Timeless Wisdom from the Bhagavad Gita (Teachings from Bhagavad Gita)
Timeless Wisdom from the Bhagavad Gita
The Unheard Story of Dwarka and the Power of True Choice
Almost 5000 years ago, during the Dwapar Yuga, when the war between the Kauravas and Pandavas was about to be decided, Duryodhana — the king of Hastinapur and also a relative of Shri Krishna — travelled to Dwarka seeking Krishna’s support. At that time, Bhagwan Shri Krishna was resting.
Duryodhana arrived first and stood near Krishna’s head. Shortly afterward, Arjuna — Krishna’s beloved friend and cousin — arrived and respectfully stood near His feet.
At that very moment, Krishna opened His eyes and the first person He saw was Arjuna, standing humbly at His feet.
Krishna asked,
“O Arjun! What brings you here?”
Before Arjuna could reply, Duryodhana quickly interrupted, saying,
“I am here too!”
Krishna, acting as if He hadn’t noticed him earlier, acknowledged Duryodhana as well and asked the reason for their visit.
Duryodhana explained that the great war of Mahabharata was imminent, and they had come seeking Krishna’s support.
Krishna then offered a divine choice. He said:
“On one side will be My vast army of eighteen Akshauhinis, fully armed. On the other side will be Me alone — unarmed, and I will not fight or lift a weapon. You may choose whatever you wish.”
Without hesitation, Duryodhana chose the great army.
Krishna then turned to Arjuna and asked him to speak.
Arjuna humbly replied:
“I choose You, O Krishna — even if You will not fight.”
Both left Dwarka satisfied — Duryodhana believing he had made the smarter choice, and Arjuna filled with quiet joy, certain that where Krishna stands, victory is inevitable.
And thus, the Mahabharata war began…
The Moral: Three Timeless Lessons (3C)
This moment teaches us deep spiritual truths, woven through three simple principles: Choices, Choose, and Consequences.
1. Choices (Offers)
Arjuna and Duryodhana were offered two options:
- The massive 18 Akshauhini army
- Or Krishna alone, unarmed
Our lives mirror this. We are constantly offered choices — some worldly, some spiritual. Every decision places us either on the path of Arjuna or on the path of Duryodhana.
2. Choose (Decision)
Duryodhana chose the army.
Arjuna chose Krishna.
Both believed they had made the wiser decision. Both felt the other had been “fooled.”
Arjuna could have questioned Krishna:
“Why give the entire army to one side? Shouldn’t both get fifty percent? What will I do with You alone, without weapons?”
But he didn’t.
Instead, he felt deeply blessed — because he knew the truth:
Krishna is Bhagawan Himself. Where God is, victory follows.
3. Consequences
As history shows, Duryodhana lost the war despite the vast army, and Arjuna won with Krishna alone.
The timeless wisdom here is simple yet profound:
Whenever we stand with God — even if the opposing side seems stronger — we ultimately succeed.
Arjuna understood this. He chose divine support over worldly power. And the outcome reflected that choice.
Our consequences, too, are shaped by the choices we make.
Relevance in Daily Life
Every day, our life becomes a miniature Mahabharata.
Every moment offers us two directions:
- Worldly fulfillment: money, career, family, prestige
- Spiritual grounding: devotion, dharma, inner alignment, surrender
Parents, friends, and even our own minds often push us toward material accomplishments first: study, career, wealth, success, status.
But how often do we pause and ask:
“Am I living like Arjuna or like Duryodhana?”
If we choose spirituality first — if we choose God first — everything else in life naturally aligns.
Because the warriors of worldly attachment are mighty. Our individual strength is small.
But when we surrender and make Shri Krishna our true power, every day becomes a victory, and life becomes meaningful.
We not only succeed externally — but we find the inner fulfillment we have been searching for across lifetimes.
The Foundation of the Bhagavad Gita
Among countless teachings of the Gita, " The Surrender to God has to be done exclusively by mind." is the foremost foundation.
Choose Him first. Do your worldly duties while keeping the mind attached to God. Just like Arjuna.
Because when God becomes your priority, victory becomes your destiny.
