What is the basis for equating Arjuna’s Gandiva bow with our determination?

Transcript

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context. Thank you. And that the Gandhi Babu represents the free will of the living entity.
So, is there any reference for this? Prabhupada strongly critiques any metaphorical interpretation of the Gita. But there are references where Prabhupada also accepts the metaphorical interpretations. For example, I agree with Prabhupada quotes in the Hare Krishna Explosion book that when his initiation was there, that was the second initiation in 1966 in New York.
So, he said, Prabhupada writes that Krishna and Arjuna sat in the same chariot, but Arjuna knew that Krishna is the supreme. We are also in a kind of chariot with Krishna. That chariot is this material body and within the heart, Lord Krishna is present as a super soul witnessing all our activities.
And then Prabhupada says that we should never fret when confronted with other adversities, for we should know that Lord Krishna is driving our chariot. So, here Prabhupada is comparing our body to the chariot and he’s saying when we take initiation, we are accepting Krishna as our chariot here. So, now Prabhupada also refers to Devaki metaphorically in the 10th Canto when he says that Kamsa represents material existence and Devaki refers to the fear of material existence.
So, basically, if the metaphorical interpretation is a substitute for the literal interpretation, Prabhupada strongly rejects that. But if the metaphorical interpretation is a supplement, is an addition to the literal interpretation, then Krishna Prabhupada doesn’t necessarily reject that. And we have the example of Bhaktivinoda Thakura also giving metaphorical or deeper meanings for the demons in Krishna Leela.
So, I heard this particular reference first time from Purnachandra Maharaj. There is Gandiva bow representing the determination. Then I asked him, Purnachandra Maharaj, then I asked him for a reference.
He said, actually, this is my poetic license. So, then I thought about it. Actually speaking, the Bhagavad Gita has a very strong symbolism over there.
The last verse of the first chapter, 1.46 is ending with Visrujya Sasaram Chapam. He puts aside his bow and 18.77 is Dhanur Dharah. He has lifted up the bow.
So, we are not saying in the sense that there is no historical person called Arjuna. There is no actual battle that happened. But what we are saying is that it represents a universal principle that we may get discouraged by the perceptions of this world and our determination to serve Krishna may go away.
And by hearing Krishna’s words, our determination will be restored. So, again, I would say that this is an extension of a principle that has precedence in our tradition.