In the first chapter of Bhagavad Geeta, Arjuna feels overwhelmed by his own sorrow. This happens after he sees his kith and kin on the other side of the army. He expresses his sorrow to the Lord (Shri Krishna) seeking means to get out of that depressing state. Hence, the first chapter is called Arjuna Vishāda Yoga. Arjuna falls into this state because of the sense of ‘I’ and ‘My’ about the people fighting. Hence, he loses his objectivity and clarity of mind. With utter confusion, efficiency and capacity to carry out action are lost. He gives many reasons to justify his conclusion, which is not to fight.
Arjuna is not capable of doing his duty (svadharma) as a soldier because of delusion. This delusion (moha) has arisen from his sorrow (shoka). His sorrow has overpowered him due to the sense of ‘I’ (aham) and ‘My’ (mama). Ignorance (ajnana) about one’s true nature causes this overpowering sensation. The second chapter of the Bhagavad Geeta is called Sankhya Yoga. In this chapter, Shri Krishna gives the solution to Arjuna’s sorrow. He provides knowledge which is the means to realizing one’s true nature. By doing that, he tackles the root of the problem. He removes ignorance of his nature. This stops him from identifying with ‘I’ or ‘My’. Thus, he has a mind free of sorrow and can carry out his duty without any confusion.
Chapter 2, Verse 1
सञ्जय उवाच
तं तथा कृपयाविष्टमश्रुपूर्णाकुलेक्षणम् ।
विषीदन्तमिदं वाक्यमुवाच मधुसूदनः ॥२.१॥sañjaya uvāca
taṁ tathā kṛpayāviṣṭamaśrupūrṇākulekṣaṇam,
viṣīdantamidaṁ vākyamuvāca madhusūdanaḥ. (2.1)2.1. Sanjaya said:
Seeing Arjuna overwhelmed with compassion, grief-stricken, and with distressed eyes full of tears, Shri Krishna spoke these words.
Arjuna’s mind is filled with sorrow because of overwhelming pity for Kith and Kin. This distress expressed itself physically through tears in his eyes. He becomes despondent and sits down giving up the idea of fighting the war. Shri Krishna is referred to as Madhusudhana. He gained this name because he is the slayer of the demon named Madhu. Shri Krishna says the following words as indicated in the next two verses to Arjuna.
Chapter 2, Verse 2
श्रीभगवानुवाच
कुतस्त्वा कश्मलमिदं विषमे समुपस्थितम् ।
अनार्यजुष्टमस्वर्ग्यमकीर्तिकरमर्जुन ॥२.२॥śrībhagavānuvāca
kutastvā kaśmalamidaṁ viṣame samupasthitam,
anāryajuṣṭamasvargyamakīrtikaramarjuna. (2.2)2.2. The Lord said:
Arjuna, where from has this delusion come to you in this hour of peril? It is something that is resorted to by ignoble people. It does not lead to higher abodes and leads to infamy.
Krishna reprimands Arjuna saying that his thinking is unreasonable and impure. He explains that this behavior is not befitting Arjuna who is well-known for his nobility and virtue.
Chapter 2, Verse 3
क्लैब्यं मा स्म गमः पार्थ नैतत्त्वय्युपपद्यते ।
क्षुद्रं हृदयदौर्बल्यं त्यक्त्वोत्तिष्ठ परन्तप ॥२.३॥klaibyaṁ mā sma gamaḥ pārtha naitattvayyupapadyate,
kṣudraṁ hṛdayadaurbalyaṁ tyaktvottiṣṭha parantapa. (2.3)2.3. O Partha (Arjuna), do not yield to unmanliness, it does not befit you. Give up such petty weakness of heart and arise, O conqueror of enemies.
Shri Krishna is a very skillful teacher. He reprimands Arjuna to get his attention. Then, he gives him internal strength to tackle the current situation by encouraging him. He refers to Arjuna as Partha to remind him of his extraordinary lineage. This encourages Arjuna not to yield to unmanliness. Arjuna is reminded that his behavior does not befit him at all, being born to such illustrious parents.
He addresses him as parantapa reminding him of his strength. He must conquer the enemy that has risen within him which is making him neglect his duty as a warrior. Unmanliness refers to being weak mentally. The feelings he is having in his mind are coming out of delusion and are not moral or noble. If it was based on wisdom, he would not be having this grief and doubt in his mind.
Chapter 2, Verse 4
अर्जुन उवाच
कथं भीष्ममहं सङ्ख्ये द्रोणं च मधुसूदन ।
इषुभिः प्रतियोत्स्यामि पूजार्हावरिसूदन ॥२.४॥arjuna uvāca
kathaṁ bhīṣmamahaṁ saṅkhye droṇaṁ ca madhusūdana,
iṣubhiḥ pratiyotsyāmi pūjārhāvarisūdana. (2.4)2.4. Arjuna said:
O Madhusudhana, how can I shoot arrows in battle on Dronacharya and Bheeshma, who is worthy of my worship, O Arisudhana?
Arjuna refers to Shri Krishna as Madhusudhana. This means one who killed the asura named Madhu. He also calls him Arisudhana, meaning one who is the destroyer of enemies. He tells Shri Krishna that he sees Dronacharya and Bheeshma who are worthy of worship front of him. He can’t understand how he can kill people of that caliber.
Chapter 2, Verse 5
गुरूनहत्वा हि महानुभावान्
श्रेयो भोक्तुं भैक्ष्यमपीह लोके ।
हत्वार्थकामांस्तु गुरूनिहैव
भुञ्जीय भोगान् रुधिरप्रदिग्धान् ॥२.५॥gurūnahatvā hi mahānubhāvān
śreyo bhoktuṁ bhaikṣyamapīha loke,
hatvārthakāmāṁstu gurūnihaiva
bhuñjīya bhogān rudhirapradigdhān. (2.5)2.5. It would certainly be better to live by begging, rather than to enjoy life by killing these noble elders who are my teachers. If we kill them, the wealth and pleasure we enjoy in this world will be tainted with their blood.
Arjuna feels a deep identification with the people on the other side. He views them as his teachers and great individuals of glory. He believes it would be a sin to kill them. He feels that anything achieved by doing that will be tainted by their blood. He thinks it’s better to beg and live rather than kill these great people. While talking, Arjuna starts to see the weakness of his argument. He begins to doubt it, as seen in the next verse.
Chapter 2, Verse 6
न चैतद्विद्मः कतरन्नो गरीयो-
यद्वा जयेम यदि वा नो जयेयुः ।
यानेव हत्वा न जिजीविषाम-
स्तेऽवस्थिताः प्रमुखे धार्तराष्ट्राः ॥२.६॥na caitadvidmaḥ kataranno garīyo-
yadvā jayema yadi vā no jayeyuḥ,
yāneva hatvā na jijīviṣāma-
ste’vasthitāḥ pramukhe dhārtarāṣṭrāḥ. (2.6)2.6. We do not know which result is preferable for us – conquering them or being conquered by them. Certainly, after killing them, we will not desire to live. Yet they have taken the side of Dhritarashtra, and now are standing before us on the battlefield.
This is where Arjuna shows a little bit of doubt. He starts expressing his confusion as to what is right. He is not sure and he confesses that to Krishna. He doesn’t know which is better, to win or lose. If they lose, he will feel terrible for not defeating those on the wrong side. On the other hand, if they win, he would feel terrible. He would regret having slain all these noble teachers and elders. He would not want to live.
When one is unsure of one’s thoughts, it is important to recognize the uncertainty. At some point, admit the confusion and allow space for someone to help. Arjuna, in a very timely way, sought the help of Shri Krishna. Shri Krishna begins to lay out the Knowledge clearly to Arjuna. He does this to tackle all of his doubts and remove his ignorance.
Bluishmuse 