As a father, a friend, a lover

tasmātpraṇamya praṇidhāya kāyaṃ prasādaye tvāmahamīśamīḍyampiteva putrasya sakheva sakhyuḥ priyaḥ priyāyārhasi deva soḍhum

I lay my body down for Your grace. As father to son, friend to friend, lover to beloved, bear with me, O God.

What it means

Arjuna lays himself down and asks for grace. Then three beautiful images. Bear with me as a father bears with his child. As a friend with a friend. As a lover with the beloved. Arjuna isn't asking for a formal relationship with God. He's asking for every kind of love at once.

The story

After the awe and terror, this is where Arjuna lands. Not on distance, but intimacy. He wants Krishna to forgive him the way people who love each other forgive.

In your life

Remember the three kinds of love in your life, family, friends, partner. Each forgives in its own way. Show patience today to someone you love, the way you'd want it shown to you.