Arjuna realises suddenly the sanctity and the divinity of the Lord’s Power, and so, in a inspired rush of veneration, he bows down to Him whom till now he took to be but a cowherd boy of Vrindavana. Intellectual though he may be, here is an experience too big for him to observe fully, analyse carefully, and digest completely. The only thing he can do is to surrender himself at the very feet of the Lord, requesting Him, “TELL ME WHO YOU ARE.”
To reinforce the solidity of the query, Arjuna indicates that his question deserves an answer, for, “I DESIRE TO KNOW THEE, O PRIMEVAL ONE.” It is very well known in the textbooks of spirituality, that “a burning aspiration to know” is the motive force behind every seeker’s mind and intellect. But here Arjuna is preoccupied with the problem of challenge that is facing him, and therefore, he is not, in fact, directly seeking the Divine Truth behind the Vision. His enquiry is highly coloured by the emotion of fear in him and his anxiety to know what would be the outcome of the war. This is clear from the last line wherein he himself explains: Indeed I know not “YOUR PURPOSE.” The enquiry made here is “What is the mission of the Lord in taking such a terrible form, and in presenting Himself in front of Arjuna, exhibiting how the Kaurava forces are marching in all hurry towards the burning Mouth-of-Death?” When he intensely longs for a thing to happen and when sure signs, forecasting his success, present themselves, he needs a confirmation from others. Here Arjuna is witnessing what he exactly wishes should happen. But the Prince wants to get a confirmation of the same from Krishna Himself. Hence this question.
INTRODUCING HIMSELF AS THE MANIFESTATION OF TRUTH IN ITS ASPECT OF DESTRUCTION, THE LORD IN THE UNIVERSAL FROM DECLARES:
