 he puts aside his bow. His actions express his intention: "I will not fight."The message of the Gita infuses Arjuna with clarity of vision and firmness of resolution, as evidenced in his concluding declaration: "I will do your will." (18.73)
It is significant that Arjuna doesn't conclude with the specific resolution: "I will fight." After hearing the profound wisdom of the Gita, his vision has been lifted far beyond the specific battlefield dilemma: "Should I fight or not?" That's why, though the Gita urges Arjuna to fight repeatedly in the initial chapters, the exhortations to fight become increasingly infrequent as its discussion becomes deeper and broader. The Gita's battlefield setting is certainly historical, not mythological. At the same time, it is, after all, the setting, not the substance.)
Based on Bhagavad Gita Chapter 01, Text 46
The genius of the Bhagavad-gitais that it takes a specific real-life situation, examines it philosophically and offers a universal pragmatic solution.
The Gita begins with Arjuna’s weak-hearted capitulation: at the end of the first chapter (1.46) he puts aside his bow. His actions express his intention: “I will not fight.”The message of the Gita infuses Arjuna with clarity of vision and firmness of resolution, as evidenced in his concluding declaration: “I will do your will.” (18.73)
It is significant that Arjuna doesn’t conclude with the specific resolution: “I will fight.” After hearing the profound wisdom of the Gita, his vision has been lifted far beyond the specific battlefield dilemma: “Should I fight or not?” That’s why, though the Gita urges Arjuna to fight repeatedly in the initial chapters, the exhortations to fight become increasingly infrequent as its discussion becomes deeper and broader. The Gita’s battlefield setting is certainly historical, not mythological. At the same time, it is, after all, the setting, not the substance.
