Arjuna’s Journey - From Illusion of Power to Surrender

This article presents a thematic survey of Arjuna's journey from the confidence of a kṣatriya warrior to the profound realization of a surrendered soul. It organizes the profound verses found in the Vaniquotes category Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam Verses Spoken by Arjuna.

Arjuna is the eternal friend (sakhā) of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. His words serve as a timeless lesson for all conditioned souls who falsely think themselves to be independent doers. Through his own example of defeat after Kṛṣṇa's departure, Arjuna demonstrates that all opulence, strength, and fame are borrowed from the Supreme Lord. When the Lord withdraws His sanction, even the greatest archer in the world becomes powerless.

The Agony of Separation (Canto 1)

Upon returning to Hastināpura after the departure of Lord Kṛṣṇa, Arjuna is distraught. When King Yudhiṣṭhira asks about the welfare of the Yadu dynasty, Arjuna breaks down. He reveals that the source of his strength, his friend and guide, has left the planet.

The Void

Arjuna confesses that without Kṛṣṇa, he feels completely empty. The material world, despite its variety, is essentially dead matter. Just as a body without a soul is useless, a universe without the presence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is void. Arjuna realizes that his very existence has lost its meaning.

  • "Arjuna said: O King! The Supreme Personality of Godhead Hari, who treated me exactly like an intimate friend, has left me alone. Thus my astounding power, which astonished even the demigods, is no longer with me."
  • "I (Arjuna) have just lost Him (Kṛṣṇa) whose separation for a moment would render all the universes unfavorable and void, like bodies without life."
  • "O Emperor, now I (Arjuna) am separated from my friend and dearmost well-wisher, the Supreme Personality of Godhead (Kṛṣṇa), and therefore my heart appears to be void of everything."
  • "O King (Yudhiṣṭhira), descendant of Ajamīḍha, at the present moment I (Arjuna) am bereft of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, by whose influence I was so powerful."

The Illusion of Independent Strength (The Defeat)

To illustrate the futility of material power, Arjuna narrates a humiliating incident. After Kṛṣṇa's departure, Arjuna attempted to escort the Lord's wives to safety. However, he was defeated by a group of untrained cowherd men. This incident destroys the false ego of "I am the doer," proving that power is not intrinsic to the soul but is a gift from the Super-soul.

Powerless and Defeated

Arjuna realizes that his instruments—the bow, the chariot, the horses—are the same, but the essence is gone. This confirms that all material acquisitions—wealth, prestige, and strength—are null and void without the Lord. They are like "magic wands" or "seeds on barren land"—useless efforts that yield no result.

  • "I have the very same Gāṇḍīva bow, the same arrows, the same chariot drawn by the same horses, and I use them as the same Arjuna to whom all the kings offered their due respects."
  • "In the absence of Lord Kṛṣṇa, all of them, at a moment's notice, have become null and void. It is exactly like offering clarified butter on ashes, accumulating money with a magic wand or sowing seeds on barren land."
  • "In His absence I (Arjuna) have been defeated by a number of infidel cowherd men while I was guarding the bodies of all the wives of Kṛṣṇa."

Recollection of Mercy (The Source of Victory)

In his grief, Arjuna remembers how Kṛṣṇa was the actual doer behind all his past triumphs. He reviews his life, acknowledging that from the early days of his marriage to the great Kurukṣetra war, it was Kṛṣṇa who cleared the path.

Early Victories (Draupadī and Khāṇḍava)

Arjuna recalls winning the hand of Draupadī and conquering the Khāṇḍava forest. He admits that piercing the fish target and defeating Indra were impossible feats made possible only by Kṛṣṇa's merciful strength. The Lord is the active principle; the devotee is merely the instrument.

  • "Only by His (Kṛṣṇa) merciful strength was I able to vanquish all the lusty princes assembled at the palace of King Drupada for the selection of the bridegroom. With my bow and arrow I could pierce the fish target and thereby gain the hand of Draupadī."
  • "Because He (Kṛṣṇa) was near me (Arjuna), it was possible for me to conquer with great dexterity the powerful King of heaven, Indradeva, along with his demigod associates and thus enable the fire-god to devastate the Khāṇḍava Forest."
  • "By His grace was the demon named Maya saved from the blazing Khāṇḍava Forest, and thus we could build our assembly house of wonderful architectural workmanship, where all the princes assembled during the performance of Rājasūya-yajña and paid you tributes."

The Battle of Kurukṣetra

Arjuna reflects on the great war. He recognizes that Kṛṣṇa was Time personified (kāla), withdrawing the life span of the enemies before the battle even began. Arjuna simply shot arrows at already-dead bodies. Without Kṛṣṇa, the Kaurava army was an insurmountable ocean of death that no mortal could cross.

  • "It was He (Kṛṣṇa) only who withdrew the duration of life from everyone and who, in the battlefield, withdrew the speculative power and strength of enthusiasm from the great military phalanx made by the Kauravas, headed by Bhīṣma, Karṇa, Droṇa, Śalya, etc."
  • "Great generals like Bhīṣma, Droṇa, Karṇa, Bhūriśravā, Suśarmā, Śalya, Jayadratha, and Bāhlika all directed their invincible weapons against me. But by His (Lord Kṛṣṇa's) grace they could not even touch a hair on my head."
  • "Their (Kauravas) arrangement was expert and more than adequate, but He (Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa), while going forward, did all this."
  • "The military strength of the Kauravas was like an ocean in which there dwelled many invincible existences, and thus it was insurmountable."
  • "Because of His friendship, I, seated on the chariot, was able to cross over it. And only by His grace was I able to regain the cows and also collect by force many helmets of the kings which were bedecked with jewels that were sources of all brilliance."
  • "It was He only who loosened the hair of all the wives of the miscreants who dared open the cluster of your Queen's hair, which had been nicely dressed. At that time she fell down at the feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa with tears in her eyes."

Protection in Exile and Heaven

Arjuna remembers how Kṛṣṇa saved the Pāṇḍavas from the curse of Durvāsā Muni by eating a morsel of food. This proves that if the Lord is satisfied, the entire universe is satisfied. Kṛṣṇa's protection extends even to the heavenly planets, where Arjuna was honored by Indra.

  • "During our exile, Durvāsā Muni, who eats with his ten thousand disciples, intrigued with our enemies to put us in dangerous trouble. At that time He (Lord Kṛṣṇa), simply by accepting the remnants of food, saved us."
  • "By His (Kṛṣṇa) accepting food thus, the assembly of munis, while bathing in the river, felt sumptuously fed. And all the three worlds were also satisfied."
  • "Other demigods also delivered their respective weapons to me, and in addition I was able to reach the heavenly planets in this present body and was allowed a half-elevated seat."
  • "Another significance of the present verse is that Arjuna, by the grace of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, was able to reach the heavenly planet even with the selfsame body and was honored by the heavenly demigod Indradeva, being seated with him half-elevated."
  • "When I (Arjuna) stayed for some days as a guest in the heavenly planets, all the heavenly demigods, including King Indradeva, took shelter of my arms, which were marked with the Gāṇḍīva bow, to kill the demon named Nivātakavaca."
  • "It was by His (Kṛṣṇa's) influence only that in a fight I (Arjuna) was able to astonish the personality of god Lord Śiva and his wife (Himavatī), the daughter of Mount Himālaya. Thus he (Lord Śiva) became pleased with me and awarded me his own weapon."
  • "It was by His (Kṛṣṇa's) mercy only that my enemies neglected to kill me (Arjuna) when I descended from my chariot to get water for my thirsty horses."
  • "By His (Lord Kṛṣṇa's) grace they could not even touch a hair on my (Arjuna's) head. Similarly, Prahlāda Mahārāja, the supreme devotee of Lord Nṛsiṁha-deva, was unaffected by the weapons the demons used against him."

The Intimacy of Friendship (Sakhya-Rasa)

Beyond his role as a warrior, Arjuna laments the loss of his personal relationship with Kṛṣṇa. He recalls the informal joking, the shared meals, and the incredible humility of the Lord who agreed to become his chariot driver. This intimacy reveals that the Supreme Lord is not an impersonal void; He is a person who hungers for the love of His devotees and is willing to take a subordinate position to serve them.

Familiarity and Love

Arjuna remembers how he sometimes reproached Kṛṣṇa in jest. The Supreme Lord, who is feared by fear personified, tolerated these familiarities like a true friend. This affectionate exchange is the perfection of existence, far superior to the formal worship of the demigods.

  • "O King! His (Kṛṣṇa's) jokings and frank talks were pleasing and beautifully decorated with smiles. His addresses unto me as 'O son of Pṛthā, O friend, O son of the Kuru dynasty,' and all such heartiness are now remembered by me, and thus I am overwhelmed."
  • "In those hours when His (Kṛṣṇa's) value was minimized, He, being the Supreme Soul, used to tolerate all those utterings of mine, excusing me exactly as a true friend excuses his true friend, or a father excuses his son."
  • "Generally both of us used to live together and sleep, sit and loiter together. And at the time of advertising oneself for acts of chivalry, sometimes, if there were any irregularity, I used to reproach Him by saying, 'My friend, You are very truthful.'"
  • "It was due to my lack of esteem for my Lord (Kṛṣṇa) that I (Arjuna) dared engage Him as my chariot driver, for He is worshiped and offered services by the best men to attain salvation."

The Divine Plan (Fate of the Dynasties)

Arjuna consoles Yudhiṣṭhira by explaining that the destruction of the Yadu dynasty and the withdrawal of Kṛṣṇa were all part of the Lord's supreme will. The Lord uses His own instruments to wind up His pastimes, just as a fire consumes the bamboo that created it. There is no cause for lamentation, for everything moves according to the sanction of the Supreme.

  • "O King, as in the ocean the bigger and stronger aquatics swallow up the smaller and weaker ones, so also the Supreme Personality of Godhead, to lighten the burden of the earth, has engaged the stronger Yadu to kill the weaker, and the bigger Yadu to kill the smaller."
  • "O King, since you have asked me about our friends and relatives in the city of Dvārakā, I will inform you that all of them were cursed by the brāhmaṇas, and as a result they all became intoxicated with wine made of putrefied rice and fought among themselves."
  • "Factually this is all due to the supreme will of the Lord, the Personality of Godhead. Sometimes people kill one another, and at other times they protect one another."
  • "Jarasandha, whose feet were worshiped by many kings. These kings had been brought for sacrifice in Jarasandha's Mahābhairava-yajña, but they were thus released. Later they paid tribute to Your Majesty."
  • "Your (Yudhiṣṭhira's) respectable younger brother, who possesses the strength of ten thousand elephants, killed, by His grace."

Interactions in the Tenth Canto (The Active Warrior)

The verses from the Tenth Canto show Arjuna in his active role as a kṣatriya and friend. Here, he exhibits the dutiful spirit of a king, vowing to protect the citizens and challenging the agents of death.

The Brahmin's Children (Challenging Death)

When a brāhmaṇa in Dvārakā accuses the King of failing to protect his children, Arjuna boldly vows to save the next child or enter fire. This demonstrates that a legitimate leader must ensure the safety of his subjects not just from enemies, but from all distresses. However, this episode ultimately teaches Arjuna that even the prowess of a Pāṇḍava is subordinate to the will of Lord Viṣṇu.

  • "When the ninth child died, Arjuna, who was near Lord Keśava, happened to overhear the brāhmaṇa lamenting. Thus Arjuna addressed the brāhmaṇa: 'What is the matter, my dear brāhmaṇa? Isn't there some lowly member of the royal order here who can at least stand before your house with a bow in his hand? These kṣatriyas are behaving as if they were brāhmaṇas idly engaged in fire sacrifices.'"
  • "The rulers of a kingdom in which brāhmaṇas lament over lost wealth, wives and children are merely imposters playing the role of kings just to earn their livelihood."
  • "My lord, I will protect the progeny of you and your wife, who are in such distress. And if I fail to keep this promise, I will enter fire to atone for my sin."
  • "Śrī Arjuna said: I am neither Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa, O brāhmaṇa, nor Lord Kṛṣṇa, nor even Kṛṣṇa's son. Rather, I am Arjuna, wielder of the Gāṇḍīva bow."
  • "Do not minimize my ability, which was good enough to satisfy Lord Śiva, O brāhmaṇa. I will bring back your sons, dear master, even if I have to defeat Death himself in battle."

Meeting Kālindī and Jarasandha

Arjuna accompanies Kṛṣṇa in meeting Kālindī (Yamunā) and also disguises himself as a brāhmaṇa to challenge Jarasandha. He speaks on the value of sacrificing the temporary body for permanent fame.

  • "[Arjuna said:] Who are you, O fine-waisted lady? Whose daughter are you, and where do you come from? What are you doing here? I think you must be looking for a husband. Please explain everything, O beautiful one."
  • "Kṛṣṇa, Arjuna and Bhīma said: O King, know us to be needy guests who have come to you from afar. We wish all good unto you. Please grant us whatever we desire."
  • "What can the tolerant not bear? What will the wicked not do? What will the generous not give in charity? And who will those of equal vision see as an outsider?"
  • "He indeed is to be censured and pitied who, though able to do so, fails to achieve with his temporary body the lasting fame glorified by great saints."
  • "Hariścandra, Rantideva, Uñchavṛtti Mudgala, Śibi, Bali, the legendary hunter and pigeon, and many others have attained the permanent by means of the impermanent."

The Final Refuge (Instruction and Prayer)

Ultimately, Arjuna finds peace not in lamentation, but in the instructions of the Bhagavad-gītā. He realizes that while the physical form of the Lord has left, His words remain as the eternal shelter for the burning heart. The solution to all material distress is not weapon or power, but transcendental knowledge.

The Gītā

Arjuna turns his mind to the battlefield instructions. The Bhagavad-gītā is not just a dialogue for a specific war; it is the timeless solution to the darkness of material existence.

  • "Now I (Arjuna) am attracted to those instructions imparted to me by the Personality of Godhead (Govinda) because they are impregnated with instructions for relieving the burning heart in all circumstances of time and space."

Prayers for Protection (Aśvatthāmā Incident)

In Canto 1, Chapter 7, Arjuna offers prayers recognizing Kṛṣṇa as the Absolute Truth who descends to protect His devotees. Faced with the brahmāstra weapon, he takes sole shelter of the Lord.

  • "O Lord of lords, how is it that this dangerous effulgence is spreading all around? Where does it come from? I (Arjuna) do not understand it."
  • "O my Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, You are the almighty Personality of Godhead. There is no limit to Your different energies. Therefore only You are competent to instill fearlessness in the hearts of Your devotees."
  • "You (Kṛṣṇa) are the original Personality of Godhead who expands Himself all over the creations and is transcendental to material energy. You have cast away the effects of the material energy by dint of Your spiritual potency."
  • "You (Kṛṣṇa) are always situated in eternal bliss and transcendental knowledge."
  • "You (Kṛṣṇa) descend as an incarnation to remove the burden of the world and to benefit Your friends, especially those who are Your exclusive devotees and are rapt in meditation upon You."
  • "Though You (Kṛṣṇa) are beyond the purview of the material energy, You execute the four principles of liberation characterized by religion and so on for the ultimate good of the conditioned souls."
  • "Everyone in the flames of material miseries can find the path of liberation in You (Kṛṣṇa)."
  • "When I (Arjuna) present you with the head of that brāhmaṇa, after beheading him with arrows from my Gāṇḍīva bow, I shall then wipe the tears from your eyes and pacify you. Then, after burning your sons' bodies, you can take your bath standing on his head."

Dive Deeper into Śrīla Prabhupāda's Vani

This article is a thematic compilation of the teachings presented in the Vaniquotes category Bhagavatam Verses Spoken by Arjuna. We invite you to visit the link to read the complete collection of verses presented in alphabetical order.

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