Arjuna orders Krsna (Bg 1.20 to 1.23)

Being Krsna the Supreme Lord, how could He accept the position of the charioteer of Arjuna, a subordinated position? This is an indication of His magnanimity.

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Verse 20: atha vyavasthitān dṛṣṭvā, dhārtarāṣṭrān kapi-dhvajaḥ

pravṛtte śastra-sampāte, dhanur udyamya pāṇḍavaḥ

hṛṣīkeśam tadā vākyam, idam āha mahī-pate

At that time Arjuna, the son of Pāṇḍu, seated in the chariot bearing the flag marked with Hanumān, took up his bow and prepared to shoot his arrows. O King, after looking at the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra drawn in military array, Arjuna then spoke to Lord Kṛṣṇa these words.

Verses 21-22: arjuna uvāca

senayor ubhayor madhye, ratham sthāpaya me ’cyuta

yāvad etān nirīkṣe ’ham, yoddhu-kāmān avasthitān

kair mayā saha yoddhavyam, asmin raṇa-samudyame

Arjuna said: O infallible one, please draw my chariot between the two armies so that I may see those present here, who desire to fight, and with whom I must contend in this great trial of arms.

Verse 23: yotsyamānān avekṣe ’ham, ya ete ’tra samāgatāḥ

dhārtarāṣṭrasya durbuddher, yuddhe priya-cikīrṣavaḥ

Let me see those who have come here to fight, wishing to please the evil-minded son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra.

There were many signs of victory for the side of Arjuna. The emblem of Hanumān on the flag of his chariot, for example, was not just a symbol. During their exile, Bhīma encountered Hanumān while climbing Mount Gandhamādana on the way to the abode of Kuvera. Both Hanumān and Bhīma are considered sons of Vāyu, and thus Hanumān accepted Bhīma as his brother and promised Him to be present in the emblem of the flag in the chariot of Arjuna and assist the Pandavas during the battle. Hanumān is also famous as a servant of Rama, and since Rama was present (as Krsna), Hanumān was also present on the side of the Pandavas. Apart from Hanumān, Sītā the goddess of fortune was also present, since she never leaves her position at the chest of the Lord.

Being Krsna the Supreme Lord, how could He accept the position of the charioteer of Arjuna, a subordinated position? This is an indication of His magnanimity and His sweet dealings with His pure devotees. An ordinary important person in this world could be reluctant to accept a lower position, fearing this could tarnish his reputation, but Krsna is so great that He makes no such considerations. Instead, He feels more pleasure in accepting orders from His pure devotees, reciprocating their pure love, than in acting as the Supreme Lord.

Srila Prabhupada explains in His commentary that "The relationship between the Lord and His servitor is very sweet and transcendental. The servitor is always ready to render service to the Lord, and, similarly, the Lord is always seeking an opportunity to render some service to the devotee. He takes greater pleasure in His pure devotee’s assuming the advantageous position of ordering Him than He does in being the giver of orders. Since He is master, everyone is under His orders, and no one is above Him to order Him. But when He finds that a pure devotee is ordering Him, He obtains transcendental pleasure, although He is the infallible master in all circumstances."

Once, Lord Caitanya met a brāhmaṇa in South India, when he entered the temple of Śrī Ranganātha. The Brāhmaṇa was immersed in reading the Bhagavad-gītā, and the Lord was overjoyed to see how attentively the brāhmaṇa was reading, and how tears were flowing from his eyes. Other brāhmaṇas however were mocking him because he was illiterate and could not read the verses properly.

Inquired by Caitanya Mahāprabhu, the brāhmaṇa answered that although he was illiterate, his guru had instructed him to read the Bhagavad-gītā daily. Thus, he tried to read it, even though he was illiterate and couldn't read properly. The Lord asked why then he was crying and the brāhmaṇa replied that whenever he sat down to read the Gītā, the form of Lord Kṛṣṇa as Pārtha-sārathi, the charioteer of Arjuna, would appear in his heart, making him realize how the Lord is kind to His devotees. This thought would make him cry. Lord Caitanya embraced him and said that his reading of the Bhagavad-gītā was perfect. He had taken the essence.

Main points in the purports of Srila Prabhupada:

"At that time Arjuna, the son of Pāṇḍu, seated in the chariot bearing the flag marked with Hanumān, took up his bow and prepared to shoot his arrows. O King, after looking at the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra drawn in military array, Arjuna then spoke to Lord Kṛṣṇa these words."

a) Hanumān was present in the emblem on the flag of Arjuna, and Rama was himself seated on his chariot, in His original form as Sri Krsna, ready to give him direction. The enemy soldiers were already disheartened, and all signs pointed to victory.

"Arjuna said: O infallible one, please draw my chariot between the two armies so that I may see those present here, who desire to fight, and with whom I must contend in this great trial of arms."

a) Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Still, he was engaged in the service of Arjuna, driving his chariot out of affection. He is called infallible (Acyuta) because He never fails in His affection for His devotees.

b) Even though He had accepted the position of the charioteer of Arjuna, His supreme position was never challenged.

c) How can God become a servant of His devotee? "The relationship between the Lord and His servitor is very sweet and transcendental. The servitor is always ready to render service to the Lord, and, similarly, the Lord is always seeking an opportunity to render some service to the devotee. He takes greater pleasure in His pure devotee’s assuming the advantageous position of ordering Him than He does in being the giver of orders."

"Let me see those who have come here to fight, wishing to please the evil-minded son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra."

a) Arjuna had no intention of making a peace offer, but he wanted to see who was there and make an estimate of their military strength, even though he was confident of victory because of the presence of Krsna.

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