arjuna uvācha
aparaṁ bhavato janma paraṁ janma vivasvataḥ
katham etad vijānīyāṁ tvam ādau proktavān iti
arjunaḥ uvācha — Arjun said;
aparam — later;
bhavataḥ — your;
janma — birth;
param — prior;
janma — birth;
vivasvataḥ — Vivasvan, the sun-god;
katham — how;
etat — this;
vijānīyām — am I to understand;
tvam — you;
ādau — in the beginning;
proktavān — taught;
iti — thus
In this verse, Arjuna is speaking to Lord Krishna. He is pointing out something confusing to him. Arjuna knows that the sun-god, Vivasvan, is very old and has been around longer than Krishna. So, he is puzzled and asks, 'How can it be that You taught this important knowledge to Vivasvan in the very beginning?'
Arjuna's question reveals a lot about his character. Even though he is a close devotee of Krishna and deeply respects Him, he’s asking this question not just out of personal doubt but for the sake of people who might not fully understand Krishna's position as the Supreme Being. Some people, especially those who do not believe in the divine nature of Krishna, might think of Him as just another human. They might find it strange or hard to accept the idea that Krishna, who seems so young, could have taught such ancient wisdom to someone as venerable as Vivasvan.
Arjuna wants Krishna to explain this clearly. By doing so, he allows Krishna to directly share His true nature with everyone, especially those who hold misunderstandings about who He is. This is significant because understanding Krishna’s identity is essential for people’s spiritual growth and benefit.
The context here is important too. Throughout history, many people have debated or questioned the divine nature of Krishna. There are those, often referred to as demons in mystical texts, who resent the acknowledgement of Krishna as the supreme authority, often interpreting everything he says through their limited understanding.
On the opposite side, devoted followers like Arjuna have an open heart and mind. They accept Krishna’s declarations about Himself and are eager to learn more. They believe that Krishna is not just an ordinary person, but an extraordinary being with eternal qualities of bliss, knowledge, and peace—qualities that are beyond the normal human experience.
By raising this question, Arjuna is looking to cut through any misconceptions that might cloud people's understanding of Krishna's divine role. He wants Krishna to clarify how He can be both the teacher of wisdom and a figure who also appears as a regular person on Earth. This is crucial because it helps eliminate doubts, especially for those who are skeptical or might view Krishna through a narrow lens of material experience.
In simpler terms, sometimes people misunderstand or underestimate Krishna because they only see Him in a physical form—like a regular person who was born and lived like anyone else. Arjuna is helping to bring those doubts into the open to be addressed. When Krishna explains his identity and actions, it is a chance for everyone to see the bigger picture: that Krishna is much greater than what they might assume based on appearances alone.