Arjuna's Great Hesitation at Kurukshetra

The conches had been sounded, signaling the start of the catastrophic war of Kurukshetra. Facing one another were brothers, uncles, revered teachers, and lifelong friends.

Arjuna, standard-bearer of the Pandavas, turned to his charioteer, Lord Sri Krishna: "O Infallible One, please draw my chariot between the two armies so that I may see who stands here eager for battle."

Krishna steered the magnificent white-horsed chariot into the middle ground between the clashing hosts, right in front of Bhishma, Dronacharya, and the royal princes. "Behold, O Partha, the assembled Kurus," Krishna said softly.

As Arjuna gazed upon grandfathers who had cradled him as an infant, teachers who had taught him archery, and cousins with whom he had played, a profound trembling seized his limbs. His mouth went dry, his hair stood on end, and his famed Gandiva bow slipped from his trembling hands.

"O Krishna," cried Arjuna with tears streaming down his face, "how can I shoot arrows in battle at Bhishma and Drona, who are worthy of my deepest worship? I see no good arising from slaying my own kinsmen in battle. Better to live on alms in the forest than to enjoy kingdoms stained with the blood of elders!"

Overwhelmed by deep emotional distress and moral paralysis, Arjuna sank down upon the chariot seat, declaring: "I shall not fight, O Govinda!"

It was in this moment of supreme human vulnerability that Lord Krishna smiled gently and began the eternal discourse of the Bhagavad Gita, awakening Arjuna from sentimental weakness to transcendental duty and cosmic wisdom.