Vaisnavism is not Cowardism Srila Prabhupadas Bhagavad Gita Class-3/07/12 London, Bhagavad-gita 1.10

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" Vaisnavism is not Cowardism "

 

3/07/12 London, Bhagavad-gita 1.10

 

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Pradyumna: " Translation: There are the mighty Yudhamanyu, the very

powerful Uttamauja, the son of Subhadra and the sons of Draupadi. All these

warriors are great chariot fighters. "

 

asmakam tu visista ye

tan nibodha dvijottama

nayaka mama sainyasya

samjnartham tan bravimi te

[bg. 1.7]

 

" Translation: O best of the brahmanas, for your information, let me tell

you about the captains who are especially qualified to lead my military force. "

 

Prabhupada: So formerly, five thousand years ago, the same system,

military -- ordinary soldiers, then the captain, then the commander, the

commander-in-chief -- as there are gradations in the modern age, the same thing

was there. But maha-ratha, they had good qualification. Maha-ratha means alone

he could fight with many other charioteers. They are called ati-ratha,

maha-ratha. There are different grades of fighters.

 

So, so far Pandavas are concerned, their son. Saubhadra... Saubhadra means

Abhimanyu, Subhadra's son. Because he was Subhadra's son, his name was

Saubhadra. Draupadi's sons, they are called Draupadeya. In Sanskrit, just like

bhagini, sister, bhagini, her son is called bhagineya, nephews. So there is

link. As soon as we speak Saubhadra, that means Subhadra's son. Subhadra's son,

he was only sixteen years old at that time. He was married with Uttara, the

daughter of Maharaja Virata. So they were all maha-rathas, ordinary, not

ordinary fighters. This Abhimanyu was killed by conspiracy by seven

commander-in-chief. Bhisma, Karna, Dronacarya, Asvatthama, they all surrounded

him, and they did not allow him to come out. They were very experienced

commanders. So this is ksatriya spirit. He was simply a boy, sixteen years old

and he had to be killed by the combined efforts of very, very, big

commander-in-chiefs. He was so great fighter, Abhimanyu. Abhimanyu-vada (?). So

Saubhadra, Draupadi... Similarly, Draupadi's sons also there. Sarva eva

maha-rathah. Maha-ratha means one who could fight with one thousand chariots on

the other side. They were called maha-rathah.

 

Then Duryodhana, first of all he pointed out the military strength of the

opposite side. This is intelligence. One should take calculation of the opposing

elements or the enemy's side. In fighting the first thing is to take estimation

of the enemy's side, how much they are strong, how they have arranged. Then one

should calculate how to counteract, how to fight with them, this is

intelligence. Without taking any calculation of the other side, if you are not

prepared, then how you can become victorious? This is sane proposal, that is,

upayan cintayet prajno apayan ca cintayet.. A prajna, an intelligent man, not

only think of the bright side on this business, or this fight, or this any...,

so many things we have to deal with. Simply we should not calculate the brighter

side. There is darker side also. We should always think, " If there is some

thief, if there is some rogue, they cheat us, then what precaution I am going to

take? " This is intelligence. If I simply calculate that " In this business I will

make so much profit. " In the meantime, somebody comes and cheats me and go away,

then... Therefore upayan cintayet prajna apayan ca cintayet. Darker side also

should be thought of. That is intelligence. Just like they are doing. After

calculating the darker side -- enemy means darker side -- they can defeat me at

any moment. That is darker side.

 

So after calculating their strength, then Duryodhana is speaking about his

own strength, asmakam tu visista ye. Visista, not to speak of the ordinary

soldiers. They're visista. Visista means who are specifically to be mentioned,

high officers. Asmakam tu visista ye tan nibodha dvijottama. He was in

commander-in-chief. For eighteen days there was fight, and one after another, a

commander-in-chief was killed. And sixty-four crores of men were killed in the

Battlefield of Kuruksetra. And the battle was finished within eighteen days, not

lingering for some years. No. Fight to the best capacity and finish the

business.

 

So everyone, both the sides, Pandava's side and Kaurava's side, all were

killed. This Saubhadra, Draupadeya, everyone was killed. And the other side

also. Only the five brothers they remained, and the one grandchild who was in

the womb of the mother, he remained. Otherwise everyone was finished within

eighteen days. Such a great fight it was. And people from all parts of the

world, they joined the Battle of Kuruksetra.

 

Somebody was criticizing me that " Swamiji, you are introducing this Hare

Krsna movement. People are becoming coward. They simply chant Hare Krsna. " So I

replied that " You will see the power of Hare Krsna movement in due course of

time. " He required... Because there were two battles in India: the battle

between Ravana and Rama, Rama-Ravana, the battle of Ramayana; and another battle

was Battle of Kuruksetra. And in these two battles the hero was Vaisnava and

Visnu. In the Rama-Ravana battle Lord Ramacandra was there and His devotee

Hanuman, Vajrangaji. Similarly, in the Battlefield of Kuruksetra, Krsna was

there and His devotee Arjuna was there. So Vaisnavas, they do not simply chant

Hare Krsna. If there is need, they can fight under the guidance of Visnu and

become victorious. A Vaisnava's one qualification is... Out of the twenty-six

qualifications, one qualification is daksa, expert. If there is need of

fighting, they can fight like very expert. That is also needed. Krsna

consciousness does not mean one-sided. Krsna as all-pervading, the Krsna

consciousness movement also should be all-pervading. It should touch everything,

even politics, sociology, everything, if required. That is the aim. Because

Krsna's mission is: yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati bharata [bg. 4.7],

paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca duskrtam [bg. 4.8]. There is two mission: not

only to give protection to the devotees, but also to kill the demons. To kill

the demons, that is one side. So the devotees of Krsna should be trained up both

ways: not only to give protection to the devotees, to give them encouragement,

but if need be, they should be prepared to kill the demons. That is Vaisnavism.

It is not cowardism. It is not cowardism. When need be. Generally, a Vaisnava is

non-violent. Just like Arjuna. In the beginning he was non-violent, Vaisnava. He

said, " Krsna, what is the use of this fighting? Let them enjoy. " So by nature he

was non-violent, but he was induced by Krsna to become violent, that " Your

non-violence will not help. You become violent. You kill them. I want. " So if

Krsna wants we shall be prepared to become violent also. And Krsna, that is open

secret, that paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca duskrtam [bg. 4.8]. Two business

of Krsna, two side. So those who are devotees of Krsna, they should be trained

up both ways, they should be prepared. But generally, there is no question of

becoming violent, unnecessarily. As the modern politicians, unnecessarily they

declare war, a Vaisnava does not do so. No, unnecessarily, there is no need of

war. When it was completely impossible to settle up the things between the

Pandavas and the Kauravas, then Krsna said, " All right, then there must be

fight. " When Duryodhana declined to spare even a portion of land holding the

sucyagra, the point of a needle... he refused that " I cannot spare even so much

land which can hold the point of a needle. " Then the war was declared. There is

no question of settlement. Otherwise, Krsna requested that " These five Pandavas,

they are ksatriyas. They cannot become merchant or brahmana. Brahmana's

profession is pathana pathana yajana yajana dana pratigrahah. Brahmana can take

charity from others. A sannyasi can take charity from others. Not a ksatriya or

a grhastha. No. That is not allowed. " So they are ksatriyas; they cannot take

the professions of a brahmana, neither they can take the profession of a

mercantile man, business man. They must have some land so that rule over, take

taxation. And that is their living means.

 

So spare only five villages to these five brothers and settle up. " But

Duryodhana replied, " No, Sir. What to speak of five villages, we cannot spare

even so much land which can hold the point of needle. " Then the war was

declared. So Vaisnava, they are non-violent. But if need be, they can become

violent for Krsna's sake. This is the Battle of Kuruksetra. So any more? Or end

here? All right, end here. Chant Hare Krsna. (End)

 

 

>>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 1.10 -- London, July 12, 1973

 

 

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© 2001 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with permission.