The Arjuna Attitude

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AUM SAI RAM!

 

"Arjuna was the brother-in-law of Krishna;he was a close companion and even

a chum of the Lord,for many decades! Krishna,remember,was 84 years old,at

time of the Kurukshethra battle,when He saved Arjuna as a non-combatant

charioteer! But,yet, it was only on that battlefield that the Message of the

Bhagavath Geetha was imparted to him! Why? Arjuna developed the requisite

attitude for the reception and retention of the Message only then.

 

First Arjuna was puzzled about his duty and was tremendously anxious to get

light thrown upon it. He was torn between two paths and in spite of all his

discrimination and detachment he was at a loss to discover what his 'dharma'

was.

 

Second,he surrendered his judgement to God and declared out of the deepest

recesses of his heart,in indescribable agony: "I am your disciple;I dedicate

my entire being to your Will;tell me what to do and I shall obey."

 

Arjuna is also called 'Paartha'-a name applicable to all men for it is

derived from'prithivi'(earth).It means earthly,earthborn.So, this situation

is a reminder to every man on earth.If only you cultivate a deep yearning

for guidance about your appropriate'dharma' and if only you surrender your

will,intellect,your emotions,your impulses to God,He will lead you to

Himself and endow you with Supreme Bliss.

 

Thirdly,Arjuna was overcome by LOVE,though it took on the colour of egoism

and delusion. He felt that it was wrong and useless to kill his kinsmen ,to

plunge the land in misery ,to slaughter the armies ranged against him.He

preferred a life sustained on alms to ruling over an empire won by the

sword.This compassion,though misplaced and based on an unreal sense of

values,had its appeal to the Lord,who resolved to transmue it into the

renunciation of the attachment to the deed and the fruits of the deed.

 

Every deed must take man nearer to the goal; it must be a step in the

pilgrimage to God.It must cleanse the emotions,correct the attitude,clarify

the path and co-operate in the consummation. This has to be the constant

care and vigilance of every seeker and aspirant to Bliss!"( Extract from

Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba Discourse- Prasanthi Nilayam- July 1970).

 

at the lotus feet of SAI,

anita