If Arjuna was a slave of his image then he would have lost the Mahabharata war. Arjuna was honest about this weakness and was ready to share it with Sri Krishna. The greatest warrior became a weakling and sat down asking guidance. The world got the Bhagavad Gita and Arjuna fought successfully for Dharma. Ramnath Subramanian, CEO and President, The Bhakti Center, explores this aspect of Bhagavad Gita in an article titled ‘The Bhagavad Gita and the Value of Vulnerability’ in the Huffington Post.
Excerpts from the article
This very lesson is conveyed at the onset of the Bhagavad Gita, India's classic on yoga and spiritual wisdom, where prince Arjuna provides a remarkable example of vulnerability. Arjuna was a veteran of many battles and had never lost a single combat. His acts of prowess, courage and intelligence were world-famous. Yet, Arjuna faced a situation where he had to fight his own kinsmen.
His courage was tested and he broke down in front of his dear friend Krishna, expressing his distraught situation. In a matter of moments, Arjuna turned from a mighty warrior into a weakling, right in front of his opponents. In that exhibition of weakness, Arjuna exhibited great courage. It is that honest expression of weakness that set the stage for timeless wisdom to be spoken. Consequently, he received the strength and inspiration to confront his inner doubts and overcome them.
The same can happen in our lives if we take the courage to be vulnerable; when we learn to walk through the door of fear that has kept us prisoners to our idealized self-image. We can wake up to our authentic potential and experience the sense of freedom. It can also help us better understand and be compassionate to another's needs.