Chapter 2	The Eternal Reality of the Soul's Immortality	Verse 9

Sanskrit Vocals

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Rudra Vaisnava Sampradaya: Visnuswami Sridhara Swami's Commentary Anticipating a question after speaking thus in the previous verse, Arjuna finishes his lamentation with the words I shall not fight and then silently waits for the Supreme Lord's instructions.

Brahma Vaisnava Sampradaya: Madhvacarya There is no commentary for this verse.

Sri Vaisnava Sampradaya: Ramanuja Ramanuja's Commentary Arjuna was explaining: How can I slay respected and venerable teachers such as Bhishma and Drona? The pleasures of the kingdom they are ruling in our stead, how can I better enjoy by eliminating them? Pleasures and enjoyments dripping with their blood. Let it be that we prepared for war and then reconsidering abstained; or let the army of Dhritarastra put a violent end to us. It seems to me to be more honourable to be killed by those not knowing right or wrong, then an unjust victory obtained by our destroying them. After speaking thus, Arjuna most humbly and reverently approached the feet of Lord Krishna and appealed to Him asking: What is in my best interests to do? I am your disciple and surrendered to you. Please deign to instruct me. Understanding that Arjuna was in delusion due to inappropriate sentiments of compassion and friendship and finding him under the misconception in thinking that to fight a lawful ksatriya war was against the principles of righteousness and seeing that he was also sincerely desiring to know what was righteousness; the Supreme Personality, Lord Krishna, the possessor of all opulence, to dispel Arjunas delusion, imparted to him complete knowledge of the soul and then he instructed him in karmas or performance of action as a matter of duty without any desire for fruitive results which in itself constitutes the means of self-realisation and thus in this manner Srimad Bhagavad-Gita was introduced for the benefit of all living entities by the mercy of the Supreme Lord Krishna. It was to this precise verse that Sri Yamunacarya the guru of Ramanuja paid tribute to in the fifth stanza of his composition Gitartha-Sangraha which is given below: Bhagavad-Gita spoke to Arjun whose refuge he indeed sought, Fearing what was right or wrong by misplaced love and pity fraught.

Kumara Vaisnava Sampradaya: Nimbaditya Kesava Kasmiri's Commentary Dhritarastra expectancy to know what happenned next was answered by Sanjaya saying that Arjuna who could control sleep spoke to Lord Krishna the controller of the senses saying he would not fight. Lord Krishna the omnipotent, omniscient, originator of the Vedas and the worshippable Supreme Lord spoken of in the Udyoga Parva of the Mahabharata as Govinda, the one who knows everything in all respects according to the words of the Vedas. Also in the Harivamsa the sages have stated that verily the cow is called go and elaborating further they address Lord Krishna as Govinda or He who protects the cows and He who attracts everyones senses.

Verse 9