Kanhaland

Krishna storybook · Chapter 9:Kurukshetra and the Gita

Two families

The five good Pandava brothers were Krishna’s cousins, but jealous Duryodhana took their kingdom.

Krishna asked him to give them just five villages, and Duryodhana refused.

Tell me more

Duryodhana had tricked them, and he wouldn’t give them even a pinpoint of land. The Pandavas were Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva. Their mother, Kunti, was the sister of Krishna’s father, Vasudeva. Duryodhana and his brothers were called the Kauravas. When peace failed, both sides gathered their armies at a place called Kurukshetra.

Krishna’s choice

Krishna offered, “You may have My whole army, or Me alone, and I won’t even fight.”

Duryodhana chose the army. But Arjuna said, “I only want You, Krishna!”

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Arjuna and Duryodhana had both come to ask for His help. Duryodhana thought soldiers and weapons would win the battle. Arjuna understood that having Krishna on his side was worth more than any army in the world.

The chariot driver

So Krishna, the Lord of all the worlds, became His friend’s chariot driver!

On their flag was Hanuman, the great monkey devotee of Lord Rama.

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Arjuna’s chariot was pulled by white horses. Krishna loves to serve His devotees. Just as He let Mother Yashoda tie Him up, and washed Sudama’s feet, here He happily held the reins for Arjuna.

Arjuna’s sadness

Between the two armies, Arjuna saw his teachers, his grandfather and his cousins.

His heart broke. He put down his bow. “I can’t fight,” he said.

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He had asked Krishna to drive the chariot between the armies. “I don’t know what is right,” he said.

Krishna speaks the Gita

Krishna taught His friend, “You are not this body. You are an eternal soul, and the soul never dies.”

This conversation is the Bhagavad-gita, the song of God.

Tell me more

He also said, “Do your duty with love, and offer everything to Me. Don’t be afraid. I will always protect you.” The Bhagavad-gita has 700 verses in 18 chapters. In 1966, Srila Prabhupada brought it to the whole world in English, as the Bhagavad-gita As It Is. Its last teaching is the sweetest: Krishna asks us to give up every worry and simply take shelter of Him, and He will take care of the rest.

Ask Krishna

Arjuna had many questions, and Krishna answered every one.

Tap Arjuna’s questions to hear Krishna’s answers.

The universal form

Krishna showed Arjuna His universal form, as big as the whole universe, full of suns and stars!

Arjuna trembled. “Please become my friend Krishna again!” And Krishna smiled and did.

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Arjuna had asked, “Please show me Your greatness.” The form had countless faces and arms. Just like Mother Yashoda and Akrura, Arjuna saw Krishna’s greatness. But like them, he loved Krishna most as his sweet, two-armed friend.

“I will do as You say”

“My doubts are gone,” said Arjuna. “I will do as You say.”

With Krishna on their side, the Pandavas won, and good King Yudhishthira ruled with kindness.

Tell me more

Arjuna picked up his bow, and Krishna blew His conch shell.

What we learn

  • Each of us is an eternal soul, a part of Krishna.
  • Having Krishna with us is better than a whole army.
  • Do your best, offer it to Krishna, and don’t worry.

Did you like this story? Say “Hare Krishna!” out loud.

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Retold from Mahabharata and the Bhagavad-gita, as summarised in the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Placeholder pictures only.

All chapters of the Krishna storybook