In movies, the first appearance of the hero tells a lot about the hero’s character and about the movie’s caliber too. The first impression lasts. If the movie is a historical romantic action movie, the hero may appear first on a white horse, racing in to rescue a damsel in distress. Or if it’s a contemporary movie, the hero may charge in on a bike. Let’s see how the hero appears for the first time in the Bhagavad-gita.
Within the Gita’s narrative, Krishna is the hero, in the sense that he rescues by speaking wisdom that consoles and consolidates. And the person in distress is not a damsel, but another hero: the peerless archer Arjuna is paralyzed by an ethical dilemma.
Intriguingly, Krishna appears first not when Arjuna is in distress, but before distress hits him. In fact, they both appear together on Arjuna’s chariot (01.14). The chariot is described as magnificent, but the sight on the chariot is even more magnificent.
What makes that sight so magnificent? First, it features a striking role reversal. The hero who is going to rescue by imparting wisdom is in a subordinate position; Krishna is serving as a humble charioteer of the hero who will soon need rescuing. Second, this role reversal becomes even more astonishing when we understand Krishna’s actual identity: he is the supreme divinity who has descended on earth. Though he is worthy of being worshiped by all of existence, he has taken on the role of a chauffeur. Why? Out of love for Arjuna, who is his close friend and devotee.
Thus, Krishna’s entry in the Gita highlights how love defines Krishna’s divinity. And it suggests that love will characterize his message too — he will rescue Arjuna by explaining how love, understood philosophically and directed wisely, can show the way through life’s various challenges.
One-sentence summary:
Krishna’s first appearance in the Gita as a charioteer underscores his loving disposition and points to the centrality of love in his revelation.
Think it over:
- In the Bhagavad-gita, who is the hero? Why?
- Why is Krishna’s first appearance in the Gita so remarkable?
- What does Krishna’s first appearance tell us about him and his message?
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01.14: On the other side, both Lord Krishna and Arjuna, stationed on a great chariot drawn by white horses, sounded their transcendental conchshells.
To know more about this verse, please click on the image
…Besides that, the chariot on which both the friends were seated had been donated by Agni (the fire-god) to Arjuna, and this indicated that this chariot was capable of conquering all sides, wherever it was drawn over the three worlds….
And the fact that the chart dissolved itself into dust the moment Krishna stepped down from it … after all hard battle and strong and mystical weapons… it is amazing!
Krishna is great