Category:Arjuna's Hearing
Theme Analysis
The process of hearing from an authoritative source is established by Śrīla Prabhupāda as the most critical element in spiritual transformation. Arjuna serves as the primary example of this principle. Through the act of hearing Bhagavad gītā directly from Kṛṣṇa, he transitioned from a state of sentimental delusion and bodily identification to a state of enlightened devotion. This transformation did not require Arjuna to change his external occupation or social position. Rather, it involved the internal realignment of his consciousness with the divine will. The quotes emphasize that hearing from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, or His bona fide representative in the disciplic succession, is the only way to receive perfect knowledge and resolve the doubts that plague the conditioned soul.
- The Power of Authoritative Hearing - Real knowledge is not based on personal experience or speculation but on what is heard from authorities. Kṛṣṇa is the supreme authority. By hearing from Him, Arjuna became free from doubt and accepted Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This hearing is the greatest opportunity for progress in Kṛṣṇa consciousness because it provides a clear understanding of the truth.
- Internal Transformation vs. External Change - After hearing the Gītā, Arjuna did not abandon his duty as a warrior to become a monk in the mountains. He remained a soldier, but his motivation changed. Previously, he was hesitant due to family affection and bodily identification. After hearing, he understood his spiritual identity as a servant of Kṛṣṇa and dovetailed his mind with the desire of the Lord.
- The Mystery of the Disciplic Succession - The benefit of hearing directly from Kṛṣṇa is available to everyone through the paramparā system. When a spiritual master is bona fide, he acts as a transparent medium, allowing the student to hear the message exactly as Arjuna heard it. Following the decisions and understanding of Arjuna is equivalent to hearing directly from the Supreme Lord.
- Impractical Yoga and the Path of Hearing - Arjuna rejected the meditational yoga system because he found it impractical and unendurable for a restless mind. Instead, he prioritized hearing about Kṛṣṇa. This demonstrates that for the modern age, hearing the science of God is the more effective and accessible method for spiritual success compared to solitary meditation.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Transformative Power of Śravaṇam - Arjuna's Hearing on the Battlefield.
Pages in category "Arjuna's Hearing"
The following 32 pages are in this category, out of 32 total.
A
- After hearing Bhagavad-gita from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Arjuna accepted Krsna as Param Brahma, the Supreme Brahman. BG 1972 Introduction
- After hearing Bhagavad-gita from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Arjuna dovetailed his mind with Krsna's desire. This is called oneness. This oneness, however, did not cause Arjuna and Krsna to lose their individualities
- After hearing him (the brahmana), Arjuna immediately prepared himself by touching sanctified water and uttering holy mantras to protect his bows and arrows from danger
- Arjuna bases his argument (that those who destroy family traditions dwell always in hell) not on his own personal experience, but on what he has heard from the authorities. That is the way of receiving real knowledge. BG 1972 purports
- Arjuna had to fight in the battlefield, but at the same time he heard Bhagavad-gita. Our motto shall be like that. Neither we shall fight alone, without Krishna Consciousness, nor we shall give up all possible facilities in Krishna Consciousness
- Arjuna heard explanation of meditational system of yoga, all this being conducted in a secluded place alone - he replied: O Madhusudana, the system of yoga, You have summarized appears impractical & unendurable to me, for the mind is restless & unsteady
- Arjuna heard from Krsna about Himself, and he agreed. So He is accepted by the direct disciple, Arjuna; He is accepted by Vyasadeva; He is accepted by Narada Muni
- Arjuna is a good example. On his own sentiment, due to family affection, Arjuna did not want to fight, but finally, after hearing Srimad Bhagavad-gita, he agreed to fight in the interests of the Lord
- Arjuna is interested to hear about Krsna, specifically how He remains as the all-pervading Supreme Lord. BG 1972 purports
- Arjuna was hesitant. But the same fighting remained after hearing Bhagavad-gita. And what is the change? The change is that bodily identification gone, spiritual identification taken, that he, as part and parcel of Krsna, it is his duty to serve Krsna
- Arjuna, after hearing from Krsna about the outcome of the Battle of Kuruksetra, became an enlightened devotee of the Supreme Lord. He admitted that everything done by Krsna is quite fit. BG 1972 purports
- Arjuna, after hearing the essential four verses of Bhagavad-gita in this chapter, became completely free from all doubts and accepted Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. BG 1972 purports
- Arjuna, although he was fighter, Arjuna did not change his position. He did not become a brahmana. After hearing Bhagavad-gita it is not that he gave up his profession as a ksatriya and went to Himalaya to become a brahmana, meditation
B
- Before his (Arjuna) hearing Bhagavad-gita he was a soldier, and after hearing Bhagavad-gita he remained a soldier. But in the beginning of the fight he was not willing to fight with his brothers
- BG 7.1: "Now, hear, O son of Prtha (Arjuna), how by practicing yoga in full consciousness of Me, with mind attached to Me, you can know Me in full, free from doubt." Lord Krsna Himself teaches how one can understand Him perfectly well, without a doubt
I
- In Prabhasa-ksetra he (Arjuna) heard the news that Lord Balarama was negotiating the marriage of Subhadra, the daughter of Arjuna’s maternal uncle, Vasudeva
- 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
O
- On hearing that a brahmana was accusing the King of not properly protecting him, Arjuna became inquisitive and approached the brahmana
- On hearing this (Arjuna took a vow to kill him), Jayadratha wanted to leave the warfield and asked permission from the Kauravas for this cowardly action. But he was not allowed to do so. On the contrary, he was obliged to fight with Arjuna
T
- The example of clear understanding is there in the Bhagavad-gita itself, in the way the teaching is understood by Arjuna, who heard the Gita directly from the Lord. BG 1972 purports
- The living entity has to change that conception (of material desires). That change can be effected only by hearing from authoritative sources. The best example is here (BG): Arjuna is hearing the science of God from Krsna. BG 1972 purports
- The Lord (Krsna) says to Arjuna, "tat srnu," or "Hear from Me." No one can be a greater authority than Krsna, and therefore by hearing from Him one receives the greatest opportunity for progress in Krsna consciousness. BG 1972 purports
- The Pandavas, especially Sri Arjuna, were eternal companions of the Lord, and therefore Arjuna went to Dvaraka to hear from the Lord of His next program of work
- The spiritual master is the transparent medium, although it is true that the experience is direct. This is the mystery of the disciplic succession. When the spiritual master is bona fide, then one can hear BG directly, as Arjuna heard it. BG 1972 pur
- This (CC Madhya 9.158) is the way to understand the truth about the SP of Godhead. After hearing the Bhagavad-gita, Arjuna said very much the same thing: sarvam etad rtam manye yan mam vadasi kesava, na hi te bhagavan vyaktim vidur deva na danavah
- 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
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
- Within the discourse, Arjuna heard the explanation of the meditational system of yoga - how to sit down, how to keep the body straight, how to keep the eyes half-closed and how to gaze at the tip of the nose without diverting one's attention