In the previous episode, we had witnessed Bhagawan Krishna creating a step-wise procedure to attain the highest “Moksha” very clearly. It all starts from the “Deha-Atma-Vivekam”, which manifests into a pure mind. If we perform all our actions with a pure mind, it becomes part of our “Karma Yoga”. Only within a pure mind, will “Gnyaana Yoga” prosper! If we meticulously perform the “Gnyaana Yoga” with a lot of persistence and perseverance, it would lead us to realize the “Atma-Saakshaakaram”. With the “Atma-Saakshaakaram”, we are going to progress towards Bhagawan without any hiccups. Bhagawan Krishna is going to explain this step-wise procedure in a great detail in the upcoming five “Adhyaayas”, with enormous detailing about the “Karma Yoga”, lined up next.
Moving forward thus, Arjuna asks the next question to Bhagawan – “Oh Bhagawan Krishna! You’re saying all this with the assumption that we would win this war. However, what if we end up losing it? What will happen then? My “Deham” will also get destroyed in the process and my “Atman” will only remain. How will I perform the “Karma” (Actions) thereafter?” As Arjuna asks thus, Bhagawan quickly replies back – “Oh Arjuna! Why do you want to keep worrying like this all the time? If you end up on the losing side, you will attain the “Veera-Svargam” wherein you will enjoy the resultant of all the good actions that you’ve done so far. However, if you win the war, you are going to obtain the entire Hastinapura kingdom, with which you can enjoy it on one hand, and on the other, you can take that as an opportunity to establish “Dharma” in the world!”
Bhagawan Krishna continues thus,
“Sukha dukhe same druthvaa laabhaa laabhou jayaa jayou!
Tasmaad yuddhaan yuddhasva naivam paapam avaapyasi!!”
Bhagawan Krishna once again establishes thus, “Oh Arjuna! Please understand one thing clearly – Both “Sukham” and “Dukham” will keep alternating between each other in life. There cannot be a time wherein you will continuously be experiencing “Sukham” only, and vice versa. Thus, these are things that keep coming and going. Similarly, victory and defeat are part and parcel of the life of a “Kshatrya”. Today you might lose, but tomorrow you might win. Hence, the point here is, you should learn to view “Sukham” and “Dukham” in a balanced way. You should learn to view victory and defeat in a balanced way. You should neither get too carried away by the victory that you obtain, nor you should sit in a corner and brood over failure. You should learn to treat both equally!”
This is yet another important philosophy that Bhagawan Krishna is explaining here, and upon a closer look, we should realize that this particular shloka is the fundamental base for the entire discussion on “Karma Yoga”. If we’ve to say that we’ve to look at success and failure equally, this is the base argument for building the narrative of “Detachment”, which Bhagawan is going to talk about later on during the “Karma Yoga” discussion. Thus, even in a modern-day leadership context, a successful leader is the one who is able to find a balance between success and failure. Just because the organization has encountered hurdles, hiccups or roadblocks somewhere, does it mean that the leader shows his anger / frustration on his people squarely? Or, just because the organization tastes success, do people celebrate as if there’s no tomorrow? There should be a balance, isn’t it? Especially when the team / organization is at the brink of failure, this is where the leader should step up, stand with his / her people and motivate them further, isn’t it? So when will the leader be able to do this? Only if the leader is having a balanced outlook towards success and failure, isn’t it?
So this is what we’ve to learn from today’s episode. Thus, for now, let us understand clearly that for both spiritual and professional advancement, we should learn to start looking at success and failure with a balance. I know it’s easier said than done, but somewhere we’ve to start, isn’t it? So for today, let us start thinking on this and let us find out ways how we can implement this great philosophy in our lives! We shall continue this discussion further in the next episode as well! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 