The Warrior's Crisis of Conscience — The Bhagavad Gita

Blind King Dhritarashtra asks his advisor Sanjaya what is happening on the holy battlefield at Kurukshetra. Sanjaya says Prince Duryodhana looked at the huge Pandava army, cheered up his own side by naming their heroes, and ordered the war trumpets blown. Krishna and Arjuna answered with their own conch shells, and the whole plain rang like a storm.

Arjuna asked Krishna to drive the chariot into the open space between the armies so he could see who he would have to kill today. Krishna pointed out grandfathers, teachers, cousins, and friends on both sides, people who used to love each other now lined up to fight. The sight hit Arjuna like a physical blow. His hands shook, his mouth went dry, and his famous bow Gandiv slipped from his fingers.

He told Krishna that a victory bought with this blood would taste like poison. Killing elders and teachers would wreck families and cheat the dead of proper rites. He would rather be killed himself, with no weapon in his hand, than strike these men. Then, in front of both armies, he sank down on the chariot seat and let his bow and arrows fall. The war has not even started, but the greatest warrior on the field is already frozen.