Category:Arjuna Was a Military Man
Theme Analysis
A central teaching of the Bhagavad-gītā is that spiritual perfection is not restricted to those in the renounced order of life or those who are highly intellectual scholars. Śrīla Prabhupāda powerfully illustrates this through the identity of the Gītā's original recipient. Arjuna was a military man, a kṣatriya, and a gṛhastha (householder). He was extensively trained in the martial arts, receiving high commendations and mystic weapons from his earthly teacher Droṇācārya, as well as from his heavenly father, Indradeva. He possessed no time to study the Vedānta or engage in solitary meditation. Yet, Lord Kṛṣṇa deliberately bypassed all the learned scholars and ascetics of the time, selecting Arjuna to receive the supreme transcendental science simply because Arjuna was His pure devotee and intimate friend.
This distinction is vital for understanding the concept of sva-dharma (occupational duty) within the varṇāśrama system. When Arjuna was overwhelmed by material affection on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra, he wanted to abandon his position and live like a begging brāhmaṇa. However, Lord Kṛṣṇa heavily rebuked him. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that Kṛṣṇa did not want Arjuna to artificially renounce his nature. Because Arjuna was a military man, his inherent duty was to fight for justice. The ultimate goal of the varṇāśrama institution is not simply to become a peaceful brāhmaṇa, but to satisfy the Supreme Lord, Lord Viṣṇu. By following Kṛṣṇa's instruction, Arjuna remained a military commander after hearing the Bhagavad-gītā, but his consciousness was completely transformed. He utilized his military science fully for Kṛṣṇa's service, proving that anyone—whether an artist, a businessman, or a soldier—can attain the highest perfection simply by offering their specific talents to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
- The Martial Expert: Arjuna was a highly certified military commander, trained by the greatest authorities like Droṇācārya and the heavenly king Indra.
- Devotion Over Scholarship: Kṛṣṇa did not select Arjuna because he was a brāhmaṇa or a Vedāntist; He selected him because of his pure devotion, proving that bhakti supersedes academic learning.
- Upholding Sva-dharma: Kṛṣṇa rebuked Arjuna's desire to abandon the battlefield, emphasizing that a kṣatriya must perform his natural duty rather than artificially imitating a sannyāsī.
- Perfection in Action: Arjuna achieved the highest spiritual perfection not by changing his occupation, but by perfectly utilizing his military talents for the satisfaction of Lord Kṛṣṇa.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Arjuna Was a Military Man - the Perfection of Duty.
Pages in category "Arjuna Was a Military Man"
The following 23 pages are in this category, out of 23 total.
A
- Arjuna and his family were indebted to the family of Dronacarya because of Arjuna's learning the military science from him. If ingratitude were shown to such a benevolent family, it would not be at all justified from the moral standpoint
- Arjuna offered his service fully as a military man, and he became perfect. Similarly, an artist can attain perfection simply by performing artistic work under the direction of the spiritual master
- Arjuna was a householder and a military general, and therefore it was better for him to remain as such and perform his religious duties as prescribed for the householder ksatriya. 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 a military man. He was not a Vedantist. He was a grhastha, not even a sannyasi. Why Krsna selected to instruct Arjuna as the disciple of the renovated parampara system? That is also spoken by Krsna
- Arjuna was not a great scholar, nor a brahmana; he was a family and military man. But still Krsna selected him to be the recipient of Bhagavad-gita and the first authority in the disciplic succession. Why? - Because you are My devotee
- Arjuna was not a great scholar, nor a philosopher; he was a family and military man. But still Krsna selected him to be the recipient of Bhagavad-gita and the first authority in the disciplic succession. Why? - Because you are My devotee
- Arjuna was not a great scholar, nor a renunciate; he was a family and military man. But still Krsna selected him to be the recipient of Bhagavad-gita and the first authority in the disciplic succession. Why? - Because you are My devotee
- Arjuna was not a great scholar, nor a Vedantist; he was a family and military man. But still Krsna selected him to be the recipient of Bhagavad-gita and the first authority in the disciplic succession. Why? - Because you are My devotee
H
- He (Arjuna) met Indradeva, who not only presented him with his vajra weapon, but also taught him the military and musical science as used in the heavenly planet
- He (Arjuna) was a military man, and his sva-dharma, his occupational duty, was to fight. So that fighting capacity he engaged himself in the service of Krsna, and he became a devotee. Krsna certified, bhakto 'si
- He (Arjuna) was credited with so many military certificates from many authorities, including his adopted father Indra, the heavenly king. BG 1972 purports
I
- In the beginning of Bhagavad-gita Arjuna was talking to Krsna just like a friend, and Krsna was questioning how he, as a military man, could give up fighting
- In the Bhagavad-gita you have read that one should fully utilize one's talent for the service of the Lord. Arjuna was a military man and he utilized his talent fully for executing the purpose of Lord Sri Krishna
T
- The first-class example is Arjuna. He was a military man, a politician, and grhastha, ksatriya - not brahmana, not sannyasi - but still Krsna accepts him: sakha ceti, - For you are My dear friend
- The internal potency is easily realized by the devotees of the Lord by dint of devotional service. Yuyudhana achieved this stage of life, just as he achieved expert knowledge in military science from Arjuna
- The same thing, example, that Arjuna was a military man, a householder, a family man, before hearing Bhagavad-gita, and he remained the same family man, the same military man, but he became a great devotee of the Lord
W
- We have discussed that point. Arjuna was talking with Krsna in friendly terms, just like friend. Krsna was saying something, - Oh, you cannot . . . you are a ksatriya. You are a military man. How can you give up the fighting
- What is the aim of varnasrama? Simply by becoming a brahmana he's successful? No. Nobody can become successful unless he satisfies Krsna. That is real success. Just like Arjuna did. By the military art, he satisfied Krsna