Krishna

When humans and gods intermingle, the gods tend to shower their wisdom on us mere mortals, showing us the way to a better life, or to salvation. That is exactly what Krishna does to Arjuna. He shows this distraught mortal how to heed the actions he takes (or must take) to fulfill his life.

Arjuna does not want to fight this impending battle, yet Krishna tells his he must. Krishna explains his moral duty to this battle, but he also explains another reason he must fight. Explaining the meaning of action, Krishna shows how action must be used as a sacrifice to preserve the gods, and order of humanity. He goes on to say that “…without action you even fail to sustain your own body” (44). All Krishna is saying is that we, as human beings, need to be prepared to sacrifice our own ideas for those of the greater good. By achieving the greater good, society will flourish, the gods and goddesses will bequeath us with good fortune, and chaos will not rule the world.

It is this idea of the greater good Arjuna does not seem to be able to grasp. He does not want to fight because of his duty to his family. A duty Krishna says he is not breaking because when one is killed, he simply moves to a new location, but is not dead. Krishna emphasizes the importance of action because, he says, it is a test of one’s character, to see if he will continue with the action (which is the correct path), or if he will not follow through with the action (which shows weakness).

Personally, I’d be listening to the god who seems to have things all figured out. But Arjuna is truly torn between his duties, and Krishna is bound and determined to mock this attitude out of Arjuna. Action is necessary to fulfill his duty, and Krishna will hopefully get his to see this.