Arjuna's Charioteer

As the drums of war began to sound, both sides understood that the alliance of Krishna would weigh more than any army; and so both Duryodhana and Arjuna set out in haste to Dvārakā to win his support, and by chance they arrived on the very same day. Duryodhana came first, and finding Krishna asleep, seated himself proudly at the head of the bed; Arjuna came shortly after, and stood humbly at the foot, his hands folded in reverence.

When Krishna woke, his eyes fell first upon Arjuna standing at his feet; then, turning, he saw Duryodhana at his head. Duryodhana at once claimed precedence, arguing that he had arrived first. But Krishna answered that though Duryodhana had come first, he himself had seen Arjuna first on waking, and so his help was owed equally to both.

And he offered them a choice between two forms of aid: on one side his vast and undefeated army, the Nārāyaṇī Sena, thousands of veteran warriors; and on the other side Krishna himself, alone, unarmed, pledged never to lift a weapon or take part in the fighting. And because custom gave the younger man the first choice, he offered it to Arjuna.

And Arjuna, without a moment's hesitation, bowed and chose Krishna, unarmed though he would be. And Duryodhana could scarcely hide his delight at what he took for Arjuna's folly, and gladly claimed the mighty army for himself. And when Duryodhana had gone, Krishna asked Arjuna why he had chosen a weaponless non-combatant over an invincible host. And Arjuna answered: I do not doubt my own power to defeat the enemy; but I long for your presence, to guide my chariot and to light my path.

And in that choice lies the whole heart of the matter, and the whole difference between the two cousins: Duryodhana chose the army, the outward power, the countable strength; Arjuna chose the Lord, unarmed, wanting not his weapons but his presence and his guidance.

The one grasped at force; the other sought the Divine itself, and asked for nothing but that it be near him; and in that difference the war was, in a sense, already decided, for the side that has the Lord's presence, even unarmed, has more than the side that has all the armies of the earth.