To Arjuna’s concern that he should not kill his own teachers and revered relatives such as Bhishma, Sri Krishna clarified that Arjuna’s wrong identification of a human with the physical body was the cause for his reluctance to fight. When every living entity is looked upon as a soul, and when the awareness regarding the true nature of the soul is known, Arjuna should hesitate no more. Therefore Sri Krishna explained further:
Anyone who thinks the soul is the slayer and anyone who thinks the soul is slain, both of them are in ignorance; the soul never slays nor is slain.
The soul never takes birth and never dies at any time nor does it come into being again when the body is created. The soul is birthless, eternal, imperishable and timeless, and never destroyed even when the body is destroyed.
O Arjuna, one who knows the soul as eternal, unborn, undeteriorating and indestructable, how does that person cause death to anyone or whom does he slay?
Just as a man giving up old worn-out garments accepts new clothes, in the same way, the embodied soul giving up old and worn-out bodies verily accepts new bodies.
Weapons cannot harm the soul, fire cannot burn it, water cannot wet it and air cannot dry it up.
The soul is eternal, all-pervading, unmodifiable, immovable and primordial.
It is declared that the soul is imperceptible, inconceivable, immutable; understanding the soul this way, it is improper for you to lament. (Bhagavad gita, Ch. 2, verse 19-25 )
If all this explanation about the soul had convinced Arjuna he would have got up to resume the fight. Unfortunately, Arjuna did not move an inch. Therefore Sri Krishna started reminding him about his duty.
Sri Krishna told Arjuna: Even if you think the soul always takes birth and always undergoes death, even then you should not lament. (Bhagavad gita, Ch. 2, verse 26 )
Considering your specific duty as a ksatriya [one of royal birth], you should know that there does not exist a more appropriate endeavor than fighting for righteousness. Therefore you should not hesitate.
O Arjuna, happy are the upholders of justice who get such an opportunity unsought, which is a wide open path to heavenly planets.
If you do not perform your religious duty of fighting, then you will certainly incur sin for neglecting your duty and thus lose your reputation as a warrior. (Bhagavad gita, Ch. 2, verse 31-33 )
Thus Sri Krishna reminded Arjuna that being one of royal birth it was his duty to fight.
Ganappa 