Category:Arjuna's Decisions
Theme Analysis
The entire philosophy of the Bhagavad-gītā hinges on the pivotal decisions made by Arjuna. Initially, when placed on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra, Arjuna decided not to fight. To ordinary vision, this decision appeared highly pious and nonviolent, as he wished to spare the lives of his relatives and teachers. However, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Kṛṣṇa, rejected this conclusion. Kṛṣṇa pointed out that Arjuna's decision was actually rooted in the bodily concept of life and personal sense gratification. Arjuna was evaluating the situation based on what would make him happy or sad, rather than focusing on his occupational duty and the supreme will of the Lord.
Recognizing that his own limited discretion could not solve this profound crisis, Arjuna made his most important decision: he accepted Lord Kṛṣṇa as his spiritual master. While they conversed simply as friends, there was no resolution to the argument. By submitting himself to the Supreme Lord as a disciple, Arjuna opened his heart to the transcendental knowledge of the Bhagavad-gītā. This shift from friendly familiarity to submissive inquiry is the essential step for anyone seeking true spiritual enlightenment.
Upon hearing the complete science of God, Arjuna completely changed his initial decision. He abandoned his personal desire for nonviolence and agreed to fight, not for his own satisfaction, but to execute the mission of the Lord. By subordinating his own will to the will of Kṛṣṇa, Arjuna achieved absolute perfection. Therefore, the ultimate lesson for all conditioned souls is to follow the final decision of Arjuna. By accepting Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Truth and aligning one's actions with His divine will, anyone can transcend material anxieties and attain eternal, spiritual success.
- The Initial Decision: Overwhelmed by bodily compassion, Arjuna originally decided to abandon the battlefield and live a secluded life.
- The Hidden Motive: Although seemingly pious, Arjuna's refusal to fight was actually based on satisfying his own senses and material attachments.
- Accepting the Guru: To break the philosophical deadlock, Arjuna made the crucial decision to accept Kṛṣṇa as his spiritual master.
- The Final Surrender: After hearing the Bhagavad-gītā, Arjuna changed his decision and chose to fight solely to satisfy the Supreme Lord, setting the standard for all devotees.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Arjuna's Decisions - From Material Illusion to Spiritual Surrender.
Pages in category "Arjuna's Decisions"
The following 28 pages are in this category, out of 28 total.
A
- A guru is necessary. In the Bhagavad-gita, when Krsna and Arjuna were talking as friends, there was no conclusion. So Arjuna decided to accept Krsna as his guru
- All of them (Dhrtarastra, Bhisma, Vidura and Arjuna), under the counsel of the elder members of the Kuru family, decided to arrest the boy (Samba) but not kill him
- Arjuna is exampling himself that he's accepting Krsna as the spiritual master, teacher. And then Krsna began to teach the Bhagavad-gita, and he changed his decision, and he was freed from all anxieties. This is spiritual life
- Arjuna told the Lord that it was not possible for him to enjoy the kingdom after killing his own kinsmen. This decision was based on the body because he was thinking that the body was himself. BG 1972 Introduction
- Arjuna wanted first of all to satisfy his own senses by his decision not to fight with his kinsmen and friends, but Lord Sri Krsna taught him the Bhagavad-gita just to purify Arjuna's decision for sense gratification
- Arjuna was not the supreme knower, and his decision to fight or not to fight was confined to his limited discretion. Lord Krsna instructed that the individual is not all in all. BG 1972 purports
- Arjuna, just after seeing his kinsmen, friends and relatives on the battlefield, was at once overwhelmed by compassion for them who had so decided to fight amongst themselves. BG 1972 purports
- As a pure devotee of the Lord (Krsna), Arjuna agreed to fight in preference to his own decision, and thus Arjuna fought to assist the Lord in His mission of diminishing the burden of the world
F
- For his doing so (Arjuna changing his decision to serve Krsna) so, he became a famous devotee of the Lord, for it is declared in all the scriptures that Arjuna attained spiritual perfection by devotional service to the Lord in friendship
- From the material point of view, Arjuna's initial decision not to fight was a good one, but from the spiritual point of view it was not
I
- If we follow Arjuna, Arjuna's decision should be taken. Arjuna decision is - Krsna is param brahma
- In the beginning Arjuna was arguing with Krsna to support his decision that he would not fight, but he could not convince Krsna very nicely
- In the beginning he did not know how to use the senses. Therefore he decided, "I shall not fight. I shall not fight." That is his material calculation
- In the beginning, Arjuna decided that he should not fight in the Battle of Kuruksetra. This was his own decision. BG 1972 Introduction
- In the beginning, Sri Arjuna, the great fighter, declined to fight, but when he was convinced by the Lord that the fighting was necessary, Sri Arjuna changed his decision and fought for His cause
- In the Bhagavad-gita we can see that Arjuna desired not to fight with his brothers and relations just to satisfy his own personal desires. But when he heard the message of the Lord, Srimad Bhagavad-gita, he changed his decision and served the Lord
- It is the custom - according to ksatriya fighting principles - that an unarmed and unwilling foe should not be attacked. Arjuna, however, in such an enigmatic position, decided he would not fight if he were attacked by the enemy. BG 1972 purports
M
- Materially it may seem very pious that he (Arjuna) is giving up his claim for a kingdom and refusing to kill his relatives, but Krsna did not approve of this because the principle for Arjuna's decision was to satisfy his own senses
- Materially, it appears very nice that Arjuna is giving up his claim of kingdom for satisfying his relatives. Oh, he's very good man. But Krsna did not approve it. Why? Because the basic principle was Arjuna decided to satisfy his own senses
O
- Obligation is actually binding when the effect is good, but when the effect is otherwise, then no one can be bound. Considering all these pros and cons, Arjuna decided not to fight. BG 1972 purports
- Out of love for her, Arjuna’s eyes brightened, and he looked at her with glittering eyes. Arjuna decided that somehow or other he would achieve Subhadra as his wife, and his mind became agitated on account of this strong desire
T
- They (Dhrtarastra, Bhisma, Vidura and Arjuna) decided that he (Samba) must be punished. They unanimously declared that he was most impudent and had degraded the Kurus' family tradition
- This is the way of the parampara system. If we follow the acaryas we attain the same benefit as our predecessors. If one follows the decisions of Arjuna, he should be considered to be directly hearing Bhagavad-gita from the Supreme Personality of Godhead
- Those who are too dull, it takes little time. But give them chance: Chant, chant, chant, chant! Cleanse, cleanse, cleanse! But when it is properly cleansed, then he will be ready. Arjuna's decision was not to fight. Now he says, "Yes." That is required
W
- When he (Arjuna) became budha by hearing the Vedic knowledge of the Bhagavad-gita from the Supreme Person, he changed his decision and became a worshiper of Lord Sri Krsna, who had Himself arranged the Battle of Kuruksetra
- When he (Arjuna) was fully situated in the principles of bhagavata-dharma, culminating in complete surrender unto the will of the Supreme Lord, he changed his decision and agreed to fight for the satisfaction of the Lord