Arjuna's Lamentation - Overcoming the Bodily Concept of Life
The Bhagavad-gītā is spoken to a soul in the midst of extreme crisis. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that Arjuna's lamentation on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra perfectly represents the condition of every living entity trapped in material illusion. By analyzing the root cause of Arjuna's grief and Lord Kṛṣṇa's subsequent chastisement, one learns the supreme method for overcoming all anxieties of the material world.
The Root of Lamentation
Before the battle commenced, Arjuna's mind was seized by overwhelming sorrow at the thought of destroying his family. Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that this grief, while appearing noble and compassionate to the mundane eye, was entirely a product of the bodily concept of life.
- 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 was lamenting for the body, thinking that it was horrible that his relatives would be killed in war. This was not the proper subject matter for him to be contemplating.
- Because Arjuna's lamentation was on the bodily concept of life. That bodily concept of life, in the very beginning of Krsna's instructions, it is condemned.
- While observing the situation of his enemy, Arjuna stood up on the chariot, but he was so afflicted with lamentation that he sat down again, setting aside his bow and arrows.
The Chastisement of the Supreme Lord
Instead of sympathizing with Arjuna's tears, Lord Kṛṣṇa immediately attacked the foundation of his ignorance. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that Kṛṣṇa sternly chastised Arjuna for speaking like a learned scholar while simultaneously mourning over the temporary material body.
- Krsna began this teaching to Arjuna first of all, asocyan anvasocas tvam prajna-vadams ca bhasase (Bhagavad-gita 2.11): You are talking like learned scholar, but you are lamenting on the body, which is not at all important.
- Lord Krsna said - Arjuna, I see that you are talking like a learned man, but you may know that you have very little knowledge - because I see that you are lamenting over something for which no one would lament if he were truly learned.
- Krsna essentially told Arjuna that he was fool number one for lamenting for those things for which one should not lament.
- In the presence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Arjuna's lamentation for his kinsmen is certainly unbecoming, and therefore Krsna expressed His surprise with the word kutas - wherefrom.
The Illusion of Death and Duty
Lamentation over death implies a misunderstanding of the soul's eternal nature. Śrīla Prabhupāda clarifies that because the soul simply changes bodies, and because a kṣatriya executing his duty is purified of all sins, Arjuna had absolutely no logical or spiritual reason to grieve.
- Arjuna is advised herewith (Bhagavad-gita 2.22) by the Lord not to lament for the bodily change of his old grandfather and his teacher.
- There was no cause for lamentation by Arjuna on account of death, neither for Bhisma or for Drona, for whom he was so much concerned. Rather, he should rejoice for their changing bodies from old to new ones, thereby rejuvenating their energy.
- One who has taken his birth is sure to die, and after death one is sure to take birth again. Therefore, in the unavoidable discharge of your (Arjuna) duty, you should not lament.
- One who lays down his life on the sacrificial altar, or in the proper battlefield, is at once cleansed of bodily reactions and promoted to a higher status of life. So there was no cause for Arjuna's lamentation.
Surrender as the Ultimate Cure
No amount of material wealth or political power can heal the existential grief of the soul. Śrīla Prabhupāda concludes that Arjuna's lamentation was permanently destroyed only when he completely surrendered to Lord Kṛṣṇa and absorbed himself in transcendental knowledge.
- If economic development could drive away one's lamentations for family, social or international inebrieties, then Arjuna would not have said that even supremacy like that of the demigods would not be able to drive away his lamentations.
- He (Arjuna) would soon be free from the false lamentation resulting from family affection and would be enlightened with perfect knowledge of self-realization, or Krsna consciousness, and would then surely fight.
- As soon as the jiva soul agrees to accept the other bird as the supreme spiritual master - as Arjuna agreed to do by voluntary surrender unto Krsna for instruction - the subordinate bird immediately becomes free from all lamentations.
- Arjuna has now (in Bhagavad-gita 2.22) turned his face towards his eternal friend, Krsna, and is understanding the Bhagavad-gita from Him. And thus, hearing from Krsna, he can understand the supreme glories of the Lord and be free from lamentation.
Conclusion
As Śrīla Prabhupāda masterfully demonstrates, the entire dialogue of the Bhagavad-gītā is the perfect remedy for the suffering of the conditioned soul. Arjuna's lamentation was a symptom of the disease of bodily identification, an illusion that makes one falsely believe they are the flesh and blood, and that death is the end of existence. Lord Kṛṣṇa, acting as the supreme spiritual master, surgically removed this ignorance by exposing the foolishness of mourning for the temporary body. He established that true knowledge means understanding the eternal, indestructible nature of the soul and discharging one's duty without material attachment. By surrendering to Kṛṣṇa and absorbing this divine wisdom, Arjuna transcended his paralyzing grief. His example proves that regardless of the severity of our worldly problems, pure Kṛṣṇa consciousness is the only force capable of completely driving away all material lamentation.
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Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Arjuna's Lamentation. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.