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This is utterly inconceivable. It was not out of fear that Arjuna was
turning away from the battle. He was a great warrior, who had proved his valour on a hundred
fields. When Uttara's cattle were carried off, he routed Bhishma, Drona and
Karna single handed. He was known as the undefeated, as the one true man among men.
Heroism was in every drop of his blood, in the very marrow of his bones.
In order to rouse his feeling
and goad him to action, Krishna Himself attributed cowardice to him,
but this missed the mark. Then he had to change His tactics and give
a discourse on ultimate wisdom and immediate knowledge. So then it is
clear that the aim of the Gita is not anything so easy and simple as
removing cowardice.
8. Still others say that the Gita is
meant to cure Arjuna of his scruples based on non-violence and make him
inclined to fight. In my opinion this view also is not right. In order to examine this
thoroughly, we have first to see the stand taken by Arjuna. To do this,
the First Chapter and its continuation in the Second will help us greatly.
Arjuna stood in the field of battle with his mind made up, and sustained by a sense of duty.
Fighting, the calling
of the Kshatriyas, was in his very nature. All possible attempts had been
made to avoid war, but they had not succeeded. They had pitched their
claims at the lowest, and Sri Krishna himself had tried to mediate; but all in
vain.
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