We have been discussing Arjuna. A person who is emotionally challenged, has gone through a lot of discipline and is willing to go through more. A person loses everything when he is not ready to listen. We always have two choices, either listen to others or listen to ourselves. When listening to others, one can relax but listening to one’s own self results in arrogance. When one listens to one’s own self, they listen to their own likes and dislikes, encouraging one’s preferences and habitual errors. Unlike a common person, Arjuna is willing to listen. As a man of achievement and success, Arjuna wants to present his standpoint without creating any conflicts or disturbances. After trying to please one’s boss, one has to understand the boss’ weakness. One should only use such techniques to prevent others destroying them in a toxic environment but should not end up becoming a crook. There is a big difference between showing the limitations and projecting the limitations because of one’s own irritation or agitation.
Sanjaya, knowing the weakness of Dhritarashtra says that now Arjuna is silent, given up and is ready to be killed. Hearing this, Dhritarashtra has become happy and excited. Dhritarashtra has fear towards lord Krishna. Now Sanjaya starts explaining what happens next. Krishna joins the overwhelmed Arjuna and starts speaking. This is considered to be the first word and the start of Krishna’s teaching. A successful and matured person will not allow a person to slip or to do what one wants to do, rather they will do whatever is to be done. Lord Krishna is trying to point out that Arjuna is being influenced by somebody or something. Krishna uses very strong words and says that Arjuna is not behaving like a responsible person that Arjuna stands for.
Everyone has got their physical body based on their karma and the mind is designed based on the body. One cannot come out of this as long as the body exists. A man’s body, whether we like it or not, stands for the responsibility. A woman will be ready to listen to a man as long as they see that this man is a responsible person. A woman’s only expectation from a man is responsibility and nothing else. A relationship collapses when a woman sees that her man is not a responsible person. Every man looks for care and concern from a woman. A man might want a smart and intelligent woman as a personal secretary but not as a wife.
With an intellectual person, one should never fight but one should learn to corner an intellectual person with intelligence, honesty, integrity and emotional maturity. Lord Krishna uses very strong words and asks Arjuna to behave like a man. When a man behaves unpredictably to a given situation then he is not a man. Nobody will be friends with such a man. One should respect one’s body, only then they will be able to respect their mind. Once one starts respecting their body and mind, one will be able to understand the truth. For a man, it is better to die than giving up responsibility. One remembers their mother because of their mother’s care and concern and nothing else. The first step that one should take is, a man should behave like a man and a woman should behave like a woman, not otherwise.
Commentary by Swami Ananda Saraswati
Compiled by Krithika Sanjeevi