Arjuna looked at the army of the Kauravas, which was arranged in Vyuha by Bhishma. He asked Krishna to stop the chariot between the armies so that he could take a close look at the warriors with whom he had to contend and who had assembled there to help Duryodhana without caring for their lives.

Krishna places the chariot between the armies. Arjuna looked across the entire ranks of the Kauravas army. He saw his grandfathers, uncles, teachers, brothers, sons, dear friends and relatives. He was suddenly overcome with grief and deep compassion arose in his heart. He took his head in his hands. His body was shivering as afflicted by ague, the great bow, Gandhiva slipped out of his hand and he sat down on the chariot. He said to Krishna, "Looking at the honoured elders and teachers of mine, who are eager for battle against us. I am being weakened in my heart of what use will be any kingdom or wealth obtained by killing them? What enjoyment can one find in the kingdom of the world, which is smeared with the blood of one's close relatives, sons, friend, teachers etc? I would rather be killed by the sons of Dhritarastra than laying my hands on them. I do not want to fight."
Krishna told Arjuna, "What sort of weakness and foolishness has overtaken you? How such cowardice and unmanliness has come over you? Come on, see where your duty lies, be ready to fight."

Arjuna would not move. He was so overwhelmed by grief and pity. He was very despondent. He said, How can I shoot my arrow at Bhishma or Drona, persons who are worthy of my reverence? What kind of happiness can I get out of it? What enjoyment is worth this crime?

Krishna said, "Arjuna, you seem to talk like the wise. But you are grieving for those for whom you should not grieve. Wiseman neither grieve for the living, or for the dead. This eternal soul is imperishable. Only bodies are perishable Bodies change from young age to youth, then from youth to old age and then die. As people change their old clothes to put or new clothes, Similarly, the soul takes on new bodies discarding the old. The soul can neither to be pierced by weapons nor fire can burn it, nor water can wet it nor air can dry it up. The pleasure and pain are temporary and they are caused by the senses coming into contact with the objects of senses. You learn to bear them.

This universe is pervaded by the eternal soul. Neither anyone can kill nor can anyone be killed. Knowing that soul cannot be killed, it is never born, it never dies, how can you kill?"

Everything that is born is sure to die. Similarly everything that dies is sure to be born again. So what for should one grieve? Whatever happens before birth is a mystery, whatever happens after the death is a mystery. Only for a short while after birth and before death, that the soul takes a body, it is very transient. Why to grieve for what is temporary? Soul can never die. Do not grieve for it."

Even if you do not know these things, fight, as it is your duty as Kshatriya. A righteous war is the greatest opportunity that can come to a Kshatriya. If you win, you shall enjoy the kingdom. If you die, the gates of heaven are open to you. If you turn away from a righteous war, you shall be thought of a coward. Those who respect you shall say many words to insult you. Your infamy will be eternal what can be more painful than this for an honourable man?

You shall treat victory and defeat, pleasure and pain, loss and gain similarly. Do your duty without having any desire for its reward. No sin can come to you. Do your work with the evenness of mind."

Arjuna asked, Krishna tell me more about the man who has evenness of mind, whole intellect is steady and whose intelligence is unclouded. How can he be described?

Krishna said, Such a person is called Sthitapragya. Such a man has cast off all his desires and his mind is steadied in his self. He is not swayed by either pleasure or pain. He has no attachment to anything. He is totally free from anger, fear and desire. He does not maintain, equanimity in the face of evil or goodness, he neither rejoices nor he hates. A man having evenness of minds withdraws his senses from the world like a tortoise withdraws his limbs within his shell.

This is not easy, as the mind is very powerful and obstinate. The mind can be controlled through constant practice and being detached with the worldly objects. Concentrating the mind meditate upon me. Thus you shall attained to the highest state.

Arjuna asked, "Krishna, if attainment of Brahman is the highest goal. Then why do you ask me to do such a dreadful task.

Krishna said, "Two paths lead to that state. One is through knowledge and the other is through action. Everyone has to work. Otherwise it will not be possible to maintain one's body even. The work done without attachment is far superior. Leaving the fruits of all your works done to me, do your duty. You shall be free from all sins and attain to the highest state.

Arjuna: Knowing this, why a man is driven to commit sin? He does it even though he doesn't want to do it? Why?

Krishna: This is due to desires. Desires, when not fulfilled, lead to wrath, these prompt men to commit sins. These envelop true knowledge.

Then Krishna said, This is the yoga, which I taught to Vivasvan (Surya), he taught it to his son Manu, who in turn passed it on to his son Iskshvaku. It has eclipsed from the earth in these times. I am telling you, this highest secret, as your are a very dear friend and devotee of mine.

Arjuna was puzzled. He asked Kishna, Vivasvan was there ages ago and you are in this age how could it be possible that you taught it to him? Krishna said, I have passed through many births, so as have you. But you do not remember I do. I am unborn and eternal. I am the lord of everything. Whenever there is erosion of righteousness in the world I take birth in every Yuga to protect the good and to destroy the evil and to establish dharma. It is not given to everyone to know divinity. But those few who know they are not born again, they attain to me. In whatever form they worship me, whatever path they follow, all paths lead to me and I accept them."

To tell you more, a yogi is one who does the ordained work without desiring its fruits. Renunciation is selfless work. Renunciation means "renunciation of the desire". Work is the only means to attain the yoga of renunciation. After one attains it the mind becomes tranquil.

The pleasure that comes from attachment is the cause of pain. Anything, which is transient, can never give eternal pleasure. A wise man should avoid them. When a man reaches the state when pleasure and pain, cold and heat, honour and dishonour seem alike, he is ever serene. A clod of earth, a stone, a piece of gold is all alike to him. He is free of liking and disliking. Such a man is supreme.

Now Arjuna, listen to the secret of secrets, I assume human form and the fools do not recognize me as the supreme lord of all beings. I am the ONE, worshipping me will lead one to my state. I am the father of the universe. I am the goal of all meditations and prayers. Those who meditate upon me and worship me will reach me in the end. Consigning all your works to me, be free from all the bondage's of Karma, good and bad fruits of your works. You shall attain my grace.

Krishna said, "I am the soul of all the beings. I am the beginning, the middle, and the end. I am Vishnu among the adityas, the Sun among the lights. I am the Moon among the stars, I am the Sama among the Vedas, I am Mind among the senses and Intelligence among the living beings. I am Shankara among the Rudras. I am Meru among the mountains. I am Aum among the words, I am Vajra among the weapons, among those who count, I am Time, I am the Death all devouring. I am the origin of the things yet to be, the Seed of all living beings. I pervade the universe.

Krishna granted divine vision to Arjuna and showed him his universal form. Like the lights of thousands of Sun.The splendour of the mighty one was witnessed by Arjuna. He saw the entire universe in the ONE.

Arjuna became awestruck, with folded hand and faltering voice he prayed the lord, "O, Infinite Lord of the lords, Abode of the universe, The Imperishable, the first among the gods, the Primal being, the Supreme being, I prostrate before you. In my infinite foolishness and ignorance I called you as, 'Krishna' and 'friend'. Overlook my faults as a father does to his childrens, please assume your former form, I am unable to bear this form of yours."

The lord abandoned his Vishvaroopa and became Krishna again.

Arjuna: My mind has become calm, again after seeing your familiar form.

Krishna: This form is to be seen by devotees very rarely.

Arjuna: There are devotees who worship you and there are those meditate on the 'Absolute'. Who is superior?

Krishna: Both of them attain to me. Some worship the Absolute, the Imperishable. Their senses subdued, even minded under all circumstances, even minded under all circumstances, even contemplating on the Absolute, they come to me. Those having their minds fixed on me. One-pointedly, worshipping me constantly with supreme faith are perfect yogis. The path of those who tread the way of the Absolute is hard, the other path is easier. When all actions are consigned to me, I become the object of all worship and devotion, I save such devotees from the cycle of life and death. Steady your mind on me alone. You shall attain to me.

The sages say that relinquishing all the works prompted by desire is renunciation surrendering the fruits of all works is called 'Tyaga', work has to be done without any attachment or desire for the fruits. The sense of 'ego' or 'I' or 'Doer' should be abandoned. Keeping senses firmly under control, casting aside dualities of pleasure and pain, like and dislike, honour and dishonour, living in a solitary place, restraining speech, body and mind, engaged in meditation and concentration, being free from passions, being tranquil in mind, one becomes merged with god.

Surrender all duties and come to me alone for shelter. Have no grief. I will release you from all sins. I have declared to you the most secret wisdom. Consider it and then act, as you will.

Arjuna said: My lord, my delusion is gone. I am not in doubt anymore. I shall act and fight as per your command.

Arjuna took up his Ghandiva with a happy smile. The lord took his reins to the chariot and moved towards the chariot of Bhishma. The war has begun.