Toward the conclusion of the Bhagavad-gita, Krishna tells Arjuna to deliberate on his words and then do as he desires (18.63). This statement reveals how Krishna’s love is both broad-minded and far-sighted.
Broad-minded: Krishna demonstrates an essential characteristic of love: love doesn’t force. Even though Krishna is God, he doesn’t force Arjuna to comply with his will; if he had wanted to, he could have simply finished the entire Gita in six words, “I am God; obey me — fight!” And he, more than anyone else, could have claimed to be justified in coercing Arjuna. After all, he is God almighty; he has all the force of existence at his command. Moreover, he is all-knowing; he actually knows what is best for Arjuna. And most of all, he loves Arjuna deeply and wants the very best for him. Despite his omnipotence, omniscience and omni-benevolence, Krishna doesn’t force Arjuna.
Far-sighted: Though Krishna doesn’t compel Arjuna to make a particular choice, that doesn’t mean he just leaves Arjuna to struggle in the dark about determining the right thing to do. Far from it, he equips Arjuna with the intellectual resources to make a good decision. Nowhere does he infantilize Arjuna, treating him as if he can’t understand the various factors involved in good decision-making. Instead, he respects and trains Arjuna’s intelligence. Krishna doesn’t just want Arjuna to make a good decision; he wants Arjuna to actively participate in and learn the process of ethical reasoning for arriving at good decisions. To that end, he progressively outlines Arjuna’s various choices and their concomitant consequences. And he patiently answers Arjuna’s many questions, thereby assisting him in gaining intellectual clarity and conviction about which choice is the best for him. Thus, he trains Arjuna to wisely deal with life’s ethical dilemmas, both present and future.
One-sentence summary:
Krishna’s love is so broad-minded that he doesn’t force Arjuna to obey him and so far-sighted that he trains Arjuna in the process of good decision-making, thereby equipping him for both the present and the future.
Think it over:
- How is Krishna’s love broad-minded?
- How could Krishna have been more justified than anyone else to force Arjuna?
- How is Krishna’s love far-sighted?
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18.63: Thus I have explained to you knowledge still more confidential. Deliberate on this fully, and then do what you wish to do.
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Krishna
reveal’s the motto in life