So Kṛṣṇa could do everything. He was competent, everything. But He wanted to give the credit to Arjuna. That was His plan. Kṛṣṇa has already done everything. But Arjuna, as a common man, he was talking with Kṛṣṇa. Actually, Arjuna also knew that, "Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, it is my duty to serve Him." This was known to Arjuna. Therefore he is bhakta. Bhakta means who has dedicated his life to serve Kṛṣṇa. That is bhakta.
- sarvopādhi-vinirmuktaṁ
- tat-paratvena nirmalam
- hṛṣīkeṇa hṛṣīkeśa-
- sevanaṁ bhaktir ucyate
- (CC Madhya 19.170)
This is bhakti definition. When one becomes freed from all designation . . ."I am American," this is designation. "I am Indian," this is designation. "I am brāhmaṇa," this is designation. "I am kṣatriya," this is designation. So one has to become free from all designation. This designation is bodily. I am not this body. Ahaṁ brahmāsmi. I am spirit soul. Therefore when one understands that, "I am not this body. I am spirit soul, I am part and parcel of the Supreme," that is self-realization.
- brahma-bhūtaḥ prasannātmā
- na śocati na kāṅkṣati
- samaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu
- mad-bhaktiṁ labhate parām
- (BG 18.54)
This is Brahman realization, ahaṁ brahmāsmi, that "I am not this body." So long one is under the conception of this body, he is no better than the animals. Sa eva go-kharaḥ. Go means cows and kharaḥ means ass. Yasyātma-buddhiḥ kuṇape tri-dhātuke (SB 10.84.13).