Arjuna In 'Bhagavad Kathma'
Knowledge is seeked by many, but there are obstacles that stop many from obtaining it. In the Bhagavad Gita, in teaching 13, Arjuna, a fearsome warrior, is at war. He is expected to fight in a war that kin is matched against kin in battle until the moment he sees his men. Then, he has second thoughts about the fighting. Arjuna is sad, confused, and stirred. Vishnu, his chariot driver, is really the great god Vishnu in disguised, is trying to persuade Arjuna to fight by offering him knowledge if he fights. According to Vishnu, Arjuna will become famous and well known and will obtain immortality if he chooses to go to war. Vishnu’s argument is wrong because to obtain knowledge you do not need to go to war, immortality is not only reached by
fighting. Arjuna should not go to war because knowledge is obtained in many ways, there are different types of popularity, and your achievements and name are immortal. Vishnu has offered Arjuna knowledge. Vishnu said, “Knowledge means humility, sincerity, nonviolence, patience, honesty, reverence, for one’s teacher, purity, stability, self restraint” (7). He said “nonviolence.” Arjuna should not fight because Vishnu is saying he is offering Arjuna non-violence, patience and self restraint which contradict the fact that he wants him to fight. By not fighting Arjuna will obtain all of the things being offered to him because, he would be acting in a non-violent manner. According to Vishnu’s definition of knowledge, Arjuna will obtain knowledge by not fighting. This writing is from the Hinduism religion, which believes the souls are immortal and imperishable, the reincarnation of souls. Vishnu offers Arjuna immortality, that he will be free of the process of reincarnation and rebirth. Arjuna does not need to fight to relive. If Arjuna believes in immortality and does not fight, he will gain immortality. His spirit or name can be immortal also. Arjuna can be immortal in other ways, he can decide not fight and people will remember him for being nonviolent. For example, Martin Luther King Jr. is still known today after so many years for using non-violent methods to defend people’s civil rights. He supported nonviolence. Arjuna’s name can be remembered in this way. Vishnu says “Just as one sun illumines this entire world, so the master of the field illumines the entire field” (33). Vishnu is trying to say that Arjuna will be known and famous in fighting but Arjuna can also be known for not fighting. People will praise him for not going to war. He has other choices. Arjuna can be famous with the knowledge he gets from not fighting. By not fighting he will be known in a good way but in the other hand, if he does fight, then he will be remembered in a negative way, as a killer and a savage monster. Families will remember him as the guy who caused the death of their father, uncle or son. You wouldn’t like the man who could have prevented the death of your father, a loved one. Arjuna would be known by hatred. Vishnu is trying to persuade Arjuna to fight by offering him many things. He tells Arjuna he will obtain knowledge, immortality and will become well known and remembered by the world. Arjuna shouldn’t fight because he can obtain knowledge in other ways, his name can be immortal and Arjuna can be known in a positive way by deciding not to go to war.
fighting. Arjuna should not go to war because knowledge is obtained in many ways, there are different types of popularity, and your achievements and name are immortal. Vishnu has offered Arjuna knowledge. Vishnu said, “Knowledge means humility, sincerity, nonviolence, patience, honesty, reverence, for one’s teacher, purity, stability, self restraint” (7). He said “nonviolence.” Arjuna should not fight because Vishnu is saying he is offering Arjuna non-violence, patience and self restraint which contradict the fact that he wants him to fight. By not fighting Arjuna will obtain all of the things being offered to him because, he would be acting in a non-violent manner. According to Vishnu’s definition of knowledge, Arjuna will obtain knowledge by not fighting. This writing is from the Hinduism religion, which believes the souls are immortal and imperishable, the reincarnation of souls. Vishnu offers Arjuna immortality, that he will be free of the process of reincarnation and rebirth. Arjuna does not need to fight to relive. If Arjuna believes in immortality and does not fight, he will gain immortality. His spirit or name can be immortal also. Arjuna can be immortal in other ways, he can decide not fight and people will remember him for being nonviolent. For example, Martin Luther King Jr. is still known today after so many years for using non-violent methods to defend people’s civil rights. He supported nonviolence. Arjuna’s name can be remembered in this way. Vishnu says “Just as one sun illumines this entire world, so the master of the field illumines the entire field” (33). Vishnu is trying to say that Arjuna will be known and famous in fighting but Arjuna can also be known for not fighting. People will praise him for not going to war. He has other choices. Arjuna can be famous with the knowledge he gets from not fighting. By not fighting he will be known in a good way but in the other hand, if he does fight, then he will be remembered in a negative way, as a killer and a savage monster. Families will remember him as the guy who caused the death of their father, uncle or son. You wouldn’t like the man who could have prevented the death of your father, a loved one. Arjuna would be known by hatred. Vishnu is trying to persuade Arjuna to fight by offering him many things. He tells Arjuna he will obtain knowledge, immortality and will become well known and remembered by the world. Arjuna shouldn’t fight because he can obtain knowledge in other ways, his name can be immortal and Arjuna can be known in a positive way by deciding not to go to war.