Bhagavad-gita 1.30 – 1.35 Arjuna finds no benefit in War

Today is Gita Jayanti, the day when Bhagavad-gita was rendered by Lord Sri Krishna to Arjuna in the battlefield of Kurukshetra. This auspicious day falls on ekadasi (11th) day of shukla paksha (bright half) of the margashirsha (November – December) month of Indian calendar. Comprising of 700 verses, Bhagavad-gita is the essence of the Vedic literature providing an in-depth understanding of the science of self-realization, false identification and sufferings in material life, spiritual relationship of living entities with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, devotional service and surrender to the lotus feet of Lord Krishna and assurance from the Lord Himself of ultimate victory.

Arjuna started pleading with Lord Krishna since he was seeing only causes for misfortune in the battle of Kurukshetra. nimittāni ca pasyāmi viparitāni kesava … Arjuna addressed Kesava, the killer of the kesi demon, that although he knew the nimittāni (cause) of the war but he found viparitāni (opposite) effect of the same.

In material life, everyone is interested in oneself and one’s own welfare. Psychologically, everyone wants to show one’s opulence to friends and relatives, but Arjuna feared that all his relatives and friends would be killed on the battlefield and he would be unable to share his opulence after victory.

Materially conscious people also see happiness in terms of expanded selfishness, happiness of family, society, community, country, community. Therefore Arjuna did not see any good (śreyas) coming from killing his own kinsmen in the battle. He 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.

Arjuna was not even willing to follow the moral codes for a ksatriya (warrior class) as per vedic social administration. Also if one dies fighting directly in battle under Lord Krishna’s personal orders, he goes to dwell in the sun planet. Arjuna was not even bothered about any benefit of living in higher planet. He even considered himself fit to go into a forest and live a secluded life in frustration.

Lord Govinda is the object of all pleasure for cows and senses. Arjuna expected the Lord to satisfy his selfish cause as well. He however forgot that Lord cannot be considered the order supplier since one will receive only so much that one deserves. In fact, living entity is supposed to satisfy Govinda’s senses. It is one’s real interest to satisfy Lord’s will, because the cause of all happiness including material happiness is the Lord Himself. The conditioned soul forgets this, and therefore suffers material pains. The devotee follows this principle and remains fortunate.

Bhagavad-gita 1.26 – 1.30 Arjuna Bewildered seeing his Friends and Relatives in Battle

Chapter-1 of Bhagavad-gita is called vishāda yoga or condition of despondency of Arjuna. Seeing his friends and relatives present before him in fighting spirit made Arjuna feel the limbs of his body quivering and his mouth drying up. Arjuna became overwhelmed with compassion (krpayā parayāvisto) and started lamenting (in utter bewilderment). "How it is possible, Krsna, that I have to kill the other side, my fathers, my father-in-law, my grandfather, my sons, my grandsons, my brother, my so many friends?"

When there is danger, many symptoms and different transformations of bodily constitution appear. These occur because of many reserve energies within the body. Bodily symptoms act because the mind is there. As the mind is absorbed in some subject matter, the bodily symptoms work, or the senses work according to that mind.

Arjuna felt his whole body trembling, his hair standing on end, his Gandiva slipping from his hand and his skin burning. Such phenomena occur out of great fear under material conditions. Arjuna’s symptoms in this situation were out of material fear of loss of life. He became so impatient that his famous bow was slipping from his hands. Because his heart was burning within him, he was feeling a burning sensation of the skin.

The Gandiva bow was gifted to Arjuna by the demigods and played a great role in his battles and slaying of many warriors. He had taken a vow that he would never drop it from his body. He even used to sleep with the divine bow. In the battlefield of Kurukshetra, the same Gandiva slipped from his shoulders seeing his relatives (svajana) in battle ensemble.

Arjuna was unable to stand any longer, he was forgetting himself and his mind was reeling. Excessive attachment for material things puts a man in such a bewildering condition of existence. Such fearlessness and loss of mental equilibrium take place in persons who are too affected by material conditions.

Bhagavad-gita 1.24 – 1.25 Hrsikesa directs Arjuna’s mind

uvāca pārtha pasyaitān samavetān kurun iti

Lord Krishna spoke for the first time in the Bhagavad-gita showing Arjuna the presence of Bhisma, Drona and all the other chieftains of the world, under the Kurus assembled for the battle. As the Supersoul of all living entities, Lord Krishna could understand what was going on in the mind of Arjuna. As Hrsikesa or the director of the senses and mind of every living entity, Lord Krishna knew everything. He is the original controller of the senses, just as the king is the original controller of all the activities of the state, and the citizens are secondary controllers. The Lord, situated in the hearts of all living entities, directs their senses. Lord Krishna could understand Arjuna’s purpose in placing the chariot in the midst of the armies. On the Battlefield of Kurukshetra the Lord directly controls the transcendental senses of Arjuna. Hence He drew the chariot of Arjuna in the presence of Bhisma, Drona and the other chieftains on the world.

Arjuna is called gudakesa. gudaka means sleep and one who conquers sleep is call gudakesa. Sleep implies sense gratification, ignorance or darkness. So Arjuna conquered both sleep and ignorance because of his friendship with Krishna. As a great devotee of Krishna, he could not forget Krishna even for a moment, because that is the nature of a devotee. Either in walking or in sleep, a devotee of the Lord can never be free from thinking of Krishna’s name, form, qualities and pastimes. A devotee of Krishna can conquer both sleep and ignorance simply by thinking of Krishna constantly. This is called Krishna consciousness.

Lord Krishna also called His friend as Partha or the son of Kunti or Prtha, the sister of His own father Vasudeva. This is significant because as a friend and relative, He had agreed to be the charioteer of Arjuna. Now He did not expect the son of His aunt Prtha to stop the fight. He predicted the mind of Arjuna and hence in friendly joking He pointed out at the elderly Kurus leading the battlefield for war. In fact, Lord Krishna was directing His devotee, Arjuna’s mind to make way for Srimad Bhagavad-gita to appear.

Arjuna’s desire to Inspect the opposing Army

Lord Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and had Himself agreed to be Arjuna's chariot driver. As a devotee, Arjuna knows his actual position as a subordinate, however the Lord has himself accepted to take orders from His devotee as a charioteer. Arjuna therefore begged his chariot driver addressing Him as acyuta to draw the chariot between the two armies to see those who were present in the battlefield desiring to fight.

Arjuna had no cause to fear any enemies whatsoever. Above all, Lord Krishna, the Lord of the senses, was personally present to give him directions. Thus, all good counsel was available to Arjuna in the matter of executing the battle. In such auspicious conditions, arranged by the Lord for His eternal friend and devotee, lay the signs of assured victory. Also, the differential effect of the conchshells on the two sides was an assurance for Arjuna’s confidence.

As a pure devotee of the Lord, Arjuna had no desire to fight with his cousins and brothers, but he was forced to come onto the battlefield by the obstinacy of Duryodhana, who was never agreeable to any peaceful negotiation. It was an open secret that Duryodhana wanted to usurp the kingdom of the Pandavas by evil plans, in collaboration with his father, Dhrtarastra. Therefore, all persons who had joined the side of Duryodhana have taken the side of adharma. Thus Arjuna became very anxious to see the leading persons present on the battlefield demanding an unwanted war.

Lord Krishna drew up the fine chariot in the midst of the armies of both parties. In the presence of Bhisma, Drona and all the other chieftains of the world, the Lord said, just behold, all the Kurus assembled there.

Bhagavad-gita 1.20 – 1.23 Lord Krishna as charioteer of Arjuna

Lord Krishna and Arjuna were stationed on a great chariot drawn by white horses. The chariot on which both the friends were seated had been donated by Agni (the fire-god) to Arjuna, and this indicated that this chariot was capable of conquering all sides, wherever it was drawn over the three worlds. Also, the chariot bore a flag marked with Hanuman (kapi-dhwaja). The emblem of Hanuman on the flag of Arjuna was another sign of victory because Hanuman co-operated with Lord Rama in the battle against Ravana, and Lord Rama emerged victorious. Lord Krishna is Rama Himself and wherever Lord Rama is present, His eternal servitor Hanuman and His eternal consort Sita, the goddess of fortune, are present. Now, Arjuna was following the footsteps of Hanuman, a mahajana while undertaking the devotional service of fighting the war against adharma.

Lord Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead (sri bhagavan). Out of His causeless mercy He was engaged in the services of His friend. He never fails in His affection for His devotee. He is always bhakta-vatsala. He keeps his devotees close to His chest. And thus he is addressed as infallible (acyuta). As charioteer, He had to carry out the orders of Arjuna, and since He did not hesitate to do so, He is addressed as infallible. He never falls down from His original position.

Although Lord Krishna had accepted the position of a charioteer for His devotee, His supreme position was not challenged. In all circumstances, He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hrsikesa, the Lord of the total senses. The relationship between the Lord and His servitor is very sweet and transcendental. The servitor is always ready to render service to the Lord, and similarly, the Lord is always seeking an opportunity to render some service to the devotee. He takes greater pleasure in His pure devotee’s assuming the advantageous position of ordering Him than He does in being the giver of orders. Since He is master, everyone is under His orders, and no one is above Him to order Him. But when He finds that a pure devotee is ordering Him, He obtains transcendental pleasure, although He is the infallible master of all circumstances.

Source of Strength of the Lord's Associates is the Lord Himself

Arjuna blew a conchshell called Devadatta. Arjuna is referred to as Dhananjaya because he helped his elder brother (Yudhisthira) in fetching wealth when it was required by the king to make expenditures for different sacrifices (yajna). Arjuna’s conchshell was given to him as a gift by Maya Danava. This Maya Danava was the master of illusions and the architect of an extraordinary assembly hall at Indraprastha (near today’s Delhi) as the seat of capital of the Pandavas. Maya Danava found the conchshell from Bindu Sarovar to the east of Mount Kailash and presented the same to Arjuna. The sound of the conchshell could break the heart of any opponent as per Mahabharata.

Bhima is known as Vrkodara because he could eat as voraciously as he could perform Herculean tasks, such as killing the demon Hidimba. He blew the terrific conchshell called Paundra. King Yudhisthira blew Anantavijaya. The other Pandavas and the associate archers too blew their conchshells. All these names are mentioned in the verses (slokas) to indicate their relationship with the Lord. Everything and everyone connected with Lord Sri Krishna becomes Krishna or Krishnized or Krishna conscious.

Arjuna and associates were all very powerful. Nobody can be associate of Lord Krishna without being very, very much advanced. Just like fire can mix with fire, water can mix with water; similarly, unless one is transcendentally advanced, he cannot be associate of Lord Krishna. Hence the conchshells blown by the different personalities on the side of the Pandavas, beginning with the Lord’s, were all very encouraging to the fighting soldiers. The message announced by the sounds of the conchshells was the predestined victory in battle due to the presence of Lord Krishna, the supreme director and the husband of the goddess of fortune.

When Bhisma and the others on the side of Duryodhana blew their respective conchshells, there was no heart-breaking on the part of the Pandavas. Vibrating both in the sky and on the earth, the uproarious sounds of the conshells of the Pandavas shattered the hearts of the sons of Dhrtrarastra. This is due to the confidence of the Pandavas in Lord Krishna. One who takes shelter of the Supreme Lord has nothing to fear, even in the midst of the greatest calamity.

Transcendental names of the Lord

pancajanyam hrsikesa - Lord Krishna is referred to as Hrsikesa because He is the owner of all senses. hrsika = sense and isah = owner. The living entities are part and parcel of Him, and therefore the senses of the living entities are also part and parcel of His senses. The Lord, situated in the hearts of all living entities, directs their senses. Pure devotees of the Lord are absorbed in surrender to the Lord. In turn the Lord directly controls their senses. On the Battlefield of Kuruksetra the Lord directly controlled the transcendental senses of Arjuna, and thus His particular name of Hrsikesa.

Other names of the Lord as per Mahabharata
The word “krish” is the attractive feature of the Lord’s existence, and “na” means spiritual pleasure. When the verb “krish” is added to the affix “na” it becomes krishna, which indicates the all-attractive Absolute Truth.

Lord Krishna has different names according to His different activities. His name is Madhusadana because He killed the demon of the name Madhu; His name is Govinda because He gives pleasure to the cows and to the senses; His name is Vāsudeva because He appeared as the son of Vasudeva; His name is Devaki-nandana because He accepted Devaki as His mother; His name is Yasoda-nandana because He awarded His childhood pastimes to Yasoda at Vrndavana; His name is Partha-sarathi because He worked as charioteer of His friend Partha or Arjuna.

Bhagavad-gita Verse 1.14 – 1.19 Blowing of Transcendental Conchshell

Lord Krishna and Arjuna stationed on a great chariot drawn by white horses then sounded their transcendental conchshells (divya sankha). The sounding of the transcendental conchshells indicated that there was no hope of victory for the other side because Lord Krishna was on the side of the Pandavas. Victory is always with persons like the sons of Pandu because Lord Krishna is associated with them.

Whenever and wherever the Lord is present, the goddess of fortune (Lakhsmidevi) is also there because the goddess of fortune never lives alone without her husband. Therefore, victory and fortune were awaiting Arjuna, as indicated by the transcendental sound produced by the conchshell of Lord Vishnu or Lord Krishna.

Lord Krishna blew His conchshell called pancajanya. After shifting to Mathura from Gokula, arrangements were made for Lord Krishna and Balarama to live under the instructions of Their spiritual master, Sandipani Muni in Ujjain. In return for the learning received, They seeked to serve Their teacher with some offering or guru-dakshina. Sandipani Muni asked for the return of his dead son, who had drowned in the ocean on the bank of Prabhasaksetra. Lord Krishna and Balarama immediately went to the beach and asked the controlling deity of the ocean to return the son of Their teacher. The ocean deity informed, “The boy was not actually taken by me, but was captured by a demon named Pancajana. This great demon generally remains deep in the water in the shape of a conchshell. The son of Your teacher might be within the belly of the demon, having been devoured by him.” On hearing this, Lord Krishna dove deep into the water and caught hold of the demon Pancajana. He killed him on the spot, but could not find the son of His teacher within his belly. He took the demon’s dead body (in the shape of a conchshell) and returned to His chariot on the beach. Thereafter He along with His elder brother Balarama went to the residence of Yamaraja and blew His conchshell named pancajanya. Yamaraja received his Master with all respectful obeisances and returned the teacher’s son.

Bhagavad-gita Verse 1.12 - 1.13 Bhismadeva’s Blowing of Conchshell

In the beginning of the battle of Kurukshetra, Bhismadeva blew his conchshell very loudly making a sound like the roar of a lion. This caused two effects. He could understand the inner meaning of the heart of his grandson Duryodhana, and out of his natural compassion he tried to cheer the prince by blowing his conchshell very loudly, befitting his position as a lion. This gave Duryodhana false joy and made the Kauravas to sound their conchshells, drums, bugles, trumpets and horns causing a combined tumultuous sound.

What is the symbolism of sankha or conchshell? Before and after arati (worship), conchshell is blown to herald auspiciousness. Lord Sri Krishna is all auspiciousness and Bhismadeva acknowledged the presence of the Supreme Lord by blowing the conchshell. Indirectly, by the symbolism of conchshell, Bhismadeva informed his depressed grandson Duryodhana that he had no chance of victory in the battle, because the Supreme Lord Krishna was on the other side. But still, it was his duty to conduct the fight, and no pains would be spared in that connection.

Conchshells and cow dung are nothing but the bones and the stool of some living entities, but according to the Vedic version they are both considered very pure. According to Vedic principles, bones and dung are generally considered very impure. As per Vedic injunction, if one touches a bone or stool, he must take a bath immediately. Yet the Vedas also enjoin that a conchshell, although the bone of an animal, and cow dung, although the stool of an animal, are very sanctified. Even though such statements appear contradictory, on the basis of the Vedic version we still accept the fact that conchshells and cow dung are pure and sanctified.

Bhismadeva's greatness in images

Lord Krishna had promised not to wield a weapon during the Kurukshetra war. Bhishma had taken a challenge that he would make the Lord break the vow. He valiantly fought against Arjuna causing great harm. To protect Arjuna, Lord Krishna got down from the chariot, took up a broken chariot wheel and hurriedly rushed at Bhismadeva in an angry mood, as a lion goes to kill an elephant. He dropped His covering cloth on the way. Bhismadeva at once gave up his weapons and stood ready to be killed by Krishna, his beloved Lord. The Lord breaks his own vow to keep the words of His devotees.


Bhismadeva was bestowed with the power to leave material body at will. At the instruction of Lord Krishna, Arjuna pierced his grandfather’s body with arrows and created a bed of roses for the grandsire to lie in rest. After the battle, the Pandavas visited the spot where Bhismadeva was lying on a bed of arrows, about to pass away. The great warrior attracted the attention of all the contemporary elites and all of them assembled to show their feelings of love, respect and affection for the great soul. Bhisma instructed Yudhisthira on the tenets of dharma and only by following dharma one can gain happiness. He also recited the Visnu Sahasranama to the Pandavas glorifying the Lord.

Bhismadeva as Mahajana

Today is end of Chaturmasya (four months period of rainy season when holy men meditate at a place and conduct more austerities). The last month of this period is called Kartika month. Lord Caintanya Mahaprabhu has said that as Ekadasi is the holiest of days, Kartika is the holiest of months. The last five days of Kartika month are known as Bhisma-panacaka. Grandfather Bhisma fasted for these five days, preparing to give up his life. Devotees observe fasting from certain foodstuffs on the Bhishma-panchaka for the pleasure of the Lord. Fast begins by remembering Bhismadeva on the Ekadasi day and ends on Purnima (the full moon).

Bhismadeva was the great grandfather of the Pandavas and Kauravas. Son of Shantanu and Gagadevi, Bhisma was elder brother of Dhrtarastra's father. Actually, the kingdom of Kurus of the Bharata clan belonged to him. Since he remained a brahmacari having vowed not to marry, his nephews, Dhrtarastra and Pandu became the inheritor.

He is one of the asta-vasus (eight gana-devatas and one of the 33 principle demigods as per Vedas). He had to take human birth because of a curse by Vashistha Muni when he and the other vasus had kidnapped Nandini cow from the Muni’s ashrama.

He was an unparalleled archer and once vanquished his spiritual master, the mighty Lord Parasuram (one of the ten leela avatars or past-time incarnations of the Lord). As a true kshtriya, he was exemplary in his determination to keep his words. He had promised to protect the Kuru dynasty at any cost. Also, he was under strict instructions from Lord Krishna to fight in the side of the Kauravas, lest Duryodhana would back away from the war.

Bhismadeva is counted as one of the twelve great mahajana or great personalities of Vedic age. The other mahajana’s are Lord Brahma, Bhagavan Narada, Lord Siva, the four Kumaras, Lord Kapila (the son of Devahuti), Svayambhuva Manu, Prahlada Maharaja, Janaka Maharaja (father of Sita devi), Bali Maharaja, Sukadeva Gosvami and Yamaraja since they know the real religious principle. His tryst to break the promise of Lord Krishna of not picking weapons during the war and his last words of dharma or religious principles to King Yudhisthira before leaving his body are testimony to his greatness. He left his body with his eyes set on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna.