Question: The events in Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 1, Ch.12, refer to Arjuna going to Dwaraka to bring back all of Lord Krishna’s wives after Lord Krishna’s departure. It is said that Arjuna’s weapon did not work. Why was Arjuna not able to protect the queens? Why were the wives who were great devotees of Krishna abducted during this attack?
Answer by Romapada Swami: This incident is explained in a later chapter wherein both of these questions are specifically answered in detail within the purports, as well as by Srila Prabhupada in SB 1.15.20-21. In short, it was a wonderful pastime of the Lord where the Lord Himself came in disguise to abduct the queens. Simultaneously the pastime illustrates clearly that Arjuna’s strength and prowess was solely due to Lord Krishna’s presence with him; Arjuna had no independent power.
