Category:Arjuna and Yoga
Theme Analysis
The relationship between Arjuna and the science of yoga serves as the foundational narrative for understanding the true goal of spiritual life. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that Lord Kṛṣṇa chose to speak the supreme science of the Bhagavad-gītā to Arjuna specifically because Arjuna was His pure devotee and intimate friend. Kṛṣṇa delineated various paths, including the difficult aṣṭāṅga-yoga and ṣaṭ-cakra-yoga systems, which require strict regulations regarding sitting, breathing, and completely detaching the mind from all material engagements.
However, a pivotal moment occurs in the Sixth Chapter when Arjuna frankly rejects this meditational system. Śrīla Prabhupāda highlights Arjuna's practical realization: the mind is too restless and unsteady to be controlled by mechanical means. Arjuna's rejection serves as a profound lesson for humanity. If a highly elevated royal warrior living five thousand years ago found aṣṭāṅga-yoga unendurable and impractical, it is entirely impossible for the degraded population of the modern age. Despite this rejection, Lord Kṛṣṇa immediately declares Arjuna to be the highest of all yogīs. Śrīla Prabhupāda reveals the secret behind this declaration: the ultimate goal of all yoga is to link with the Supreme Lord. Because Arjuna was perfectly situated in bhakti-yoga, constantly thinking of Kṛṣṇa, and performing his arduous duties without attachment to fruitive results, he effortlessly surpassed all mechanical yogīs. Furthermore, while Arjuna rejected aṣṭāṅga-yoga for spiritual realization, he did possess immense mystic powers—such as the ability to travel to Yamaloka—which he utilized exclusively in the devotional service of the Lord.
- The Chosen Student: Lord Kṛṣṇa chose Arjuna to receive the lost science of yoga because of their intimate relationship based on pure devotion.
- The Rejection of Mysticism: Arjuna practically rejected the strict, mechanical aṣṭāṅga-yoga system, proving it to be too difficult and unendurable for worldly men.
- The Highest Yogī: Despite rejecting mechanical meditation, Arjuna was declared the greatest yogī because his mind was entirely absorbed in bhakti-yoga, or pure Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
- Working in Yoga: True yoga means to perform one's prescribed duties with absolute evenness of mind, totally detached from material success or failure, acting solely for the Supreme.
- Explore the synthesized essence of this category in this Vanipedia article: Arjuna and Yoga - The Supreme Path of Devotion.
Pages in category "Arjuna and Yoga"
The following 34 pages are in this category, out of 34 total.
A
- A man engaged in devotional service rids himself of both good and bad actions even in this life. Therefore strive for yoga, O Arjuna, which is the art of all work. BG 2.50 - 1972
- After explaining the above (BG 5.27-28) principles of liberation in the Supreme, the Lord gives instruction to Arjuna as to how one can come to that position by the practice of mysticism or yoga, known as astanga-yoga. BG 1972 purports
- Although Krsna saw that Arjuna was rejecting the meditational system, He proclaimed Arjuna to be the highest yogi because - You are always thinking of Me
- Arjuna said, O Madhusudana, the system of yoga which you have summarized appears impractical and unendurable to me, for the mind is restless and unsteady. BG 1972 Introduction
- Arjuna said: O Madhusudana, the system of yoga which you have summarized appears impractical and unendurable to me, for the mind is restless and unsteady. BG 6.33 - 1972
- As a practical man, Arjuna thought it was impossible to follow this system of yoga, even though he was favorably endowed in many ways. BG 1972 purports
- At the beginning of the Fourth Chapter also Krsna tells Arjuna (Bg. 4.3) that He is explaining this ancient science of yoga to him because Arjuna is - My devotee and My friend
B
- Be steadfast in yoga, O Arjuna. Perform your duty and abandon all attachment to success or failure. Such evenness of mind is called yoga. BG 2.48 - 1972
- 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
F
- Five thousand years ago Lord Krsna recommended yoga practice to Arjuna, but Arjuna frankly expressed his inability to follow the stringent rules and regulations of the yoga system
- Five thousand years ago, Arjuna had much better facilities then we do now, yet he refused to accept this system of yoga. In fact, we do not find any record in history of his practicing it at any time. BG 1972 purports
I
- If this were so (Arjuna had much better facilities then we do now, yet he refused to accept this system of yoga) five thousand years ago, then what of the present day? BG 1972 purports
- In BG the word asamsaya is used to describe the devotee. There God Himself gives this instruction: 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
- In the Sixth Chapter of Bhagavad-gita, Sri Krsna instructs Arjuna how to perform meditational yoga, but Arjuna rejects this as too difficult. How then is Arjuna considered to be a great yogi
- It seems that Arjuna had mastered the mystic yoga power by which yogis can travel to any planet they desire. He first of all went to the planet known as Yamaloka, where the superintendent of death, Yamaraja, lives
K
- Krsna did not advise him to give up fighting and go to the forest to meditate. When Lord Krsna delineates the yoga system to Arjuna, Arjuna says that the practice of this system is not possible for him. BG 1972 Introduction
- Krsna tells Arjuna of the knowledge of yoga whereby one can work without fruitive results. "O son of Prtha, when you act by such intelligence, you can free yourself from the bondage of works"
- Krsna tells Arjuna of the knowledge of yoga whereby one can work without fruitive results: "O son of Prtha, when you act in such knowledge you can free yourself from the bondage of works" - CC Preface
- Krsna tells Arjuna that he should act in yoga. And what is that yoga? Yoga means to concentrate the mind upon the Supreme by controlling the ever-disturbing senses. And who is the Supreme? The Supreme is the Lord
L
- Lord Krsna explains in the Seventh Chapter of the Bhagavad-gita (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 made an analytical description of the soul just to bring Arjuna to the point of buddhi-yoga, or bhakti-yoga. BG 1972 purports
- Lord Sri Krsna has recommended to Arjuna the practice of sat-cakra-yoga, in which one places the air of life between the eyebrows
T
- Taking it for granted that Arjuna might not know how to practice sat-cakra-yoga, the Lord explains the process in the following verses
- The Bhagavad-gita teaches the process of bhakti-yoga, and therefore Lord Krsna explained it to Arjuna because he was a great devotee. As far as spiritual life is concerned, becoming a devotee of the Lord is the highest perfection
- The Lord (Krsna) says in Bhagavad-gita (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
- The Lord informs Arjuna that this system of yoga, the Bhagavad-gita, was first spoken to the sun-god, and the sun-god explained it to Manu, and Manu explained it to Iksvaku. BG 1972 Introduction
- The yoga system of Bhagavad-gita was lost before the meeting of Krsna and Arjuna. Therefore Krsna again enunciated the same ancient yoga system to Arjuna, who could actually understand Bhagavad-gita
- There is no record of Arjuna's having executed the yoga system at any time. At the same time Arjuna was praised by Krsna as the only man worthy of understanding Bhagavad-gita
- Thus condemned by the brahmana, Arjuna empowered himself with a mystic yoga perfection so that he could travel to any planet to find the brahmana's baby
Y
- Yoga is the ultimate goal of life. Krsna therefore advised Arjuna to become a yogi (tasmad yogi bhavarjuna). Lord Krsna further advised in Bhagavad-gita that the first-class yogi is he who has come to the platform of devotional service
- Yoga system which regulates the mode of living, the manner of sitting, selection of place, and detachment of the mind from material engagements. As a practical man, Arjuna thought it was impossible to follow this system of yoga. BG 1972 purports