Geethartha Chinthane 93: Arjuna surrenders to Lord Krishna

We often defend our emotions with logic, and Arjuna is no different. He questions, “What joy is there in killing the Kauravas? Should we choose either indulgence or a life of begging? (After all, we already have the experience of living simply.) If we do not gain the kingdom, then there’s no loss. If they kill us, we lose both the kingdom and happiness, and on top of that, there is sin and disrespect towards elders. This is a perplexing matter.”

For whom does one live? Arjuna stands before those for whom he has lived, but now they stand as opponents. If the Kauravas perish, the world will feel empty to him. We tend to compare friends, neighbors, and relatives against a familiar benchmark, and beyond them, the world seems inconsequential. True competition is only with like-minded individuals. Kaikeyi, too, held such tenacity because of her rivalry with Kausalya.

In Arjuna, emotions and thoughts are intermingled and conflicting, making decisions difficult. With humility, he turns to Krishna, saying, “I ask you as your disciple, with a heart full of doubt. Please tell me—what is dharma, and what is adharma?”

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

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