuna is fighting. That is also Krsna consciousness. Yudhyasva mam anusmara (Bhagavad-gita 8.7). Krsna said that - You chant. You remember Me. At the same time, fight.
- You may be industrial administrator or engineer you make your profession perfect. And that perfection is achieved by satisfying the SPG by your profession. Just like Arjuna: He was a soldier. He knew how to fight. So by his profession he satisfied Krsna.
Conclusion
As Śrīla Prabhupāda comprehensively explains, the fighting of Arjuna is the ultimate practical demonstration of the Bhagavad-gītā's philosophy. When Arjuna initially refused to fight, he was acting under the dictation of his own material senses, falsely believing that nonviolence based on bodily attachment would bring him peace. However, after hearing the supreme instructions of Lord Kṛṣṇa, Arjuna surrendered his personal desires. He recognized that as a kṣatriya, his duty was to uphold justice, and as a devotee, his supreme duty was to follow the order of the Lord. By taking up his weapons and acting merely as an instrument for Kṛṣṇa's divine arrangement, Arjuna elevated a violent, mundane war into a pristine act of unalloyed devotional service. His example proves to the world that perfection is achieved not by artificially abandoning one's work, but by dedicating the fruits of all labor entirely to the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
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 Arjuna's Fighting. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.