Krishna as a Friend:

Krishna is unique in that sense; he allows a friend relationship to develop with him.  Arjun lived with Krishna as friend (sakha).  you cannot imagine being a friend with Buddha, Mahavir, Nanak or Ram.  Friendship brings a different kind of closeness.  Knowing a friend like Krishna brings on the respect and devotion for him over time.  The more you know Krishna, the more you appreciate his vastness and depth.  One day he will open up his whole mystery to you or I as he did to his sakha (friend) Arjun.  Then and then only the true form of Krishna is realized.

Krishna lived in this universe and the universe lived inside him.  If there is something beyond universe, that also existed inside Krishna.  Krishna represents entire existence, he cares for the existence and he nurtures the existence.  All this is hard to understand intellectually.  Closeness to Krishna and Krishna’s help is essential in understanding him.  Let’s make him a friend as Arjun did.

सखेतिमत्वाप्रसभंयदुक्तं
हेकृष्णहेयादवहेसखेति|

Thinking of you as my friend, I presumptuously addressed you as, “O Krishna,” “O Yadav,” “O my dear mate.”

And then the devotion:

भक्त्यात्वनन्ययाशक्यअहमेवंविधोऽर्जुन|

O Arjun, by unalloyed devotion alone can I be known as I am, standing before you.

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Thanks
Bhagavad Gita, The Song of God