Why does Arjuna refer to Krishna by specific names in specific verses of the Bhagavad Gita?
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thank you Arjuna addresses Krishna by different names in different verses of the Gita for example in 3.1 he uses the name Janardana and Keshava is there any specific reason for such specific names being used in specific verses answer three things first is that it was a general convention in traditional Vedic culture to repeatedly refer to others while talking with them respectful appetites we see this in the Bhagavatam conversation between Parishad Maharaj and Shudra Goswami and also between Shudra Goswami and the sages so first of all using multiple names people having multiple names based on their accomplishments and they being referred to by those multiple names is a standard second in particular context why particular names are used sometimes the acharyas give explanations in their commentaries and generally they consider the context what is being said and they check if the meaning of that particular name has anything to do with that context and then they give that reading in some cases different acharyas based on how they are overall reading the scripture may even give different meanings of that same name as particularly relevant in a particular verse so for example in the first chapter of Krishna Yuga Arjuna uses the word Janardana for Krishna Janardana has two different meanings one is the protector of people and it can also mean the destroyer of people generally it is referred to protector the destroyer of people refers to the destroyer of the wicked people so the point is that context plays a significant role and there can be inferences made from context and in different contexts or in different analytical frames different inferences can also be made from the same context and thirdly when in this particular verse so Krishna is being asked by Arjuna that you are Janardana, you are the maintainer the protector of all the worlds then why would you engage me in this destruction of so many people your very name is that you are the protector so why are you acting contrary to that why are you instructing me to do something contrary to that and the one possibility could be that sometimes a person is constrained to do something by the pressure of those above them so it’s like the police may be told to attack some riot, attack some protesters even if police feel that the cause for which the protesters are protesting is valid but still they may have to attack and why are they doing it? because they are constrained they are instructed, they are compelled by the instructions of their superiors so Arjuna could be saying over here that Krishna you are Keshava you are the lord of both which is often used to refer to Brahmaji and Isha that is referred to as lord Shiva so you are the lord of both Brahma and Shiva therefore no one can be constraining you to do anything why then are you engaging me in this fight? it seems out of your character that could be the contextual implication of Arjuna’s use of those specific names in that specific verse