Arjun is vulnerable

Arjun, our hero, is now very vulnerable. This is his saving grace. His heroic act. His strength. He is open to receiving.

न योत्स्य इति; na yotsya iti; I will not fight!

I won’t fight, he says. But, fighting is what he signed up for. It is his duty but he is unable to fulfill his responsibility.

Bhagavad Geeta has reached a pivotal point. So far, Geeta has moved fast. It has taken Arjun only 35 verses (1.21 - 2.9) of an emotional roller coaster to get to this point of giving up. It started with him being armored up and ready to fight (1.21). He has since moved through stages of being tentative, tense, overwhelmed and nauseous. He has shown signs of physical and mental breakdown and multiple-stages of depression. He has cried, he has admitted that he is afraid and does not know what to do. He has put down his weapons and given up. All within 35 verses. It is a writing at its best, showing complex human emotions with precision and empathy.

A word comes to mind, Schadenfreude. It is a German word that means pleasure derived from someone else’s misfortune. We may be tempted to enjoy our hero’s sorry condition, but let’s take some time to think of someone - maybe us, or maybe someone we are close to and love - who has been depressed for a long time. Many do give up, in those most intense and darkest moments. It took Arjun only 35 verses to get to where it may take so many of us months, years or even a lifetime to get to much like a slow burn. It does not have to be a big, single climactic event that plunges us into hopelessness. It can be a slow and steady everyday event. A prolonged exposure to anxiety and stress to the body and to the mind. Being overwhelmed, dejected and depressed is all too common in today’s time. Not knowing where to look and find help. Fortunately, Arjun finds Krishna who is willing to take him by his hand and lift him up. Here is a prayer that we find our Krishna in those times when we need Him.

This Arjun, our hero, is a fast learner. He may not look like much of a hero right now but he does one thing right. He finds a teacher and allows Him to take over. This is his saving grace. It may sound counterintuitive that this act of his is heroic. But it is. He shows vulnerability. He shows openness. He shows courage in his moment of utmost weakness. As Geeta progresses, this one act allows Arjun to unfold into his best version. For this, thank you, Arjun.

Be vulnerable, it’s okay. It will be okay.