Category:Arjuna's Requests
Theme Analysis
The dialogue of the Bhagavad-gītā is propelled by the sincere requests of Arjuna. As a pure devotee, Arjuna never requested Lord Kṛṣṇa to remove his material difficulties, despite facing immense hardships. His pure devotion meant he simply requested Kṛṣṇa to be present by his side, accepting whatever trials the Lord arranged. However, for the benefit of all human society, Arjuna requested Kṛṣṇa's supreme instructions, asking the Lord to summarize the path of spiritual equilibrium and dispel all demonic doubts.
Arjuna's most famous request was to see the universal form (viśva-rūpa). Because Arjuna already accepted Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he did not need to see this mundane, gigantic manifestation for his own faith. He requested it specifically to set a standard for the future. By asking Kṛṣṇa to reveal the universal form, Arjuna provided a test so that future generations could challenge any bogus rascal claiming to be an incarnation of God.
When the terrifying virāṭ-rūpa was displayed, Arjuna, being a pure devotee accustomed to intimate, friendly exchanges, was overwhelmed. He remembered his casual dealings with the Lord and humbly requested pardon for any informal gestures he had made out of friendship. Unable to perpetually behold such a fierce manifestation, Arjuna requested Kṛṣṇa to first show His four-armed feature, and ultimately to resume His original, beautiful two-armed form, which perfectly pacified his heart.
- Unmotivated Devotion: Despite facing constant dangers, Arjuna never requested material relief from Kṛṣṇa, desiring only His presence.
- The Universal Form: Arjuna requested to see the gigantic viśva-rūpa not for himself, but to establish a testing standard for future incarnations of God.
- Seeking Forgiveness: Overwhelmed by the Lord's supreme majesty, Arjuna requested pardon for treating Kṛṣṇa with informal familiarity.
- Returning to Sweetness: Unaccustomed to the terrifying universal manifestation, Arjuna requested the Lord to return to His beautiful, two-armed form.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Arjuna's Requests - Setting the Standard for Pure Devotion.
Pages in category "Arjuna's Requests"
The following 18 pages are in this category, out of 18 total.
A
- All of these forms are one and the same to Krsna; therefore Arjuna requests to see His four-handed feature.
- Although Krsna is manifested before Arjuna in His universal form, Arjuna remembers his friendly relationship with Krsna and is asking pardon and requesting Krsna to excuse him for the many informal gestures which arise out of friendship. BG 1972 purports
- Arjuna did not know anything but Krsna, and Arjuna requested that Krsna be present on his side in the battle
- Arjuna never requested Krsna that "My dear Krsna, You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and we are in so much difficulties. You cannot give us relief?" No, you will never find
- Arjuna remembers his friendly relationship with Krsna and is therefore asking pardon and requesting Krsna to excuse him for the many informal gestures which arise out of friendship
- Arjuna requests Him (Krsna) to summarize everything in such a way that he can remain equiposed. Yet he has some doubts, and doubts are always compared to demons. He therefore addresses Krsna as Kesinisudana. BG 1972 purports
- Arjuna was in perfect knowledge, yet Krsna instructed him for our benefit. Arjuna requested Krsna's instructions, which are set forth for all human society
K
- Krsna is always with Arjuna, but you'll never find they have requested, "Krsna, I am Your friend, and I am in so much difficulty." This is pure devotion. I love God. God may give me any kind of trouble - I don't mind; I will suffer patiently
- Krsna taught Arjuna in the Bhagavad-gita, and Arjuna also accepted Him as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but for our understanding Arjuna requested the Lord to manifest His universal form, thus testing whether He was actually the Supreme Lord
T
- That form was exhibited by Krsna at the request of Arjuna because in the future, when one represents himself as an incarnation of God, people can ask to see his universal form. BG 1972 purports
- The demigods controlling the elements and ingredients of universal affairs prayed to the Lord for guidance, and thus He manifested His gigantic form, as He did at the request of Arjuna
- The girl Yamuna knew it well that Arjuna was a great devotee of Lord Krsna and that if he would pray, Krsna would never deny his request
W
- When Arjuna was shown the virat-rupa of Krsna, he saw it, but he did not want to see it perpetually. He requested the Lord to return to His original form as two-armed Krsna
- When his (Arjuna's) inimical cousin Duryodhana was under the clutches of the Gandharvas, he wanted to save him and requested the Gandharvas to release Duryodhana, but the Gandharvas refused, and thus he fought with them and got Duryodhana released