Arjuna's Kinsmen - The Illusion of Bodily Compassion
The Bhagavad-gītā begins with a profound emotional crisis centered entirely around family ties. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that when Arjuna faced his own relatives on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra, his spiritual intelligence was temporarily clouded by material affection, leading to a false sense of compassion that had to be eradicated by the Supreme Lord.
Overwhelmed by False Compassion
The sight of the opposing army struck at the very core of Arjuna's heart. Śrīla Prabhupāda describes how seeing his grandfathers, teachers, and brothers standing ready to fight completely overwhelmed Arjuna with a mundane sense of pity, causing him to lament over the inevitable destruction of his family.
- All the commanders of the parties on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra were standing face to face, and Arjuna saw them with great compassion and lamented that he was to kill his kinsmen on the battlefield for the sake of the empire.
- Arjuna, just after seeing his kinsmen, friends and relatives on the battlefield, was at once overwhelmed by compassion for them who had so decided to fight amongst themselves.
- Practically the whole community, all blood relatives of Arjuna, had come to fight with him. This overwhelmed a kind devotee like Arjuna.
- On the battlefield Arjuna could see all kinds of relatives. He could see brothers like Duryodhana, sons like Laksmana, friends like Asvatthama, well-wishers like Krtavarma, etc.
The Bodily Concept of Life
To consider oneself identical to the physical body is the root cause of all material suffering. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that Arjuna's deep attachment to his kinsmen was a direct manifestation of this bodily concept of life, induced by the illusory energy (māyā).
- 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.
- By maya alone Arjuna thought that the temporary bodily relationship with his kinsmen was more important than his eternal spiritual relationship with Krsna.
- When Arjuna was thinking in terms of his bodily relationships with his kinsmen, Krsna immediately chastised him, saying, This bodily conception of life is befitting the anaryas, the non-Aryans, who are not advanced in knowledge.
- Arjuna told the Lord that it was not possible for him to enjoy the kingdom after killing his own kinsmen. This decision was based on the body because he was thinking that the body was himself.
The Illusion of Piety and Sense Gratification
Arjuna believed that sparing his enemies would be an act of religious piety. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that Kṛṣṇa saw through this façade, revealing that Arjuna's desire to save his relatives was actually based on his own desire for peaceful sense gratification.
- Arjuna considered that rather than kill his own kinsmen for political reasons, it would be better to forgive them on grounds of religion and saintly behavior.
- Materially it may seem very pious that he (Arjuna) is giving up his claim for a kingdom and refusing to kill his relatives, but Krsna did not approve of this because the principle for Arjuna's decision was to satisfy his own senses.
- In both ways (by not killing his (Arjuna's) relatives and kinsmen he would be happier than by enjoying the kingdom after conquering his cousins and brothers, the sons of Dhrtarastra), the basic principles were for sense gratification.
- He (Arjuna) thought that by killing his kinsmen there would be no happiness in his life, and therefore he was not willing to fight, just as a person who does not feel hunger is not inclined to cook.
Rectifying the Illusion
The purpose of Kṛṣṇa's instruction was to elevate Arjuna's consciousness above mundane family ties. Śrīla Prabhupāda concludes that once Arjuna understood the supreme duty requested by the Lord, he discarded his material reluctance and fought purely for Kṛṣṇa's satisfaction.
- 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.
- Deviation from duty does not help one in the progress of spiritual life, nor does it even give one the opportunity to become famous in this world. Lord Krsna did not approve of the so-called compassion of Arjuna for his kinsmen.
- If there is any reluctance (on the part of Arjuna) to execute such a stern order (from Krsna) which is without consideration of so-called kinsmen in the bodily relationship, that reluctance should be thrown off.
- As a good, nonviolent man, Arjuna did not want to fight with his kinsmen, but when he understood that Krsna wanted the fight and had arranged it at Kuruksetra, he gave up his own satisfaction and fought for the satisfaction of the Lord.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Arjuna's reluctance to fight his kinsmen serves as a profound lesson for all conditioned souls suffering from material attachments. As Śrīla Prabhupāda masterfully explains, what appears to be noble compassion on the mundane platform is often just another facet of the bodily concept of life, driven by the desire for personal sense gratification. Lord Kṛṣṇa spoke the Bhagavad-gītā specifically to shatter this illusion. He taught Arjuna that true religious principles are not dictated by worldly affection or bodily relationships, but by the execution of one's prescribed duty in complete surrender to the Supreme Lord. By abandoning his false pity and agreeing to fight his own family members for the satisfaction of Kṛṣṇa, Arjuna demonstrated the ultimate standard of unalloyed devotion, proving that eternal spiritual ties must always take precedence over temporary material bonds.
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