Gita 02.04 Fight not for or against some material cause – fight for Krishna
arjuna uvāca
kathaṁ bhīṣmam ahaṁ saṅkhye
droṇaṁ ca madhusūdana
iṣubhiḥ pratiyotsyāmi
pūjārhāv ari-sūdana (Bg 2.04)
Word-to-word:
arjunaḥ uvāca — Arjuna said; katham — how; bhīṣmam — Bhīṣma; aham — I; saṅkhye — in the fight; droṇam — Droṇa; ca — also; madhu-sūdana — O killer of Madhu; iṣubhiḥ — with arrows; pratiyotsyāmi — shall counterattack; pūjā-arhau — those who are worshipable; ari-sūdana — O killer of the enemies.
Translation:
Arjuna said: O killer of enemies, O killer of Madhu, how can I counterattack with arrows in battle men like Bhīṣma and Droṇa, who are worthy of my worship?
Explanation:
Arjuna speaks to Kṛṣṇa through a rhetorical question to emphasize his point:
kathaṁ bhīṣmam ahaṁ saṅkhye droṇaṁ ca madhusūdana : “How can I fight against Bhīṣma and Droṇa, O Madhusūdana?”
iṣubhiḥ pratiyotsyāmi pūjārhāv ari-sūdana : “How can I counter them with arrows—those whom I would rather worship with flowers?”
Sometimes, we face challenges in life that force us to do the exact opposite of what our heart longs to do. What do we do in such moments? These challenges often involve attachments—whether material or even spiritual. The key is to recognize the nature of these attachments and understand that the same energy that binds us can be redirected to elevate us. By channeling the power of attachment, we can ascend to a higher reality and ultimately attain proximity to Kṛṣṇa, reaching Him.
This journey requires us to distance ourselves from our immediate circumstances and elevate our consciousness toward spiritual realization.
We cannot truly cherish life or move forward unless we understand our purpose. Without this realization, it is difficult to find satisfaction with how life unfolds. Each of us harbors expectations and dreams of what we desire in life.
At times, reality exceeds our dreams, bringing unexpected joy. Yet, there are moments when reality feels harsher than our worst nightmares. During such times, it becomes essential to seek shelter and reassurance by connecting with a deeper, more stable level of reality—one that remains unaffected by the turbulence of life’s outer events.
To the extent that we view life as an opportunity to progress—from illusion to reality, from deception to illumination, from a state of grappling with problems to discovering a purpose that endures beyond those problems—to that extent, we ascend to a higher level of reality. And to that extent, we can experience true peace and inner strength.
For Arjuna, reality compels him to act against the deepest desires of his heart. His heart recoils at the thought of fighting against his revered elders—a choice between offering a shower of flowers or unleashing a shower of arrows. It is an extraordinarily difficult decision for him to make.
Kṛṣṇa will soon reveal to Arjuna that he is not fighting against Bhīṣma and Droṇa but rather fighting for dharma and for Kṛṣṇa. If upholding dharma requires making an extraordinarily difficult choice, then so be it—Arjuna must be prepared to make it.
This understanding will ultimately restore Arjuna’s determination after he hears the teachings of the Bhagavad-gītā. However, at this moment, he remains in a state of confusion and inner conflict.
Typically, when reality exceeds our expectations, it brings immense joy. Even when reality simply matches our expectations, there is still a sense of satisfaction. However, when reality diverges significantly from what we expect, it can lead to great distress. And when it turns out to be the exact opposite of our expectations, it becomes nearly unbearable.
For instance, if we expect someone to be our friend and they fail to act in a friendly manner, we feel hurt and disappointed. But if we seek someone’s support and they respond by betraying us, it shatters our expectations entirely. An arrow shot by an enemy may hurt, but an arrow shot by a friend who betrays us pierces much deeper.
Similarly, for Arjuna, the unbearable frustration stems from being thrust into a reality that contradicts everything his heart longs to do, what he believes to be right, and how he thinks things should unfold. This vast and overwhelming gap between his expectations and the reality he faces is something he struggles to process—and is currently unable to.
This starkly highlights the profound dilemma that Arjuna is grappling with. One can only imagine the heart-wrenching pain he must endure, caught in this turmoil, unsure of what to do or how to move forward from such a situation.
This is the dilemma that Arjuna must resolve—and one that Kṛṣṇa will resolve for him by delivering the teachings of the Bhagavad-gītā. Kṛṣṇa will explain to Arjuna:
“Arjuna, you are a soul, and so are Bhīṣma and Droṇa. As souls, you may sometimes play roles where you fight alongside one another, and at other times, roles where you stand on opposing sides. But beyond whom you fight with or against, your goal is not the role; your goal is the Whole.”
Kṛṣṇa is the Whole, and if Arjuna fights for Kṛṣṇa, He will ensure that ultimate good will prevail—not only for Arjuna but eventually for Bhīṣma and Droṇa.
This profound message is what the Bhagavad-gītā will reveal to Arjuna in due course.
Thank you.
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