The Bhagavad-gita’s first chapter reports Duryodhana assessing the comparative strengths of the two assembled armies (01.03, 01.04, 01.05, 01.06, 01.07, 01.08, 01.09, 01.10, 01.11). He begins by mentioning the foremost opponent warriors (01.04), but throughout his assessment, he doesn’t mention Krishna even once. As Krishna is a non-combatant, Duryodhana disregards him as inconsequential.
Duryodhana’s mindset reflects the utilitarian worldview that crowns material utility as the criterion for evaluating everything – even God. He matters only if he is materially useful. If worshiping him doesn’t improve one’s material status, then he is no longer considered worth one’s time and is neglected.
Whereas utilitarians consider Krishna pointless without the world, devotees consider the world pointless without Krishna. This devotional attitude is evident in the life of Arjuna. Before the war, when he had to choose between a non-combatant Krishna on one side and Krishna’s formidable armed forces on the other, he unhesitantly chose Krishna. And later when Krishna departed from the world, Arjuna, along with his brothers, renounced the kingship of the world, for the world without Krishna held no appeal, as the Srimad Bhagavatam (01.15) re-affirms.
Why this huge difference between the utilitarian evaluation and the devotional evaluation?
Because utilitarians consider this material world to be the most important reality, whereas devotees recognize Krishna to be the most important reality and the world to be an arena for connecting with Krishna.
When we chose Krishna over the world, he helps us in this world too, as he despite being a non-combatant helped Arjuna in the combat. But more importantly he offers us something far more precious than the whole world – his pure love. After all, the world and everything in it is temporary, whereas we as eternal souls need an eternal shelter, which we can find only in unalloyed love for Krishna.
Bhagavad Gita Chapter 01 Text 04
"Here in this army are many heroic bowmen equal in fighting to Bhima and Arjuna: great fighters like Yuyudhana, Virata and Drupada."
Very nice article!
We have to choose Krishna over anything and everything.
Thank you Prabhuji for sharing.
thank you prabhuji.
this article clearly mention difference between the devotee and materialistic person.
Hare Krishna Prabhuji,
Very true you have said, that the World, which can’t be connected with Gaura Nitai is pointless, aimless and meaningless.
The very fact that we have got this human body gives us 100% opportunity of connecting with him. Only on account of our own stupid fallacies do we miss upon this opportunity.
Thanks for reminding of the reality through the Gita verses.
ys
SKD
Hare Krishna prabhuji,
Everyday you amaze me with your phenomenon in-depth knowledge of bhagvat-gita. God may keep on blessing you so less intelligent like me may keep on enlightened by this pure knowledge.
Thank you.
yhs,
Kiran
Thank you so much Prabhuji.
Radhey Radhey.
Hare krishna prabuji!
What a beautiful and perfect insight! We all need to think, speak and act to please Krishna without any self gratification knowing well that his love means everything to us.
One should understand that the goal and destination of bhagavad gita is KRISHNA..if one fails to understand and accept this truth, i think one has not perfected reading BG..hare krishna..jai shri krishna
Thank u Krishna and Prabhuji..
hare krishna.
Hare Krishna!
these articles are really helpful to comprehend the present situation of this materialistic generation and I m able to clear my doubts and consolidate my belief in Krishna .
thank you Prabhu ji for sharing.
Thanks for your comment; yes, one of my main endeavors is to show how the Gita is both timeless and timely.
Dear Chaitanya Charan Pr, you have been blessed with a sharp intellect and you are using it to putting some extra light on the Prabhupad purports for people like myself. I am relishing each and every essay you write on each Shlokas of BG. Thank you so much for all your efforts. Devotees like you are blessings for people like me.
Thanks, Prabhu, for your kind words. I am perennially grateful that Krishna is using both me and the abilities he has given me to share his message.