Chapter 1: Arjuna Viṣhāda Yoga – Transforming Grief into Yoga / Verse 46

Arjuna’s sincerity is unquestionable. His mind does not consent to fighting at all. As long as inner turbulence is there, how can one fight? Delusion gives rise to fear and both intimidate him gravely.

Stating all that he has known and heard in the matter, he repeats his resolve not to fight, but court death, if that be, standing unarmed and unresisting before the enemies. Naturally, enemy’s arrows will hit him and the prāṇas will leave his body! He feels, that will be more for his welfare than committing the great sin. How much of dispassion and determination are needed to announce such a resolve!

Though he did think in all earnestness that he would fight fiercely and had reinforced himself for the great war, the facts and the moral compulsions staring at him are totally contrary. And he is unable to dismiss them outright.

The only way is to stand in the battlefield totally defenceless, and allow the enemy’s shafts to hit him. That would still be the better option, he says.