devotees not attached to bodily relationship

February 12, 2003

Ashokamrita Prabhu wrote:

"It appears healthy attachment to one's kins is natural."

BVS: Yes; like that of Arjuna after his son's death, as described by Srila

Prabhupada. (See below)

Indian man (2): Well, let me put it another way. In the Bhagavad-gita is

there a passage, is there a chapter where Arjuna says, "I have heard all

Your teachings. Now I have understood the truth," or not?

Prabhupada: So you have to hear and you have to understand; then you can

speak. Otherwise you will speak ridiculously.

Indian man (2): No. Arjuna has said that he has heard God Himself speak to

him and that he has understood the truth and that we are all, as you have

said, a little bit of a finger in a body and the finger must serve the body.

Prabhupada: So you have to approach such person who has heard God, just like

Arjuna.

Indian man (2): The next day he goes on the battlefield and he hears that

his son has been killed. He loses all his self-control and he said, "I am

going to throw myself in the fire. I have lost my son." Is that the action

of a man who has heard God Himself speak to him? This is what I want to ask.

Prabhupada: You mean to say Arjuna? What is your statement? You mean to say

Arjuna?

Indian man (2): Yes.

Prabhupada: So Arjuna, he... Of course, sentiment... Just like theoretically

we understand, na hanyate hanyamane sarire [bg. 2.20]. Still, when my son

dies I become affected. That is temporary. That is temporary. But Arjuna,

after hearing Bhagavad-gita, Krsna gave him the liberty that "Now I have

spoken to you everything. Now whatever you..." [break] ...under certain

circumstances. But if your conviction is that "I shall act according to the

order of God," that is final. That is final. He did not act against the will

of the Lord. That is his victory. Temporarily he might have been disturbed

when his son was killed. That is a different thing. Everyone becomes. But

that does not mean he stopped work. That is wanted. What was the final

conclusion? He did not leave the warfield because his son Abhimanyu was

killed; therefore he left -- "No, I don't want to fight"? No, he did not do

that. He was affected for the time being. That is natural. But finally he

concluded and he said, "Yes," karisye vacanam tava [bg. 18.73]. Nasto mohah

smrtir labdha: "My illusion is now over. I shall fight." That is right

conclusion.

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.2.6 -- Mauritius, October 5, 1975

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