Dr. Singh: An interesting thing struck me the other day, Swamiji, about the Bhagavad-gītā, that whether Arjuna would have fought or not, the war would nevertheless have taken place.
Prabhupāda: Hm?
Dr. Singh: Whether Arjuna fought or not, the war would nevertheless have taken place, because both the armies were there, the conches had been sounded. So Arjuna's decision was not whether there should be war or whether there should not be war. Arjuna's decision was only whether he should fight or he should not fight.
Prabhupāda: Yes, that...
Dr. Singh: But the more difficult decision is whether there should be war, whether there should not be war. Because Arjuna only came into it, if you consider it, only at the time when everything had already been decided, the armies had been brought.
Prabhupāda: Everything was done by Kṛṣṇa.
Dr. Singh: When He went as Addhutta(?). That to my mind is even the more important aspect of this whole story, because it...
Prabhupāda: Therefore, when everything was done by Him and Arjuna declined to fight, therefore Kṛṣṇa called him foolish, it is foolishness. Therefore He taught him Bhagavad-gītā. And when he came to his Kṛṣṇa consciousness, he took up the opportunity. He said plainly that "Arjuna, you fight or don't fight, these people are not going back home. That is already settled up." Nimitta-mātraṁ bhava savyasācin. So this plan was made by Kṛṣṇa, and there was no other alternative.
Dr. Singh: Arjuna was very lucky to have Kṛṣṇa there to tell him what the plan was.
Prabhupāda: Yes.
Dr. Singh: Arjuna.
Prabhupāda: So everyone can become happy like Arjuna if he becomes Kṛṣṇa conscious, that's all. I was studying your book.
Dr. Singh: My book? Where did you see my book, Swamiji?
Prabhupāda: (indistinct)
Dr. Singh: This one? Where on earth did you get this? This is just one little lecture.
Śyāmasundara: You secretary gave it to us.
Dr. Singh: Really? In fact, we must get Swamiji to sign your books. I have got all your books.
Prabhupāda: So some of the points... What was the points?
Śyāmasundara: That every statement of Hinduism in the context of the nuclear age assumes tremendous importance.
Prabhupāda: Yes. So that we are doing.
Dr. Singh: Yes.
Prabhupāda: We are giving shape to your philosophy. Just like it was the conception that in India there are brāhmaṇas only. Amongst the Hindus, there are brāhmaṇas.
Dr. Singh: (indistinct)
Prabhupāda: Is it not? Now we are creating brāhmaṇas from America, from Australia. Is it not re-creation of (indistinct)?
Dr. Singh: Restatement of Hinduism.
Śyāmasundara: He has always been open to creative reinterpretation.
Prabhupāda: This is creative reinterpretation. We are accepting brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas—especially brāhmaṇas—from every community.