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62.KRISHNA TEACHES
Addressing the princes under his
command, Bhishma said: "Heroes, yours
is a glorious opportunity. Before you, are
the gates of heaven wide open. The joy of
living with Indra and Brahma awaits you.
Pursue the path of your ancestors and
follow the kshatriya dharma. Fight with
joy and attain fame and greatness. A
kshatriya does not wish to die of disease
or old age in his bed but prefers to die on
the battlefield," and the princes responded
by ordering their trumpets to be sounded
and shouted victory to the Kauravas.
On Bhishma's flag shone brightly the
palm tree and five stars. On Aswatthama's
the lion tail fluttered in the air.
In Drona's golden-hued standard, the
ascetic's bowl and the bow glistened, and
the cobra of Duryodhana's famed banner
danced proudly with outspread hood.
On Kripa's flag was depicted a bull, while
Jayadratha's carried a wild boar. Likewise
others and the battlefield thus presented a
pageant of flags.
Seeing the Kaurava forces ranged in battle
array, Yudhishthira gave orders to Arjuna:
"The enemy force is very large. Our army
being smaller, our tactics should be
concentration rather than deployment that
will only weaken us. Array our forces,
therefore, in needle formation."
Now, when Arjuna saw men arrayed on
both sides for mutual slaughter, he was
deeply agitated and Krishna spoke to him
in order to quell his agitation and remove
his doubts.
Krishna's exhortation to Arjuna at this
juncture is the Bhagavad Gita, which is
enshrined in millions of hearts as the
Word of God. The Bhagavad Gita is
acknowledged by all as one of the
supreme treasures of human literature.
Its gospel of devotion to duty, without
attachment or desire of reward, has shown
the way of life for all men, rich or poor,
learned or ignorant, who have sought for
light in the dark problems of life.
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