Team Of Universe – In Gita Verse 1.20 At that time Arjuna, the son of Pāṇḍu, seated in the chariot bearing the flag marked with Hanumān, took up his bow and prepared to shoot his arrows. O King, after looking at the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra drawn in military array, Arjuna then spoke to Lord Kṛṣṇa these words.
At the time of engaging in the battle, Arjuna, upon observing the soldiers of Dhritarashtra’s side assembled for war, took up his bow and conveyed his thoughts to Lord Krishna.
The Pandavas undertook their preparations with utmost vigilance. The flag marked with Hanumān symbolised a declaration akin to Hanumān, who, through his alertness and freedom, became a representative and servant of Rama. Similarly, Arjuna, seated in the chariot bearing the flag marked with Hanumān, proclaimed that through his own freedom and alertness, he was a representative and servant of the Existence. He vowed to execute the orders of the Existence, prioritising them above all else.
Our preparations and the environment we create speak volumes before we act. Through the ambiance of our objective world, we send a message to others about how they should interact with us.
By signalling that he was a representative and servant of Existence, Arjuna made it clear that only those who wished to align themselves with this higher purpose could join them. The Pandava team’s objective was unequivocal: they would fight the war as a cohesive unit, with no room for individual agendas. They were not just an army but a team aligned with the Universal Will, participating as an extension of it.
In contrast, the Kauravas conveyed that Duryodhana’s will was of paramount importance, and anyone with a personal agenda was also welcome. This approach stemmed from Duryodhana’s mental laziness, as discussed in my blog on Bhagavad Gita Verse 1.8. Mentally lazy individuals tend to shirk responsibility, preferring to offload it onto others. Duryodhana believed that those who joined his side out of personal vendettas would take care of certain tasks, thereby reducing his own burden.
We often seek shortcuts to fulfil our responsibilities and achieve our goals, but there are no shortcuts in life. True progress requires the courage to wait and resist the temptation of easy solutions. Life’s growth comes through arduous struggle; it cannot be attained cheaply. Anything that is easily gained cannot help us achieve our true objectives.
The Universe operates on its own timeline, never in a hurry. While the mind is always rushing, the Universe waits patiently, as it is eternal. The mind perceives time as limited and valuable, equating it to money, whereas the Universe values experience over time. Life can wait indefinitely, but the mind, aware of its mortality, cannot.
The mind’s tendency to seek shortcuts often leads to the creation of illusions, making us believe we have achieved our desires prematurely. This can result in a neurotic state of being.
If one decides to align with the assignments of the Universe and avoid shortcuts, they must learn to navigate the challenges, much like a rose growing amidst thorns.
The Pandavas never sought shortcuts or shifted responsibility onto others. They focused on aligning with the Universe and fulfilling its assignments, regardless of the circumstances. They viewed every situation as an opportunity to align with the Universal Will.
In this verse, Arjuna’s act of taking up his bow and preparing to shoot, followed by his hesitation upon seeing the sons of Dhritarashtra, indicates his internal conflict. His hesitation reveals a deeper introspection. Unlike superficial individuals who act without hesitation, Arjuna’s pause signifies a thoughtful consideration of life’s complexities. Hesitation arises from deep within and is significant, indicating a holistic view of life.
Hesitation is a crucial transitional stage at the beginning of any journey. It is only after experiencing hesitation that one can transcend it. There are two ways to move beyond hesitation: by fully accepting one side of the truth, thereby eliminating doubt.
Arjuna’s hesitation upon seeing the sons of Dhritarashtra arranged for battle stemmed from his doubts and questions, which he brought to Krishna rather than reconciling within himself. Had he resolved his desires and will internally, he would have been assertive and immediately engaged in combat. His decision to speak to Krishna demonstrated his willingness to wait and not rush into action.
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