Lord Krishna is addressed as isam idyam the most adorable Lord and is humbly entreated to be merciful and compassionate. How is He being entreated? The phrase pranidhaya kayam which means falling flat like a stick when prostrating oneself answers this question. By Arjuna supplicating himself in total surrender warrants Lord Krishna to forgive him and excuse his offenses. In what way should Lord Krishna forgive the offences? As a father forgives the offences made by a son, or as a friend tolerates the mistakes of another friend or as a lover excuses the fault of a beloved. In all these ways Lord Krishna is being earnestly beseeched to forgive as well.

As in reality the Supreme Lord Krishna is the father of all, the best friend of all and the most beloved of all, being the most exalted He possesses most fully the qualities of mercy, compassion, kindness and other virtues. Thinking in this way Arjuna prostrates the full length of his body upon the ground in humble supplication beseeching the Supreme Lord to smile upon him in benevolent grace. Although the son may make an indiscretion the father may condemn, still the father will reconcile himself to him. Although a friend has defects another friend will magnanimously overlook them. Although the beloved is sometimes contrary the lover will not hold this against the beloved when asked to be forgiven. As harmony and benignity is normally established as a result of humble supplication, Arjuna is imploring the Supreme Lord to be merciful, magnanimous and forgiving.

Since the Supreme Lord Krishna is the highest object of adoration and attainment beyond comparison to anything else it is natural that Arjuna seeking to propitiate Him would prostrate his full body upon the ground in supplication. The Supreme Lord who is worthy of all praise and honour from everyone. Who has equanimity towards all. Who is the complete refuge of everyone is being humbly beseeched by Arjuna to mercifully forgive any offences he may have incurred exactly like a father, a friend or a lover mercifully forgives the faults of a son, another friend and the beloved respectively. The word arhasi means be merciful and the word sodhum means forgive.