When Arjuna was on the battlefield of Kuruksetra , a war that was fought on many fronts , Sadaputa prabhu , one of the original members of the Bhaktivedanta institute , mentioned there were millions of soldiers within a limited area , so it appeared to be a kind of universal war involving many demigods and demons from other regions . Anyhow , the beginnings of the Bhagavad Gita tell how Arjuna initially was not prepared to fight. The early parts of the Bhagavad Gita explore his arguments , so one can carefully read of why he did not want to fight and for  seemingly good reasons , and importantly one can read how Krishna instructed Arjuna on all of his concerns.

Arjuna became bewildered because he had to, and rightly so , consider every type of moral and ethical behaviours as well as Vedic Sattvic Dharma , as a good warrior does .  A good soldier is not a cold, ruthless killer . Certainly, soldiers are absolutely forbidden to kill women and children or any citizens , which is condemned by universal laws and reactions will be had long into the futures. Legitimate warfare is a tricky business to contemplate and enact, and many considerations should be made . Arjuna turned to Krishna , the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and submitted himself to Him because Arjuna was confused. He asked Krishna what he should do in the circumstances and what would be the right course of action for him  . Arjuna , importantly, and  obviously had initial faith that Krishna would give him good advice . Authorities must have a  proven source of knowledge. The sentiments and mental energies of an individual are no authority.

At the point where Arjuna turned to Krishna and submitted himself in honesty and with humility, Krishna took up the position as Arjuna’s spiritual Guru . He thus  chastised Arjuna calling him Mudha , a fool , for thinking he was speaking learned words in his giving the reasons why he had not been prepared to fight . Krishna began to  point out Arjuna’s lack of real knowledge both materially , in his Dharmic considerations , and spiritually  in terms of what the consciousness is , ie an eternal energy completely seperate from matter in all its forms . Krishna related to Arjuna what  the ultimate duty is for mankind and also what the ultimate morality was . Krishna was taking both spiritual and material duties into consideration. Spiritual consciousness and its balanced  development are always a priority for everyone , and , of course, that is what  Krishna teaches within the Bhagavad Gita . Arjuna was only initially calculating things that were to satisfy his own limited interests. The Bhagavad Gita is an essential read for all persons. It is the practical life manual and suits all people in all walks of life. Nothing is absent. Everyone is differently situated materially and spiritually,  but the Bhagavad Gita situates everyone.

The important point here is that Arjuna initially turns to Krishna with faith and is prepared to hear from Krishna .Everyone has faith in something,  but Krishna has been confirmed throughout universal history in all the Vedas as the original cause of all cause of both the material and spiritual dimensions , and essentially He has been accepted by the greatest of authorities . We must know the authentic teachers and reject those who speculate or accept others who speculate as their teachers .

After hearing from Krishna, Arjuna’s doubts were cleared , and all his misconceptions vanished . Bhagavad Gita makes everything  clear to everyone. Arjuna intelligently surrendered WITHOUT  RESERVATIONS , and he spoke as follows

Arjuna said: You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the ultimate abode, the purest, the Absolute Truth. You are the eternal, transcendental, original person, the unborn, the greatest. All the great sages such as Nārada, Asita, Devala and Vyāsa confirm this truth about You, and now You Yourself are declaring it to me.

This full surrender without reservations is required when it comes to  taking Sri Guru , who is the true representative of Krishna’s, and who comes in many forms , both as Diksa and Siksa gurus . Sadhu Sastra and Guru are the three balanced principles., one checks the other .Whether Diksa or Sisksa , and in particular the highest sense of Siksa , of the higher Madhyama or Uttama , should not be doubted , but what he says the whole chain of param para Gurus must say . He can be questioned, but we must be prepared to accept his answers , as Arjuna accepted Krishna’s answers.

It might take time to understand Sri Guru, but we must be patient , and Krishna will help us . A bone fide Guru as Krishna was to Arjuna , explains everything logically with reference to authority , such a Uttama Guru or high Madhyama can be and should be surrendered to without reservation.

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