Introduction to the Bhagavad-Gita- Part 1: Post-7: Swami Krishnananda

========================================================================================

Sunday 30, June 2024 :06:50.
Article
Scriptures
Introduction to the Bhagavadgita- Part 1
POST-7.
Swami Krishnananda
(Spoken on March 3rd, 1974)

=========================================================================================

Very beautifully the story is told to us, with a tremendous spiritual message behind it. It is said that Sri Krishna was reclining, perhaps having a nap, on a couch in his palace in Dvarka, when these two gentlemen approached. Out of the two, Arjuna was a humble, child-like person, simple in his nature. Duryodhana was a proud man, very self-confident and arrogant in his approach. He always regarded himself as a ruler. He was the king of the country and, befitting the status of a king, he occupied a chair near the head of Krishna and sat there while Krishna was relaxing and dozing. Arjuna, as a simple man, humble, stood at the feet of Krishna. He did not even sit. He stood there. It is said that after a few minutes Krishna woke up and opened his eyes, and naturally saw the person who was standing at his feet. He opened his eyes and suddenly saw Arjuna.

“My dear friend, what makes you come at this hour? What do you want from me? How is it that you have taken so much pain to come from a long distance? From Indraprastha you have come to Dvarka.”

Then immediately the gentleman from behind said, “Sir, I have come first.”

Krishna turned around. “Oh, Duryodhana, you have also come. What is the matter?”

Arjuna said nothing. Duryodhana said, “Sir, perhaps you are already aware that an unfortunate situation has arisen. There is the likelihood of a war between us. It cannot be avoided, for obvious reasons. I have come for help. You are an impartial man. You have no friends and enemies. I want your help.”

“I see,” said Krishna. “You have come for that purpose. Arjuna, what is your errand?”

“Master, I have come for the same purpose. I want your blessing. I want your help in whatever way possible.”

“Well,” Krishna said, “what can I tell you? Both of you have come for the same purpose. I have nothing with me except an army. Of course, it is very large army, a very powerful army, an almost invincible army, I should say. It is called the Narayani Sena. I can lend this army to either one of you. And the other thing is myself. There is nothing else—the whole army, and myself. The army will fight till death, and I can offer myself to you, but I will not fight. I will come to you as a guest, eat your meals, and sit quiet. I will give you any kind of moral support, but physically I will not take up weapons, I will not take an active part in the war, and I shall be a single man. There will be nobody else with me. You can choose me, single, doing nothing, not taking any active part, or you can choose that large army which is very fierce in its attack.”

Duryodhana said, “The choice must be left to me first, sir, because I have come first.”

Krishna said, “Friend, perhaps you have come first, but I saw Arjuna first. So I offer the choice first to Arjuna, and you choose afterwards.”

This was not pleasing to Duryodhana, who thought, “Not good. I am a king, and this is how I am treated? All right.” He did not say anything because he could not say anything.

“Arjuna, what do you choose now between these two things: a single person like me doing nothing, taking no active part, or the fierce army of mine, Narayani Sena? Which do you want?”

Arjuna said, “Master, I want you only.”

Duryodhana thought, “Oh, I have won the game! This fool has chosen the wrong thing. I carry the butter and the ghee, and he carries the buttermilk.” Duryodhana was afraid that perhaps Arjuna may say he wants the army; then the whole thing would be finished and the very purpose of coming would be spoiled. But he thought, “Stupid as Arjuna is, he chose this inactive man who will do nothing, who will only be a liability in his house.” Duryodhana said, “Sir, I want the army.”

“All right, so it is now clear,” Krishna replied.

*****

Continued

=======================================================================================