SB 1.15.15 (1965)
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT No. 15
Yo bhisma karna guru salwya chamusu adabhra Rajanyavarya rathamandala manditasu. Agrecharo mama vibho rathayuthapanam Ayur manamsi cha drisha saha ojah archhat.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS
Yo—It is He only, Bhisma—of the name, Karna—of the name, Guru—Dronacharya Salya—of the name, Chamusu—in the midst of military phalanx, Adabhra—immense Rajanyavarya—great royal orders, Rathamandala—chain of chariots, Manditasu—being decorated with, Agrecharo—going forward, Mama—of mine, Vibho—Oh the great king, Rathayuthapanam—all the charioteers, Ayur—duration of life or fruitive activities, Manamsi—mental upsurges, Cha—also, Drisha—by glance, Saha—along with, Ojah—strength, Archhat—withdrew.
TRANSLATION
It is He only Who withdrew everyone's duration of life, speculative power and strength of enthusiasm in the battlefield of the great military phalanx made by the Kouravas headed by Bhisma, Karana, Drona, Salya etc. Their arrangement was nice and more than enough but He (Lord Sri Krishna) while going forward, did all these.
PURPORT
The Absolute Personality of Godhead Lord Sri Krishna by His plenary Paramatma portion expands Himself in everyone's heart and as such He directs everyone in the matter of recollection, forgetfulness, knowledge and absence of intelligence and all psychological activities (B.G. 5/15) As the Supreme Lord He can increase or decrease the duration of life of a living being. As such the Lord conducted the battlefield of Kurukshetra according to His own plan. He wanted that battlefield of Kurukshetra must be owned for the sake of establishing Yudhisthir as the Emperor of this planet and to facilitate this transcendental business He withdrew the duration of life of all who were on the opposite party by His omnipotent will. The other party was equipped with all military strength supported by big generals like Bhisma, Drona, Salya etc and it would have been physically impossible for Arjuna to win over the battle had the Lord not have helped him by every kind of tactics required to win over a great battle. Such tactics are generally followed by every statesman even in the modern warfares but they are all done materially by powerful espionages, military tactics and diplomatic manoeuvres of modern politicians and because Arjuna was the Lord's devotee of great affection, the Lord did them all Himself without personal anxiety by Arjuna. That is the way of devotional service of the Lord.