Question

In the reading from the Bhagavad Gita, what is the moral crisis that Arjuna faces as he is about to enter the battle? What solution does Krishna offer to Arjuna’s moral dilemma, and how does that solution connect to the Hindu belief in moksha? Quote a line from the reading in support of that second question.

Answer 1

Answer:

Arjuna is ready to fight in battle against the Pandavas. He has Krishna by his side, as this deity has taken the form of his charioteer. As Arjuna draws closer to the battlefield he realizes that his relatives are present in both armies and is confronted with a moral crisis. He tells Krishna he does not want to fight if that means killing his own kin. However, Krishna offers a solution to push and motivate Arjuna to fight. Krishna says that the enemy is the enemy, and that the only thing that would perish in this battle are bodies of the enemy, bodies are just flesh because life is eternal, so killing their bodies should not stop Arjuna from following his duty or dharma as Krishna says that "never was there a time when I did not exist, nor you, nor these lords of men, and never shall any of us cease to exist hereafter;" this connects to the Hindu belief of moksha because it pursues freedom or liberation from earthly things and focusing on spiritual enlightenment.