Geethartha Chinthane - 89: Detecting Mental Impotence

In the Ramayana, Ravana orders, “This monkey is talking too much. Kill him.” To this, Vibhishana advises, “It’s not right to respond in that way. He is only performing his duty as a messenger, relaying what he was told to say. Punish the one who sent him, not the messenger himself. Otherwise, you lose your dignity.” This message from Vibhishana teaches us the importance of identifying the true source of a problem. Likewise, Krishna asks Arjuna to reflect: “Where did this problem arise?”

Time, according to Krishna, is of two types: Samakala (balanced, harmonious time) and Vishamakala (imbalanced, chaotic time). Samakala is a time for calm and orderly decision-making. If Arjuna had objected to fighting elders before the war started, it could have been reasonable. But now, in this Vishamakala, a period of conflict and crisis, there’s no space for hesitation.

During their period of exile, Arjuna had to disguise himself as a eunuch for survival. Now, Krishna critiques him again for showing signs of klaibya—or impotence. But this is not a physical critique; it’s about Arjuna’s mental or emotional hesitation. Kshatriyas are born to be warriors, and any reluctance in thought or action is akin to mental impotence. Just as certain thoughts reflect masculinity or femininity, war usually invites disapproval from women. By questioning Arjuna’s hesitation, Krishna cautions him not to stray from his inherent valor to weakness.

~ Sri Sugunendra Theertha Swamiji of Paryaya Sri Puthige Sri Krishna Matha

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