Chapter 1 Shloka 14

तत: श्वेतैर्हयैर्युक्ते महति स्यन्दने स्थितौ।

माधव: पाण्डवश्चैव दिव्यौ शंखौ प्रदध्मतु:।।१४।।

Then, seated in a grand chariot

drawn by white horses,

Lord Krishna and Arjuna blew their divine conches.

Chapter 1 Shloka 14

तत: श्वेतैर्हयैर्युक्ते महति स्यन्दने स्थितौ।

माधव: पाण्डवश्चैव दिव्यौ शंखौ प्रदध्मतु:।।१४।।

Then, seated in a grand chariot drawn by white horses, Lord Krishna and Arjuna blew their divine conches.

If the attachment of the mind is with the Truth, then bhavana dons the form of the Medhavi – the pure intellect of wisdom.

Attachment with the Truth indicates:

a) an attachment with the Supreme Essence;

b) an attraction towards the divine qualities;

c) a bond with the Essence of Lord Krishna and allegiance to the qualities of the Lord;

d) sincerity solely towards the Lord and a will to live only for the discharge of one’s duty towards the divine qualities.

Attachment to the Truth translated into daily living:

a) He who loves divine qualities will love all because his attachment is with love – not with any individual.

b) He will be just with all because he cherishes justice without any personal considerations.

c) He who treasures the attribute of forgiveness will forgive all, even those who trespass against him.

d) He who loves those who care for the needy will inevitably become a benefactor of the destitute himself.

e) Love of divine qualities leads to the possession of divine qualities.

The Lord Himself is the charioteer and companion of such a one.

Purpose of the Lord’s birth

1. For the protection of the sadhu invested with divine qualities.

2. To protect the qualities of the Supreme in these worshippers of righteousness.

3. To give practical proof of how divine qualities are nurtured in ordinary day to day living.

4. To demonstrate in practice the fine distinction between the swaroop and the roop of divinity: the quintessence of divinity, and its form in practice.

Lord Krishna now begins to reveal to Arjuna – the epitome of divine qualities – the method of bringing the qualities of the Supreme into practice.

If a basic love for Truth exists, an individual takes the support of the Lord and of the Scriptures. He moulds his intellect and subsequently his practical life in accordance with scriptural tenets. His life becomes an example of the scriptural way of life and the manifest form of knowledge, and ultimately he merges in the Lord.

Lord Krishna’s proclamation

Lord Krishna was the first to blow the conch from the Pandavas’ side. Thus, the Embodiment of Dharma, the most Supreme Being amongst all men personifying the Guru Himself, proclaimed war on Arjuna’s behalf. Now Arjuna, too, blew his conch. Blowing the conch on behalf of the Pandavas, Lord Krishna:

a) proclaimed His sympathy with the Pandavas;

b) declared His support for the followers of righteousness;

c) revealed His intention to side with divinity;

d) proclaimed His decision to protect His friend Arjuna’s honour and be true to His friendship;

e) announced His protection for those who sought refuge in Him;

f)  made public his intention of giving proof of Dharma in practice;

g) announced His decision to seize the hand of a follower on the path of righteousness – Shreya path, and guide him.

The Lord blew this conch to ensure the victory of the devtas or those imbued with divine attributes. He also declared thus His commitment to protect the virtuous traits of sadhus.

Arjuna’s declaration of war

Then Arjuna, endowed with divine qualities, blew his conch.

1. He who had ever forgiven his enemy, now declared war.

2. The Pandavas who were free of deceit, wile and enmity, declared war.

3. The magnanimous at heart – the great yet humble ones, proclaimed war.

4. The devtas now urged their opponents, the asuras, to war.

5. Those powerful beings who had hitherto conducted themselves meekly and submissively, now challenged Duryodhana to war.

6. They who had so far endured all travails with a smile, now sought to end their sorrows and so proclaimed war.

A sadhak’s perspective

Such is the internal dilemma of a sadhak. Such is  his internal state. The Lord is Himself holding the hand of the seeker and urging him to fight. It is right for him to kill the wicked and their supporters; it is correct to oppose the perpetrators of atrocities even though no personal gain may be involved.

Lord Krishna became Arjuna’s charioteer

Lord Krishna had pronounced, “I will not fight. I will not lift up arms.”

1. It is the seeker who has to fight. The Lord only suggests the strategy.

2. The Lord can show the path, but it is the seeker who has to learn to fight and win the battle of life.

3. The Lord endows knowledge but the seeker must apply his courage and strength.

4. The credit of accomplishment will ultimately go to the seeker who must conduct his actions with courage, intelligence and forbearance.

Lord Krishna’s divinity

My little Abha! The union of the Lord and Arjuna is extraordinary:

a) It is extraordinary for the Lord to enter the battlefield without weapons.

b) His decision to abstain from fighting is also exceptional.

c) His decision to become Arjuna’s charioteer is incredible.

d) It was unbelievable that the brave, fearless and powerful Pandavas could propose a treaty in which they sought merely five villages from Duryodhana.

e) Such a war between the devtas and the asuras is also unique.

f)  That those endowed with divine qualities were prepared to embark on a fearful war is an unusual event.