Arjuna's Mind - The Challenge of the Restless Wind
Controlling the mind is the ultimate prerequisite for spiritual success. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that the Bhagavad-gītā perfectly illustrates this struggle through the experience of Arjuna. By analyzing Arjuna's initial mental breakdown, his honest admission regarding the mind's obstinate nature, and his ultimate pacification through Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one learns the supreme science of mental control.
The Reeling and Depressed Mind
When faced with a severe material crisis, an uncontrolled mind quickly becomes an enemy. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes that upon seeing his relatives on the battlefield, Arjuna's mind became completely overwhelmed by grief, causing him to lose his physical and emotional equilibrium.
- I am now unable to stand here any longer. I am forgetting myself, and my mind is reeling. I foresee only evil, O killer of the Kesi demon. Bhagavad-gita 1.30.
- I (Arjuna) am now unable to stand here any longer. I am forgetting myself, and my mind is reeling. I see only causes of misfortune, O Krsna, killer of the Kesi demon.
- Sanjaya said: Arjuna, having thus spoken on the battlefield, cast aside his bow and arrows and sat down on the chariot, his mind overwhelmed with grief. Bhagavad-gita 1.46.
- Sanjaya said: Seeing Arjuna full of compassion, his mind depressed, his eyes full of tears, Madhusudana, Krsna, spoke the following words.
More Difficult Than the Wind
When Lord Kṛṣṇa proposed the mechanical aṣṭāṅga-yoga system to control the senses, Arjuna immediately identified its fatal flaw. Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights Arjuna's famous realization: because the mind is inherently turbulent and restless, artificial suppression is as impossible as trying to control the wind.
- Arjuna said: O Madhusudana, the system of yoga which you have summarized appears impractical and unendurable to me, for the mind is restless and unsteady. Bhagavad-gita 6.33.
- Arjuna said, O Madhusudana, the system of yoga which you have summarized appears impractical and unendurable to me, for the mind is restless and unsteady.
- The mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O Krsna, and to subdue it is, it seems to me (Arjuna), more difficult than controlling the wind.
- The mind is cancala, flickering, and it changes very strongly. Therefore Arjuna admitted that controlling the mind is not at all possible; this would be as difficult as controlling the wind.
The Supreme Solution: Bhakti-Yoga
Kṛṣṇa agrees that the mind is obstinate, but He provides the perfect, practical solution. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that instead of artificially stopping the mind, one must actively attach it to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, effectively killing all demonic doubts.
- Lord Krsna explains in the Seventh Chapter of the Bhagavad-gita (Bhagavad-gita 7.1): Now hear, O son of Prtha (Arjuna), how by practicing yoga in full consciousness of Me, with mind attached to Me, you can know Me in full, free from doubt.
- My dear Arjuna, O winner of wealth, if you cannot fix your mind upon Me without deviation, then follow the regulated principles of bhakti-yoga In this way you will develop a desire to attain to Me. Bhagavad-gita 12.9.
- O Arjuna, surrendering all your works unto Me, with mind intent on Me, and without desire for gain and free from egoism and lethargy, fight. Bhagavad-gita 3.30.
- These (Bhagavad-gita 8.2) doubts are like demons. Since Krsna is so expert in killing demons, Arjuna here addresses Him as Madhusudana so that Krsna might kill the demonic doubts that arise in Arjuna's mind.
The Pacification of Arjuna's Mind
The true test of spiritual knowledge is deep, unshakeable peace. Śrīla Prabhupāda concludes that by submissively hearing the instructions of his eternal friend and meditating on the Lord's beautiful form, Arjuna's mind was completely cleansed of contamination and perfectly pacified.
- O conqueror of wealth, Arjuna, have you heard this attentively with your mind? And are your illusions and ignorance now dispelled? Bhagavad-gita 18.72.
- Suta Gosvami said: Thus being deeply absorbed in thinking of the instructions of the Lord, which were imparted in the great intimacy of friendship, and in thinking of His lotus feet, Arjuna's mind became pacified and free from all material contamination.
- After hearing Bhagavad-gita from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Arjuna dovetailed his mind with Krsna's desire. This is called oneness. This oneness, however, did not cause Arjuna and Krsna to lose their individualities.
- When Arjuna thus saw Krsna in His original form, he said: Seeing this humanlike form, so very beautiful, my mind is now pacified, and I am restored to my original nature. Bhagavad-gita 11.51.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the journey of Arjuna's mind serves as a profound manual for every spiritual practitioner. Initially, his mind acted as his greatest enemy, plunging him into depression and illusion when faced with the painful reality of the battlefield. As Arjuna brilliantly diagnosed, attempting to artificially control such a turbulent, wind-like mind through mechanical yoga is practically impossible for the conditioned soul. However, Lord Kṛṣṇa revealed the supreme, effortless method: bhakti-yoga. By actively surrendering all actions to Kṛṣṇa, addressing Him as Madhusūdana to kill the inner demons of doubt, and meditating constantly on His beautiful form, the mind becomes naturally anchored. Arjuna's ultimate state of perfect peace and clarity proves that dovetailing one's mind with the desires of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the only true way to conquer material contamination.
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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 Mind. We invite you to visit this link to study the complete compilation and experience the teachings in their direct, verbatim form.