(Arjuna - The Swayamvara of Panchala s princess, Draupadi)
The last shloka of the Gita say: ‘Yathra Yageswarah Krishno Yathra Partho Dhanurdharah, Tatra Sreer Vijayo Bhuthir Dhruva Neethir Mathir Mama’ (Where there is Krishna the Supreme Yogi and where also there is Arjuna bearing his bow, there victory for truth and justice is assured). This verse assures victory not only when Arjuna wields the bow in the presence of Krishna. Every one of you can be Arjuna and wield the bow and achieve victory. For the bow is but the symbol of courage and faith, of high resolve and undaunted action. How can you become Arjunas? Arjuna means white, pure, unsullied, without blemish. As soon as you become that and hold the bow (the Upanishads declare that the Pranava or Om is the arrow and God is the target), Krishna is ready with His presence, for He is everywhere at every moment. There is no need to invite Him or install Him. He will answer from your very heart. (SSS Vol.24, p. 25)
Arjuna was the brother-in-law of Krishna; he was a close companion and even a chum of the
Lord, for many decades! Krishna, remember, was 84 years old, at the time of the Kurukshetra battle, when He served Arjuna as a non-combatant charioteer! But, yet, it was only on that battlefield that the Message of the Bhagavath Gita was imparted to him! Why? Arjuna developed the requisite attitude for the reception and retention of the Message only then.
First Arjuna was puzzled about his duty and was tremendously anxious to get light thrown upon it. He was torn between two paths, and in spite of all his discrimination and detachment he was at a loss to discover what his Dharma was. Second, he surrendered his judgement to God, and declared, out of the deepest recesses of his heart, in indescribable agony, ‘I am your disciple; I dedicate my entire being to your Will; tell me what to do and I shall obey.’
Arjuna is also called Partha---a name applicable to all men, for, it is derived from Prithvi (earth). It means earthly, earthborn. So, this situation is a reminder to every man on earth. If only you cultivate a deep yearning for guidance about your appropriate Dharma, and if only you surrender your will, your intellect, your emotions, your impulses to God, He will lead you to Himself and endow you with Supreme Bliss.
Thirdly, Arjuna was overcome by Love, though it took on the colour of egoism and delusion. He felt that it was wrong and useless to kill his kinsmen, to plunge the land in misery, to slaughter the armies ranged against him. He preferred a life sustained on alms to ruling over an empire won by the sword. This compassion, though misplaced and based on an unreal sense of values, had its own appeal, to the Lord, who resolved to transmute it into the renunciation of the attachment to the deed, and the fruits of the deed.
Every deed must take man nearer the goal; it must be a step in the pilgrimage to God. It must
cleanse the emotions, correct the attitude, clarify the path and co-operate in the consummation.This has to be the constant care and vigilance of every seeker and aspirant to Bliss. (SSS Vol. 10, pp. 60-61)