Material life is about constantly creating new knots. As we journey through life, we accumulate so many knots – knots of relationships, knots of attachment, knots of ideologies, opinions, and ego. These knots occupy a significant space in our minds and hearts. They create deep impressions in the heart.

These knots prevent us from surrendering completely to Krishna, and these very knots prolong our stay in this material world. The stronger the knot, the more challenging it becomes to remove.

Pururava’s knot with Urvashi was so strong that he wasn’t ready to give her up.
Arjuna’s knot of family affection was so strong that he wasn’t willing to fight.
Politicians have knots with their positions – so strong that they hold on until their last breath.

When we come to Krishna Consciousness, we understand the need to become free from these knots. Gita and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam speaks of different swords that can cut these knots. When a knot becomes too hard, it is almost impossible to untie; it must be cut. Below are the three swords we must carry.

The Sword of Knowledge

In the fourth chapter of the Bhagavad-gītā, Krishna speaks about the sword of knowledge. He explains that one can cut through delusion with this sword – jñāna-sinā.

After Krishna’s departure, Arjuna was feeling hopeless and lost. But by remembering Krishna’s instructions on the battlefield, he became pacified. His illusion was cut, his knots loosened, and he again stood firm. The sword of knowledge given by Krishna had rescued him – a sword he had forgotten to carry for some time.

Sometimes, we may get bewildered in the course of our practice of spiritual life. Therefore, being in touch with Srila Prabhupada’s books is very essential. They help us sharpen the sword of knowledge to cut through illusion and to get the right discrimination. Not contacting Srila Prabhupada’s books for a long time is like leaving our sword in a moist weather only to get rsuted.

The Sword of Detachment

The Bhagavad-gītā speaks about the sword of detachment in the fifteenth chapter:
asaṅga-śastreṇa dṛḍhena chittvā.

Some things in life simply have to be given up. We often hesitate to use the sword of detachment, either due to fear of loosing something, or due to a lack of faith in the Supreme, and we rarely bother to sharpen it. So our efforts at detachment become like trying to cut with a blunt sword.

That is why people sometimes give up sense gratification for a short time but soon pick it up again. The detachment is not steady. They give up bad habits for a while, only to slip back.

Pariksit Maharaja carried this sword of detachment. Although being the emperor of the whole world, he could give up a vast kingdom in a matter of moments to take complete shelter of the Supreme Lord and his devotees. Why does it become so difficult to give up our petty attachments to the things of this world?

The prostitute Pingala was deeply agitated due to her attachment of finding a suitable lover. Her restlessness was only increasing moment after moment. But she found the sword of detachment nearby, lifted it, and cut her attachment.

The sword of detachment is sharpened by understanding the nature of this world, developing the right knowledge, by associating with people those who possess this sword, and by sincerely practicing the path of bhakti.

The sword of detachment and the sword of knowledge must work together, but for them to remain effective, they require a third sword.

The Sword of Remembrance

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.15) speaks about the sword of remembrance. With this sword, one can cut to pieces all reactionary work – yad-anudhyāsinā yuktāḥ karma-granthi-nibandhanam.

Remembrance of Krishna pierces through the hard knots of ego, attachment, and unhealthy relationships. This sword burns away karmic reactions and frees the heart.

If we don’t carry this sword, how can we expect to remember Krishna at the time of death? All our scriptures point towards a singular conclusion – To somehow or other remember Krishna, and to never forget Him.

Draupadi carried the sword of remembrance always. This sword proved handy when she was being disrobed in the vicious assembly of Kauravas. She also used this sword when Durvasa Muni came at their cottage along with sixty thousand disciples, and she had already eaten and washed her aksaya-patra. Krishna protected her both the times.

Caitanya Caritamrita states that for one who remembers Mahaprabhu, even the most difficult thing becomes easy, and without his remembrance, even the easiest task becomes a tedious one. (CC Adi 14.1) What then, is the difficulty in carrying this sword?

Uddhava always carried the sword of remembrance of Krishna. He did not have any karma-granthis, but he carried this sword to gift it to others.

Śrīla Prabhupāda also carried this sword when he came to America. With this sword, he shattered maya’s illusion. Through this sword, he gave people the supreme object of love Sri Krishna. Prabhupada mercifully left this sword in all his temples for the next 10,000 years in the form of his books, his teachings, his association and his devotees. Each of these have the potency to remind us of Krishna.

Prabhupāda gave us multiple swords – remembrance, knowledge, and detachment. In essence, Prabhupāda’s sword contains everything.

Using the Three Swords Together

In daily life, these swords must be used contextually. Sometimes remembrance of Krishna may feel difficult – then we first need detachment. Sometimes detachment may not work – then we need proper knowledge to create the right mindset.

When these swords are used together, a devotee’s life becomes blissful, free from the knots that otherwise entangle the soul and drag it deeper into material existence.

We must regularly reflect:
Am I carrying my swords daily?
Am I sharpening them?
Or have they become blunt, lying in a corner unused for a long time?