Choosing Sides at Dvārakā
Before the Mahābhārata war, both sides looked for help from Kṛshṇa Vāsudeva, who was then at Dvārakā. Arjuna came for the Pāṇḍavas and Duryodhana for the Kauravas. Kṛshṇa offered each a choice: his army of ten akshauhiṇīs called the Nārāyaṇī army, or himself alone without weapons. Arjuna chose Kṛshṇa. Duryodhana, delighted, took the army.
The race to Dvārakā
After the council at Virāṭa’s court, both sides learned that the other would ask Kṛshṇa for help. Arjuna and Duryodhana both set out for Dvārakā. They reached Kṛshṇa’s palace on the same day. Kṛshṇa was resting, and both men went into his room.
Duryodhana arrived first and sat at the head of Kṛshṇa’s bed. Arjuna came after him and sat at the foot, where a humble and devoted person sits. When Kṛshṇa woke, the first person he saw was Arjuna, at his feet. For this reason Kṛshṇa offered Arjuna the first choice. (Mahābhārata, Udyoga Parva, Chapter 5)
Kṛshṇa’s offer
Kṛshṇa said he would help both sides, but on one condition. He would make an offer to each of them, and each must choose.
The offer had two parts, and only one could be taken.
- The Nārāyaṇī army. This was one crore (ten million) chosen warriors, the famous Nārāyaṇī-sena, trained and armed to the highest standard, and ready to fight as a force of its own.
- Kṛshṇa himself. He would be unarmed and would take no weapons. He would serve only as charioteer and adviser. His own presence and wisdom would be there, but he would do no fighting himself.
Kṛshṇa gave Arjuna the first choice, because Arjuna was the one he had seen first. (Mahābhārata, Udyoga Parva, Chapter 5)
Arjuna’s choice
Arjuna chose Kṛshṇa himself, without waiting. He asked Kṛshṇa to be his charioteer. Arjuna held that Kṛshṇa’s presence, even without weapons, was worth more than any army. Kṛshṇa is the Supreme Person (Purushottama). He could guide the course of the war by his wisdom, his planning and the strength of his presence alone.
Arjuna wanted Kṛshṇa himself, not Kṛshṇa’s resources. The Bhagavadgītā was later spoken on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. (Mahābhārata, Udyoga Parva, Chapter 5)
Duryodhana’s choice
Duryodhana was secretly delighted when Arjuna chose Kṛshṇa and not the army. He judged by military power. To him the Nārāyaṇī army of ten akshauhiṇīs was a large and solid strength. He thought an unarmed man, however famous, would not change the balance on the battlefield. Duryodhana asked for the Nārāyaṇī army and received it.
Duryodhana left Dvārakā satisfied. He believed he had made the better choice. (Mahābhārata, Udyoga Parva, Chapters 5 and 6)
Balarāma stays neutral
Balarāma, the elder brother of Kṛshṇa, had already argued for peace at the assembly at Virāṭa’s court. At this point he declared that he would take neither side. He would not fight for either, because both were related to him through the Yādava and Kuru families. He left on a pilgrimage. (Mahābhārata, Udyoga Parva, Chapter 6)
Kṛshṇa agrees
Kṛshṇa gladly agreed to Arjuna’s request to be his charioteer. He would drive the great white horses of Arjuna’s chariot across the field of Kurukshetra. The horses were Śaibya, Sugrīva, Meghapushpa and Balāhaka.
Kṛshṇa became Arjuna’s sārathi (charioteer), adviser and friend. The Bhagavadgītā was spoken on the morning of the first day of the war, when Arjuna’s resolve failed. (Mahābhārata, Udyoga Parva, Chapters 5 and 6)
Sources
- Mahābhārata, Udyoga Parva, Chapters 5 to 6