Faith - Self-Restraint And Valour

When Krishna explains His Vibhuti Yoga in the Bhagavad Gita,

He makes it clear that while all things are supported by

God, things of beauty and splendour reveal Him more than

others. Speaking about the endless nature of His divine manifestations,

Krishna says anything endowed with glory,

grace and vigour is a fragment of His splendour. He then lists

many aspects of creation and His divine presence as the best

in each category. In a similar vein, Yudhishtira praises Arjuna

as an archer and warrior par excellence, associating his

glories to all that is foremost in creation, pointed out Sri V.

Karunakarachariar in a discourse. The comparison includes

the sun as the chief of all heatgiving

bodies, the Brahmana

among human beings, the Vajrayudha among weapons, Garuda

among birds, tiger among beasts and the cobra among

serpents. Yudhishtira also alludes to the Kandava vana dahana

episode that endorses Arjuna’s excellences as the most

talented archer and his graciousness. The story is that Agni

approaches Krishna and Arjuna for help to consume the forest

since whenever he tries to burn it, the flames are extinguished by rains. This is because it is the abode of Takshaka

whose close friend Indra protects it from Agni. Arjuna and

Krishna promise Agni help. With powerful weapons and a

chariot gifted by Varuna, Arjuna and Krishna allow Agni to

burn the forest. Arjuna builds an impenetrable cover of arrows

to keep off the rains that Indra sends. Not a drop of water

falls into the forest. A voice from the heavens announces

that Krishna and Arjuna are none but the twin incarnation,

Narayana-Nara.

In many instances, Vyasa eulogises Arjuna

for his tremendous selfrestraint

and calls him a Jitendriya,

one who has conquered the senses, to show that he is most

eligible to receive the Gitopadesa from Krishna.