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.
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