Category:Arjuna's Fear
Theme Analysis
Within the narrative of the Bhagavad-gītā, Arjuna experiences two entirely different categories of fear: material dread born of illusion, and transcendental awe born of divine revelation. At the onset of the battle, Arjuna is paralyzed by material fear. Driven by false ego and bodily identification, he fears that killing his grandfather, teacher, and relatives will subject him to sinful reactions. Furthermore, he fears that without his friends and family, he will have no one with whom to share his kingdom and opulence. These fears manifest physically, causing his body to tremble, his hair to stand on end, and his bow to slip from his hand.
Lord Kṛṣṇa immediately identifies this fear as a symptom of ignorance. There is no place for fear in transcendental realization. As a kṣatriya executing his prescribed duty, Arjuna has no reason to fear sinful reactions. Kṛṣṇa warns Arjuna that fleeing the battlefield out of fear for his life will bring him severe ill fame, which, for a respectable man, is far worse than death. By running away, Arjuna would ruin his prestige and misuse the supreme friendship of the Lord.
Later in the discourse, Arjuna requests to see Kṛṣṇa's universal form (virāṭ-rūpa). Upon beholding this radiant, all-devouring, and infinite manifestation, Arjuna loses his equilibrium. Although he is a pure devotee situated in intimate friendship (sakhya-rasa) with the Lord, this specific form is not pleasing to him; rather, it is terrifying. Arjuna trembles again, but this time out of profound awe. Gripped by this spiritual fear, he begs pardon for previously treating Kṛṣṇa with the casual familiarity of a friend, fearing he has committed offenses. Ultimately, Kṛṣṇa acts as the supreme protector of His devotee by banishing this fear, withdrawing the universal manifestation, and returning to His beautiful, two-armed form, thereby restoring Arjuna's peaceful, loving devotion.
- Material Anxiety: Arjuna's initial trembling on the battlefield stems from the material fear of losing his life, his relatives, and the ability to enjoy his opulence.
- The Danger of Ill Fame: Lord Kṛṣṇa chastises Arjuna's material fear, explaining that abandoning his duty will result in a loss of reputation worse than death.
- Divine Terror: Witnessing the universal form strips Arjuna of his equilibrium, replacing his friendly affection with overwhelming, terrifying awe.
- Restoring Peace: To pacify His frightened devotee, Kṛṣṇa withdraws the fearful universal form and reveals His original, beautiful two-armed feature.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Arjuna's Fear - From Material Illusion to Divine Awe.
Pages in category "Arjuna's Fear"
The following 26 pages are in this category, out of 26 total.
A
- After seeing that universal form, he (Arjuna) is afraid that he has committed so many offenses to Krsna out of his unalloyed friendship. Thus his mind is disturbed out of fear, although he had no reason to fear. BG 1972 purports
- After seeing this universal form, which I have never seen before, I am gladdened, but at the same time my mind is disturbed with fear. BG 11.45 - 1972
- Arjuna as a ksatriya should not abandon his duty out of fear that his grandfather and teacher - Bhisma and Drona - will die in the battle. BG 1972 purports
- Arjuna desired to see the four-handed form of Lord Krsna as Visnu, and he was actually afraid of the universal form. BG 1972 purports
- Arjuna fears that at the time of death, those who are in Krsna consciousness will forget the Supreme Lord because at such a time body functions are disrupted and the mind may be in a panic-stricken state. BG 1972 purports
- Arjuna was a military man, and born of the nature of the ksatriya. Therefore his natural duty was to fight. But, due to false ego, he was fearing that by killing his teacher, grandfather and friends, there would be sinful reactions. BG 1972 purports
- Arjuna was not at all afraid of the giant military phalanx presented by Duryodhana, but as a merciful devotee of the Lord, renunciation of worldly things was natural for him, and thus he decided not to fight for worldly possessions
- Arjuna, however, became very much afraid upon seeing the gigantic form of everything, distinct from the material experience
H
- He (Arjuna) was afraid to see the gigantic form of the Lord. He therefore prayed to the Lord to assume His four-handed Narayana or Krsna form, which alone could please Arjuna
- He (Arjuna) was not, of course, afraid. He was affected by the wonders of the Supreme Lord. The immediate context is wonder; his natural loving friendship was overwhelmed by wonder, and thus he reacted in this way. BG 1972 purports
L
- Lord Krsna continued to give His verdict to Arjuna: They (Duryodhana, Karna, and other contemporaries) will think that you have left out of fear for your life. And thus their high estimation of your personality will go to hell. BG 1972 purports
- Lord Krsna is Rama Himself, and wherever Lord Rama is, His eternal servitor Hanuman and His eternal consort Sita, the goddess of fortune, are present. Therefore, Arjuna had no cause to fear any enemies whatsoever. BG 1972 purports
- Lord Krsna says to Arjuna: you should not flee for fear of your life; better to die in the battle. That will save you from the ill fame of misusing My friendship and from losing your prestige in society. BG 1972 purports
S
- Sanjaya said to Dhrtarastra: O King, after hearing these words from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Arjuna trembled, fearfully offered obeisances with folded hands and began, falteringly, to speak as follows: BG 11.35 - 1972
- Sanjaya said to Dhrtarastra: The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna, while speaking thus to Arjuna, displayed His real four-armed form, and at last He showed him His two-armed form, thus encouraging the fearful Arjuna. BG 11.50 - 1972
- Since he was not risking rebirth of the soul, Arjuna had no reason to be afraid of being affected with sinful reactions due to his killing his grandfather and teacher. BG 1972 purports
T
- The King thus said: We have inherited the fame of Arjuna; therefore since you have surrendered yourself with folded hands you need not fear for your life. But you cannot remain in my kingdom, for you are the friend of irreligion
- There is no fear in transcendental realization. Arjuna's symptoms (his trembling body, hair standing on end, his bow slipping from his hand, and his burning skin) in this situation are out of material fear - namely, loss of life. BG 1972 purports
- To Arjuna, who was so intimately related with Krsna in friendship, this form of the universal manifestation was not pleasing; rather, it was fearful. BG 1972 purports
W
- When Arjuna saw the universal form of the Lord, he was so afraid that he begged pardon for his dealings with Krsna as an intimate friend. As a friend, Arjuna often behaved unceremoniously with the Lord
- When He was present, everyone was attracted simply by Krsna's form, and because Krsna is director of the universe, He just banished the fear of Arjuna, His devotee, and showed him again His beautiful form of Krsna. BG 1972 purports
- Why should Arjuna be afraid of or aggrieved at the death of his relatives since he was discharging his proper duty? He did not deserve to break the law, thereby becoming subjected to the reactions of sinful acts, of which he was so afraid. BG 1972 pur