SVB #7

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Sutra 19. The foibles of Arjuna, the adored and intimate friend of Krishna,

foremost of believers, master of those who have conquered their senses,

were, for example, sympathy for, and attachment to relatives and fear of

killing them.

 

Even Arjuna had his personal and moral foibles, and these very foibles

became the basis for Krishna's acceptance of him. Arjuna had for example,

demonstrated puritanical harshness in rejecting the advances of the

love-struck Urvashi.

 

Sutra 20. In the opinion of Krishna, the main fault of Arjuna was the fact

that he was indifferent to the humiliation of Draupadi.

 

Arjuna and his four brothers sat silent while Draupadi was being humiliated

by Dushasana, who attempted to strip her naked in front of all the

assembled elders. She was saved by Krishna who increased her sari length;

Dushasana was exhausted before the saris were!

 

Sutra 21. Even though the Pandavas deserved to be destroyed, they were

permitted to live because of the sacred thread around the neck of Draupadi.

 

The sacred thread (mangala-sutra or tali) is the marriage token which

sanctifies Draupadi¹s marriage to the Pandavas. Krishna refrained from

destroying the Pandavas for their lack of defensive action at the time of

her public humiliation because He did not want to see Draupadi become a

widow.

 

Srirama Ramanujacharya