Krishna Relating to the Question of Arjuna

2019-01-19
Srimad Bhagavatam 11.16.07-09 - Krishna Relating to the Question of Arjuna (download mp3)
by Gaura Hari Prabhu at ISKCON Chowpatty
www.iskcondesiretree.com

SB 11.16.7

jñatva jñati-vadham garhyam

 adharmam rajya-hetukam

tato nivrtto hantaham

 hato ’yam iti laukikah

Translation:

On the Battlefield of Kuruksetra Arjuna thought that killing his relatives would be an abominable, irreligious activity, motivated only by his desire to acquire a kingdom. He therefore desisted from the battle, thinking, “I would be the killer of my relatives. They would be destroyed.” Thus Arjuna was afflicted with mundane consciousness.

Purport:

Lord Krsna here explains to Uddhava the circumstances in which Sri Arjuna posed his questions.

SB 11.16.8

sa tada purusa-vyaghro

 yuktya me pratibodhitah

abhyabhasata mam evam

 yatha tvam rana-murdhani

Translation:

At that time I enlightened Arjuna, the tiger among men, with logical arguments, and thus in the front of the battle Arjuna addressed Me with questions in the same way that you are now inquiring.

SB 11.16.9

aham atmoddhavamisam

 bhutanam suhrd isvarah

aham sarvani bhutani

 tesam sthity-udbhavapyayah

Translation:

My dear Uddhava, I am the Supersoul of all living entities, and therefore I am naturally their well-wisher and supreme controller. Being the creator, maintainer and annihilator of all entities, I am not different from them.

Purport:

Srila Sridhara Svami points out that the Personality of Godhead maintains an ablative and genitive relationship with His opulences. In other words, the Lord is not different from all living entities, because they are coming from Him and they belong to Him. The Lord gave a similar explanation to Arjuna in the Tenth Chapter of Bhagavad-gita (10.20), beginning with the same words, aham atma. Although the Lord describes His external, or material, opulences, the Lord’s position is always transcendental and nonmaterial. Just as the living soul within the body gives life to the body, similarly, the Lord, by His supreme potency, gives life to all universal opulences.