Observing the armies on the battlefield of Kurukṣetra (Arjuna-viṣāda-yoga)
Arjuna was ready to perform his duty and fight in the battle, but he faced a crisis seeing the opposing army assembled on the battlefield, just as we may be left reeling after facing serious setbacks.
« The Song of God—Volume 1, chapters 1-6
CHAPTER ONE:
Observing the armies on the battlefield of Kurukṣetra (Arjuna-viṣāda-yoga)
The first chapter of the Bhagavad-gītā is called Arjuna-viṣāda-yoga. The word viṣāda means lamentation or dejection. Arjuna was ready to perform his duty and fight in the battle of Kurukṣetra, but he faced a crisis when he saw the opposing army assembled on the battlefield, just as we may be left reeling after facing serious setbacks in life. However, difficulties can be positive if they bring us closer to Kṛṣṇa, and this is the meaning of the word yoga in the title.
Before Kṛṣṇa can give him transcendental knowledge, Arjuna must first reach the point where ordinary reasoning fails to give him a solution. His confusion thus represents the condition of all conditioned souls: we try to solve all problems using our own intelligence, but often we become perplexed, just like Arjuna. If in one of these moments we come in contact with the knowledge of the Bhagavad-gītā, this can change our whole existence.
In its true sense, yoga means a process that helps us to uncover our original spiritual nature, which is our eternal nature of loving service to the Lord. Arjuna’s moral and emotional crisis on the battlefield becomes the catalyst for Kṛṣṇa’s divine teachings, which will ultimately elevate him to the platform of pure devotional service. He will fight in the battle not just as a mundane duty, nor as a way to obtain material benefits or elevation to the heavenly planets, but as an act of devotional service, cooperating in the Lord’s divine mission.
Each of us has a special talent that is given to us by Kṛṣṇa, and using this talent for Him brings us to the perfection of life. The Bhagavad-gītā guides us in this process, and it all begins in the first chapter.
Follow the study:
Signs of victory: the sounding of the conchshells (Bg 1.12 to 1.19)
Arjuna sees the armies, and his heart shatters (Bg 1.24 to 1.27)
Read the entire book:
« The Song of God—Volume 1, chapters 1-6
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