On the eve of the Mahabharatha war, Arjuna was subjected to a test by Krishna. Arjuna was worried about how to wage the war against his kinsmen and what strategy he should adopt. Krishna took him to a forest in the evening. It was twilight. The light of knowledge was setting and the darkness of ignorance was emerging. Krishna wanted to find out whether Arjuna was fit for receiving the Geethopadesha (message of the Gita)the next day. He pointed out to Arjuna a bird on a tree and asked him whether it was a peacock. Arjuna said: "Yes, my Lord! It is indeed a peacock". "No, no. It is a dove," observed Krishna. Arjuna immediately said: "Yes, it is a dove". Krishna then said: "You senseless fellow! It is not a dove but a crow!" "Yes, Krishna! It is a crow," said Arjuna. Krishna then told Arjuna: "You have no power of discrimination at all. You cannot decide whether it is a peacock, a dove or a crow and only say 'yes' to whatever I say. Should you not have this much of understanding?"
Arjuna replied: "Krishna, if one does not know your real nature, one may attempt to agree or disagree with you. But I have understood the truth about you. If I declare that it is not a peacock, a dove or a crow, you have the power to turn it into a peacock, a dove or a crow. I have therefore no need to enquire into what it is. Your word alone matters for me. That is sufficient authority for me." When Arjuna displayed such implicit faith in Krishna, He felt that Arjuna was fit to receive the message of the Gita.
