Q. Yudhisthira could see outcome of the battle of Kurukshetra only after the battle was over and he was aggrieved very much. But Arjuna was able to foresee the massacre. Is this quality of Arjuna that made him eligible to receive Bhagavad-Gita directly from the Lord even though all the Pandavas are His dear devotees?
Answer by Romapada Swami: There is no explicit mention of a special qualification that made Arjuna to be chosen as the recipient of Bhagavad-Gita, except of course that Arjuna was the dearest friend of the Lord who acted as his charioteer.
Maharaja Yudhisthira also foresaw the evil effects of a battle well before the actual commencement of the battle, as did Arjuna. There were many elaborate discussions between the Pandavas with Krishna and other great sages and saintly persons, deeply considering all possible means to avert the war. But finding no other recourse, and being convinced by all the great authorities, they were ultimately obliged to fight. And yet again, on seeing the Kurus actually assembled in the battlefield, Arjuna was once again overcome by lamentation, being induced by the Lord Himself, so that the Bhagavad-Gita could be delivered for the benefit of all humanity.
The quality that is brought out by Maharaja Yudhisthira’s bereavement after the battle (SB 1.8.47-52) is his soft-heartedness and compassion — the fact that he only acted as obliged by religious principles and even the Lord Himself did not make him callous to the suffering of countless victims nor did he rest upon this to justify his actions. As stated by Saunaka, even up to the end, Yudhisthira and his brothers could never enjoy the kingdom with unrestricted consciousness, but ruled simply as a matter of duty.
