Category:Arjuna's Kinsmen
Theme Analysis
The conflict at the beginning of the Bhagavad-gītā stems from Arjuna's intense material attachment to his kinsmen. Upon surveying the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra, Arjuna saw his grandfathers, teachers, brothers, and sons arrayed against him. Being a kind and soft-hearted devotee, he was immediately overwhelmed by compassion. He felt that killing his own relatives for the sake of an earthly kingdom was a severely sinful act. To his mundane vision, forgiving his aggressive cousin-brothers appeared to be a highly pious and saintly decision.
However, Lord Kṛṣṇa quickly dispelled this illusion, pointing out that Arjuna's reluctance was entirely rooted in the bodily concept of life. By the influence of māyā, Arjuna temporarily forgot his eternal relationship with the Supreme Lord and instead prioritized his temporary, physical relationships with his kinsmen. Although his desire to abandon the battlefield seemed like genuine nonviolence, it was actually driven by personal sense gratification. Arjuna calculated that he could not enjoy the royal happiness of the kingdom if his family members were dead. Therefore, his refusal to fight was based on his own bodily comfort rather than spiritual duty.
Lord Kṛṣṇa sternly chastised Arjuna for this misplaced compassion, explaining that such behavior is befitting the non-Aryans (anāryas) and does not lead to spiritual elevation or even material fame. The Lord instructed that a kṣatriya must execute his prescribed duty without being hindered by bodily affection. Ultimately, the entire Bhagavad-gītā was spoken to eradicate this specific illusion. Once Arjuna understood that Kṛṣṇa's supreme will superseded all temporary family ties, he cast off his reluctance, gave up his personal desire for satisfaction, and fought the battle as a pure, detached servant of the Lord.
- Overwhelming Compassion: Seeing his blood relatives and teachers on the battlefield caused Arjuna to become overwhelmed with grief and lamentation.
- The Bodily Concept: Arjuna's hesitation was a product of māyā, causing him to mistakenly identify his eternal self and others with the temporary material body.
- Subtle Sense Gratification: Arjuna's seemingly pious desire to spare his kinsmen was actually rooted in his desire to enjoy the kingdom with them, a form of sense gratification.
- Eradicating Illusion: Lord Kṛṣṇa spoke the Bhagavad-gītā to destroy this bodily attachment, teaching Arjuna to fight for the Lord's satisfaction regardless of family ties.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Arjuna's Kinsmen - The Illusion of Bodily Compassion.
Pages in category "Arjuna's Kinsmen"
The following 33 pages are in this category, out of 33 total.
A
- Alas, how strange it is that we (Arjuna and the Pandavas) are preparing to commit greatly sinful acts. Driven by the desire to enjoy royal happiness, we are intent on killing our own kinsmen
- All the commanders of the parties on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra were standing face to face, and Arjuna saw them with great compassion and lamented that he was to kill his kinsmen on the battlefield for the sake of the empire
- Arjuna considered that rather than kill his own kinsmen for political reasons, it would be better to forgive them on grounds of religion and saintly behavior. BG 1972 purports
- Arjuna had no desire to fight with his relatives, but he fought for the mission of the Lord. He was always engaged in the execution of His mission only
- Arjuna is saying that "How can I kill my kinsmen? There is my grandfather, there is my teacher, there are my kinsmen." It is not bad. For worldly men this is very nice consideration, that - I am not going to kill my kinsmen
- 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, being a saintly devotee of the Lord, is always conscious of moral principles and therefore takes care to avoid such activities (killing one's own brother, father, or mother). 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 good, nonviolent man, Arjuna did not want to fight with his kinsmen, but when he understood that Krsna wanted the fight and had arranged it at Kuruksetra, he gave up his own satisfaction and fought for the satisfaction of the Lord
- As a natural devotee of the Lord, Arjuna did not like to retaliate against his miscreant cousins and brothers, but it was the Lord's plan that they should all be killed. BG 1972 purports
H
- He (Arjuna) did not consider such killing (of his kinsmen) profitable simply for the matter of temporary bodily happiness. After all, kingdoms and pleasures derived therefrom are not permanent. BG 1972 purports
- He (Arjuna) thought that by killing his kinsmen there would be no happiness in his life, and therefore he was not willing to fight, just as a person who does not feel hunger is not inclined to cook. BG 1972 purports
- He (Arjuna) was a good man, religious man, devotee. Naturally he was not inclined to fight with his relatives, kinsmen
I
- I do not see how any good can come from killing my own kinsmen in this battle, nor can I, my dear Krsna, desire any subsequent victory, kingdom, or happiness. BG 1.31 - 1972
- If there is any reluctance (on the part of Arjuna) to execute such a stern order (from Krsna) which is without consideration of so-called kinsmen in the bodily relationship, that reluctance should be thrown off. BG 1972 purports
- In both ways (by not killing his (Arjuna's) relatives and kinsmen he would be happier than by enjoying the kingdom after conquering his cousins and brothers, the sons of Dhrtarastra), the basic principles were for sense gratification. BG 1972 purports
- In the presence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Arjuna's lamentation for his kinsmen is certainly unbecoming, and therefore Krsna expressed His surprise with the word kutas - wherefrom. BG 1972 purports
O
- On the battlefield Arjuna could see all kinds of relatives. He could see brothers like Duryodhana, sons like Laksmana, friends like Asvatthama, well-wishers like Krtavarma, etc. BG 1972 purports
- Out of sentiment, Arjuna was thinking, "Why should I fight against my own kinsmen?" That reluctance to fight was due to Arjuna's illusion, and just to eradicate that illusion, Sri Krsna spoke the Bhagavad-gita to him
W
- When Arjuna was speaking - "If I kill my brother, if I kill my grandfather on the other side..." - he was simply thinking on the basis of the bodily concept of life
- When Arjuna was thinking in terms of his bodily relationships with his kinsmen, Krsna immediately chastised him, saying, This bodily conception of life is befitting the anaryas, the non-Aryans, who are not advanced in knowledge
- 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
- Why should he (Arjuna) risk his life and eternal salvation by killing his own kinsmen? Arjuna's addressing of Krsna as - Madhava, or the husband of the goddess of fortune, is also significant in this connection (BG 1.36). BG 1972 purports