‘O My Dear Lord! O My Friend’ : A Critical Introspection of the Idea of Friendship and Symbiotic Bond in Srimad Bhagvat Geeta/ ‘প্রভু আমার, প্রিয় আমার’ : শ্রীমদ্ভগবদ্গীতায় প্রকৃত বন্ধুত্ব ও আত্মিক যোগের অপরিহার্যতা: একটি পর্যালোচনা

Abstract

Shrimad Bhagavad Gita presents a comprehensive thesis on companionship in its exploration of multiple shades of bond between Lord Krishna and Arjuna. In the vast battlefield of Kurukshetra, Arjuna appeared to be baffled as he faced his kins as enemies. As he is occupied with a dilemma concerning his participation of war, which would result in massacre and sacrifice of his kins, Lord Krishna came forward as his mentor and facilitator. He explains the transience of life and eternity of soul. He further explained the source and components of wisdom, selfless action, devotion, knowledge and various dimensions and ways of life and their philosophical implications. This, as Gita evidences, is the role of companion, to stand with friends in times of extreme crisis, in dilemma and to accomplish the assigned task together as a team without much ado.

            Who is a friend? A friend is the companion with whom the individual shares an inseparable bond, a symbiotic attachment, who never leaves one unguarded.

            As the dialogue progresses, Lord Krishna unfolds before Arjuna, the secrets of life. He elucidates before him the strategies of survival. His sermons serve as the elixir to result in the resurgence of self-esteem in Arjuna. The correspondence in Gita, therefore serves as a metaphor of self-introspection of Arjuna. Krishna, the friend, the minion turned mentor functions as a motif as well as character. As Lord Krishna asked Arjuna to look within and find out who he is, we have an echo of the Upanishad, 'Look within! You are the manifestation of the Supreme Being'.

            The purpose of this paper is to explore the definition and dimensions of friendship and the need for a mentor to survive in life and to pursue the desired goal, as explained and theorised in Srimad Bhagvat Geeta.