Arjuna's Teachers - Surrendering to the Supreme Master
The Bhagavad-gītā hinges on a profound conflict of loyalties. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that Arjuna's agonizing reluctance to fight was primarily caused by the presence of his worshipful grandfathers and martial teachers on the opposing side. To overcome this paralyzing illusion, Arjuna had to accept Lord Kṛṣṇa as his ultimate spiritual master.
Facing Superiors on the Battlefield
It is a basic tenet of Vedic culture to offer the highest respect to one's teachers. Śrīla Prabhupāda notes how Arjuna was plunged into a deep moral crisis when he saw his revered military instructors, such as Droṇācārya and Kṛpācārya, standing ready to fight against him.
- There Arjuna could see, within the midst of the armies of both parties, his fathers, grandfathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons, friends, and also his father-in-law and well-wishers - all present there. Bhagavad-gita 1.26.
- On the battlefield Arjuna could see all kinds of relatives. He could see persons like Bhurisrava, who were his father's contemporaries, grandfathers Bhisma and Somadatta, teachers like Dronacarya and Krpacarya, maternal uncles like Salya and Sakuni.
- 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.
- It would be better to live in this world by begging than to live at the cost of the lives of great souls who are my (Arjuna) teachers. Even though desiring worldly gain, they are superiors. If they are killed, everything we enjoy will be tainted.
The Illusion of Material Calculation
Arjuna's desire to spare his teachers appeared to be a symptom of saintly forgiveness. However, Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that this reluctance was actually a material calculation based on the bodily concept of life, driven by a desire to preserve his own peaceful sense gratification.
- Arjuna is saying that "How can I kill my kinsmen? There is my grandfather, there is my teacher, there are my kinsmen." It is not bad. For worldly men this is very nice consideration, that - I am not going to kill my kinsmen.
- Arjuna was not willing to fight to satisfy his senses. He thought that - If I do not kill my brother or nephews or my grandfather or my teacher, the other side, that will make me happy. If they are killed, then where is my happiness?
- This (if Arjuna does not kill that will make him happy) is material calculation, because he was giving more importance to the material body, what is his brother, what is his grandfather or teacher. He was seeing the material.
- Because of them (his own grandfather, own teacher, friends, sons, grandsons, etc), Arjuna thought that he should not take the severe steps necessary against ordinary aggressors. Besides that, saintly persons are advised to forgive.
Accepting the Supreme Teacher
To escape the deadlock of his own mundane logic, Arjuna realized he needed absolute guidance. Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights that the turning point of the text occurs when Arjuna stops arguing as a friend and formally accepts Lord Kṛṣṇa as his supreme spiritual master.
- Arjuna is exampling himself that he's accepting Krsna as the spiritual master, teacher. And then Krsna began to teach the Bhagavad-gita, and he changed his decision, and he was freed from all anxieties. This is spiritual life.
- No more friendly talking because Arjuna has accepted Krsna as the teacher. So He's the teacher. It is the duty of the teacher to punish or to chastise the disciple when he is wrongly going on.
- As supreme teacher of the world, Lord Krsna condemns the attitude of Arjuna who said - I do not find any good in this fighting. It will cause perpetual habitation in hell - Such statements by Arjuna were due to ignorance only.
- 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.
Freedom Through Absolute Instruction
By acting under the command of the Supreme Master, one transcends all material laws. It is explained that Kṛṣṇa removed Arjuna's fears of sinful reaction by revealing that he was simply acting as an instrument, thereby freeing him from the false proprietorship of his actions against his earthly teachers.
- In the beginning of Bhagavad-gita Arjuna was worried about killing Bhisma and Drona, his worshipful grandfathers and masters. But Krsna said that he need not be afraid of killing his grandfather.
- Since he was not risking rebirth of the soul, Arjuna had no reason to be afraid of being affected with sinful reactions due to his killing his grandfather and teacher.
- Arjuna, in Bhagavad-gita, was trying to accept for himself the responsibility for killing his grandfather and teacher in the fight, but he became freed from that proprietorship of action when he acted under the direction of Krsna.
- He (Arjuna) is encouraged herein personally by the Lord (Krsna) to kill the son of Drona, but Arjuna considers that the son of his great teacher should be spared, for he happens to be the son of Dronacarya, even though he is an unworthy son.
Conclusion
As Śrīla Prabhupāda masterfully concludes, the conflict involving Arjuna's teachers perfectly illustrates the absolute necessity of a guru in spiritual life. Faced with the unimaginable task of killing the very men who had taught him, Arjuna's mundane intellect completely failed him. His material calculation—disguised as compassion—only led to intense anxiety. It was not until he abandoned his own logic and formally accepted Lord Kṛṣṇa as his supreme spiritual teacher that his ignorance was destroyed. By hearing the Bhagavad-gītā, Arjuna learned that executing the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead supersedes all temporary bodily relationships and societal obligations. By surrendering to the Supreme Master, Arjuna was freed from all lamentation, sinful reactions, and material illusion.
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