SB 1.15.5 "Arjuna said : O King! The Supreme Personality of Godhead Hari,
who treated me exactly like an intimate friend, has left me alone. Thus my astounding power, which astonished
even the demigods, is no longer with me."
 |
| Arjun remembering Krishna after His departure |
When Krishna decides to
leave the planet, Arjuna is left deeply
aggrieved by a sentiment of separation.
Coming back from Dvaraka he speaks to Yudhisthira the pains of his heart
now that his dearest friend has left. Krishna
has always enhanced the glories of his devotee and friend and now Arjuna
reveals how Krishna was glorious in causing and facilitating all his victories,
as he had not that power and ability without his friendship.
Four principles of
friendship - 1) Trust; 2) knowledge about the friend; 3) to concede, ability to give out
one's opinions and position to comply with friend's; 4) Opening one's heart are imbued in this
poetry,as Arjuna speaks about his friendship with Krishna so that one can be
inspired in cultivating the devotional service's anga -to become friend with
Krishna - in the most personal and desirable way that Krishna appreciates and
enjoys.
This is independently of
the eternal sakhya-rasa, because friendship is developed during sadhana bhakti
is based on respect.
The beauty of this
passage in the Bhagavatam is the unveiling of the sakhya rasa of Arjuna in a
time of separation revealing all the depth of his loving relationship with
Krishna, which in Bhagavad Gita is presented veiled by the dasya mood.
Four reasons for which Arjuna trusts his friend Krishna completely : SBB 5.69-70 "No one is dearer to
me than the Supreme Brahman, Krsna, with His all-enchanting beautiful
form. He has given Himself to me, who
have complete faith in Him. He is the reservoir of pure unconditional mercy,
the upholder of His word, the best of well-wishing friends, the omnipotent Lord
of all."
If you ask me,
to my grieved
soul
to remember
His words
might be
calming,
might console,
but would
carry more tears
to my longing
heart
as scent wafted in a breeze ~
He has left
me...
I have no
power,
the universe
is empty
and this world
unattractive,
repulsive and without joy, (1)
vain and
lifeless,
His absence
causes me, a warrior,
to be powerless,
also my
chariot and horse
my bow and
weapons
have also lost their
force;
His shelter
made me fearless,
to conquer the
celestial King,
because of
Him, I could sit
on the heavenly
throne
and by His
power I received
weapons from
the gods
and became
undefeatable
as I consented
to His divine
words;
from He only
came
the strength
to revenge
the untied
hair of Panchali, the Queen,
as even against
my teachers and relatives,
only due to
Him could I defeat
so many wicked
but mighty kings;
He gave me
prowess
by
sitting as my charioteer,
to fight an
ocean-wide army
and He made me
victorious ~ by tricks
since it was
He ... not me,
nor my hand
nor my bow
but His glance
to deprive
formidable
warriors of their mind
and their
ability to fight.
Recalling His
joking words,
the feeling of
His arms,
His eloquence,
His splendid smile,
the charm of
His sweet voice
and sweet ways
...
calling me
with the sweetest names
"O Joy", "O Friend" (2)
touches my
heart again and again;
within my
memories
I melt into
that intimacy
when together
we ate or slept
walked, talked
and sat,
and amiable ~
He,
reciprocating
with my devotion
and
friendship,
also eager to
fulfill
my desire to probe
into His unsaid
love,
took me into the hidden abode (3)
of the ways of
His heart.
O Brother,
no kingdom or
wealth
can ever bathe
my heart
in that
happiness;
so I sing to
my self
to my heart in
separation
the secret song of His love. (4)
1)
This repulsion is born of Arjuna's seeing the absence of Krishna, not by seeing
the transformation of Maya which can be a jnani vision still on the materialistic platform. This is an expression of transcendental rasa.
2)
SD 1.15.18 "he partha he 'rjuna sakhe kuru-nandaneti"
Kuru-nandaneti
is translated as "Joy of the Kuru". The poet took a poetic license
and just used the word "Joy".
3)
NVM Vol.IV pg.47 (in short the story of Arjuniya) "O
Krsna! If You truly accept me as a faithful and intimate friend, tell me
something of Your beloved gopis that You have not disclosed to anyone else.... Krsna
raised His eyebrow and gently nodded....Please tell me of the various kinds of
gopis their names, where they live, how they dress, what their ages are and how
You exchange loving pastimes with them."
"...the Lord embraced His friend and replied, "What you have
asked for cannot be explained in words.
One must partake of it directly, in a body fit for the task." "Thrice Arjuna fully submerged himself
and then came out of the water, .....Bending over the surface of the lake,
Arjuna gazed in wonder at his reflection...a beautiful young gopi...-to be
known as Arjuniya."
4)
SD 1.5.30 Comm. "Most
confidential scripture (sastra-guhyatamam)
is pure bhakti, which was given to
Uddhava and Brahma in the Bhagavatam
and to Arjuna in the Gita by the Lord."
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