न हि प्रपश्यामि ममापनुद्या
द्यच्छोकमुच्छोषणमिन्द्रियाणाम्।
अवाप्य भूमावसपत्नमृद्धम्
राज्यं सुराणामपि चाधिपत्यम्।।2.8।।
सञ्जय उवाच
एवमुक्त्वा हृषीकेशं गुडाकेशः परन्तप।
न योत्स्य इति गोविन्दमुक्त्वा तूष्णीं बभूव ह।।2.9।।
तमुवाच हृषीकेशः प्रहसन्निव भारत।
सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये विषीदन्तमिदं वचः।।2.10।।
For I do not see anything that, even after acquiring on this earth a prosperous kingdom free from enemies and even sovereignty over the gods, can remove my sorrow that is blasting the senses.
Sanjaya said: Having spoken thus to Hrsikesa (Krsna), Gudakesa (Arjuna), the afflictor of foes, verily became silent, telling Govinda, ‘I shall not fight.’
O descendant of Bharata, Hrsikesa, mocking as it were, said these words to him who was sorrowing between the two armies:
Osho’s Commentary
And then, the final act of the drama. Arjuna casts down his bow and arrow. He declares, “I will not fight,” and falls silent. He has reached his breaking point. His mind has created a perfect case for inaction, for escape. He is convinced that to fight is a sin and to flee is a virtue. He has fallen into a deep abyss of sorrow and confusion. And Sanjaya says Krishna smiled—prahasanniva, as if smiling. Why this smile? It is not a smile of mockery, but of deep insight. It is a smile at the beautiful absurdity of the human mind. Arjuna says, “I am confused, I don’t know what to do,” and in the very next breath he makes a firm decision, “I will not fight!” Such certainty in confusion! Krishna smiles because the patient is now ready. The ego has reached a dead end. All its own solutions have failed. The mind has exhausted itself. Now, the real therapy can begin. It is only when the disciple is utterly empty, utterly helpless, that the grace of the master can descend. Arjuna has fallen. And in this very fall, the possibility of a great rising is hidden.