Krishna and Arjuna in The Bhagavad Gita

Arjuna's Hesitation and Krishna's Guidance

• Arjuna hesitates to fight in the battle of Mahabharata because of his emotional attachment to his relatives and friends who are on the opposing side.
• Krishna takes the form of Vishnu to emphasize the divine and universal nature of the battle, and to inspire Arjuna to fulfill his duty.

Krishna's Teachings

• Krishna explains to Arjuna that the concept of Swadharma (fulfilling one's duty) is a reason for him to fight in the battle.
• Krishna and Arjuna have a primary relationship of spiritual guide and disciple in the Bhagavad Gita.

The Battle of Mahabharata

• The battle of Mahabharata is taking place because of the conflict between the Kauravas and the Pandavas, and the duty to fulfill one's role in the battle.

Arjuna's Emotional Response

• Arjuna feels conflicted and torn when Krishna encourages him to fight in the battle, due to his emotional attachment to his relatives and friends.
• Krishna conveys to Arjuna that death is an illusion, and the soul is eternal.

Understanding the Atman

• Krishna suggests that one can understand the Atman (the self or soul) within each person by recognizing their true nature as separate from the physical body.

Paths of Yoga

• Karma Yoga involves engaging in actions without expecting anything in return, and focuses on selfless action.
• The goal of Jnana Yoga is to attain spiritual knowledge and understanding.
• In Bhakti Yoga, one releases emotional energy by cultivating devotion and love for the divine.

Self-Realization and Liberation

• Individuals must recognize their true nature as the Atman, and see past the illusion of death to attain liberation.
• Engaging in Karma Yoga affects one's sense of self by reducing ego and attachment.

Krishna's Conviction

• Krishna convinces Arjuna to fight by emphasizing the importance of fulfilling his duty, and explaining that it is a necessary part of the larger cosmic plan.

Purpose and Goals

• The purpose of Bhakti Yoga is to cultivate devotion and love for the divine, and to attain spiritual liberation.
• The goal of Jnana Yoga is to attain spiritual knowledge and understanding.
• According to Krishna, what enables an individual to escape reincarnation is the attainment of self-realization and liberation.

Suffering and Liberation

• Krishna suggests that individuals can make suffering more bearable by cultivating a sense of detachment and equanimity.
• Arjuna eventually decides to follow Krishna's teachings and fulfill his duty by fighting in the battle.

Explore the relationship between Krishna and Arjuna in The Bhagavad Gita, a text that discusses metaphysical concepts and self-actualization within Hinduism. Learn how Krishna, embodying the god Vishnu, imparts wisdom to Arjuna.