In this verse Lord Krishna commands his friend and disciple Arjuna to look upon the assembled Kurus, including illustrious figures like Bhisma and Drona. From a psychological standpoint, this instruction could be seen as a strategy to help Arjuna overcome fear and doubt.

Arjuna is a skilled warrior, but faced with the prospect of fighting his own kin and teachers, he becomes overwhelmed with emotion. By directing his attention to the Kurus as a group, Lord Krishna may be trying to redirect Arjuna’s focus away from personal attachments and towards a sense of duty to a larger community or cause. This tactic is supported by research suggesting that people are more likely to feel positive emotions and act prosocial when they identify with a group or shared identity.

Moreover, the presence of respected leaders like Bhisma and Drona suggests that Arjuna is not alone in facing this difficult situation. This could be seen as a form of social support, which has been shown to help people cope with stress and adversity. By framing Arjuna’s predicament as a collective challenge and presenting a united front, Lord Krishna may be helping to bolster his disciple’s sense of resilience and self-efficacy.

Overall, this verse highlights the “importance of social context in shaping individual behavior and emotions”.

Modern human psychology emphasizes the significance of social context in shaping individual behavior and emotions. It suggests that individuals’ behavior and emotions are not solely dependent on their internal traits and characteristics but are also impacted by the people and environment around them. Social context refers to the broader social and cultural factors that influence individuals, such as family, community, culture, and social norms. For instance, individual behavior and emotions are molded by social interactions, cultural expectations, and institutional practices. Social context plays a vital role in shaping individuals’ cognitive and emotional responses, such as attitudes towards a particular group, self-concept, and emotional regulation. In summary, understanding the importance of social context is essential in comprehending human behavior and emotions fully, as individual thoughts and actions cannot be separated from the social environment in which they occur.

The Verse suggests that by appealing to a shared identity and providing social support, leaders like Lord Krishna can help individuals overcome fear and doubt, and act in accordance with their duties. These insights hold relevance for contemporary contexts, such as workplace teams or political movements, where a sense of community and shared purpose can be key to motivating and inspiring action.

The principle established in Srila Prabhupada’s Purport to Verse 25, is that Lord Krishna, as the Supersoul, was able to understand the thoughts and emotions of Arjuna. Here, the use of the word Hrsikena is significant, as it means the Lord of the senses. As the Lord of all senses, Lord Krishna understood the mental state of Arjuna and his hesitancy to fight in the battle of Kurukshetra. Being a friend and well-wisher of Arjuna, Lord Krishna wanted to help him by informing him about his duty as a warrior.

The reference to the word Partha is also important, as it establishes the relationship between Arjuna and Lord Krishna. Arjuna being the son of Kunti, who is the sister of Lord Krishna’s father Vasudeva, made Lord Krishna feel a sense of responsibility towards him. This familial relationship was used by Lord Krishna to become the charioteer of Arjuna and guide him in the battle.

The advice given by Lord Krishna to “behold the Kurus” was not an indication for Arjuna to stop fighting, as fighting was his duty. It was rather an attempt made by Lord Krishna to lighten the mood and bring a friendly atmosphere between them. Lord Krishna was affectionate towards Arjuna and wanted him to fulfil his duties with confidence.

In summary, Srila Prabhupada’s purport highlights the fact that Lord Krishna, as the Supersoul, understood the mental state of Arjuna and used his friendship to guide him in the right direction. Lord Krishna’s advice to Arjuna was not to give up the fight but to do his duty with confidence and fearlessness. This principle of understanding the mental state of others and guiding them in the right direction through love and friendship is a universal principle that can be applied to any relationship or situation.