The foreigners took advantage of India’s simplicity, magnanimity. They came here, the Muhammadans and the Christians, to exploit it. But India was very much magnanimous. Anyone who comes — “Yes, come here. Learn Vedic literature.” The India’s philosophy is grham satrum api praptam visvastam akutobhayam. That is India’s philosophy. “Even the enemy comes to your place, you should receive him so nicely that he will forget that he is your enemy.” That is India’s philosophy. Grham satrum api praptam. What to speak of friend, even if you get your enemy, you shall receive him. That is India’s hospitality. In the fight…

We have got incidences in the history. There was fight, Kurus and the Pandavas, but in the evening time they were friends. Evening time, there is no animosity. Just like Arjuna went to Duryodhana. Duryodhana criticized as grandfather. Grandfather is sometimes criticized by the grandsons. It is not an offense. You cannot criticize superiors, but between grandfather and grandchildren the relation is different. The grandfather also criticizes the grandchildren. So Duryodhana criticized Bhismadeva, “My dear grandfather, you have got affection for the Pandavas. Then you are not fighting sincerely. You have been appointed the commander-in-chief, but out of your affection you are neglecting your duty.” Indirectly he said. So old grandfather became little angry: “What do you want?” “No, you can finish them in one day. Why you are taking so much time?”

“All right, I shall finish today. Tomorrow I shall do that. At least I shall finish Arjuna tomorrow. Either his intimate friend Krsna will have to break His promise or His friend will die. You’ll see tomorrow.” Because Krsna said, “Arjuna, I am joining you, but I shall not fight. Do you want Me?” Still, Arjuna said, “Yes, I want You. You don’t fight.” And Duryodhana saw Krsna divided — one side Himself and another side His eighteen aksauhini military force. So Duryodhana thought that “Better let me take the forces. If Krsna does not fight, what shall I do with Him? Better take His forces.” So Duryodhana accepted the military force, and Arjuna accepted Krsna, with the promise that “I shall not fight, so I shall become your charioteer.” So Arjuna, Krsna and Pitamaha, the Grandfather Bhismadeva, this is the scene.

From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.5.20 — November 8, 1976, Vrndavana