When Arjun looked across the battlefield he saw his own brothers his relatives his loved ones. And in that moment his heart broke.
He turned to Shri Krishna and said: “O Krishna when I see my own people ready to fight my mouth becomes dry.” “My body is shaking the Gandiva bow is slipping from my hands and my mind is completely confused.”
Arjun continued, “I see no good in killing my own people.” “O Krishna I do not want victory I do not want a kingdom I do not want any pleasure.” “These people are my brothers my elders my teachers my family.” “Even if I get the rule of all three worlds I do not want to kill them.”
And with a voice full of pain Arjun asked, “By killing the sons of Dhritarashtra will we ever find peace?” In deep sorrow Arjun placed his bow and arrows on the ground and sat down at the back of the chariot. Shri Krishna looked at him a warrior broken a hero shaken a friend lost in despair.
कुतस्त्वा कश्मलमिदं विषमे समुपस्थितम् ।
अनार्यजुष्टमस्वर्ग्यमकीर्तिकरमर्जुन ॥ 2.2 ॥
And Krishna spoke: “Arjun how has this weakness come to you at such a critical time?” “Great men never act like this.” “This weakness brings neither heaven nor respect.” “Arjun remove this fear remove this softness and stand up for the fight.”
Arjun replied, “O Keshav how can I fight against Bhishma and Dronacharya?” “They are worthy of worship they are great teachers.” “Killing these great souls is worse than begging for food.” “I cannot understand what is right. To fight or not to fight.” “I do not even know who will win this war.”
Arjun lowered his head and said, “O Keshav tell me what is good for me.” “I am your student. Teach me.” “Remove this sorrow that is drying my senses.” Krishna the knower of all hearts then spoke.
अशोच्यानन्वशोचस्त्वं प्रज्ञावादांश्च भाषसे ।
गतासूनगतासूंश्च नानुशोचन्ति पण्डिताः ॥ 2.11 ॥
“Arjun you speak like a wise man but you cry for those who should not be cried for.” “The wise never mourn neither for the living nor for the dead.”
न त्वेवाहं जातु नासं न त्वं नेमे जनाधिपाः ।
न चैव न भविष्यामः सर्वे वयमतः परम् ॥ 2.12 ॥
Krishna then revealed the truth of existence itself: “Arjun there was never a time when I did not exist or you did not exist or these kings did not exist.” “And there will never be a time when all of us will stop existing.” “We were there before. We are here now. And we will be there in the future.”
