The Bhagavad Gita by Eknath Easwaran

chapter four
╭ Wisdom in Action
Krishna is eager to grant Arjuna
knowledge of the highest spiritual truths, or even a rare mystical
vision; but Arjuna has been asking for Krishna to simply
get him out of his present difficulties. Of course these difficulties
are not minor – he is caught in a family tragedy that has
developed into a vicious conflict. If he cannot extricate himself,
he knows that he will have to take part in a catastrophic
battle that no one wants.
So when Krishna begins to tell Arjuna about the “secret
teachings” he will be privileged to hear because he is Krishna’s
favorite devotee and friend, it hardly registers in Arjuna’s
consciousness. His reply is confused. “How could you have
taught any secret wisdom to the sages of old?” he asks.
At this point Krishna reminds Arjuna again of the process
of rebirth. They have both been reborn many times, but naturally
Arjuna does not remember his past lives because he has
no access to this kind of knowledge. Krishna remembers his
former births, but he is no ordinary being. He reveals that he
111 ╯