In the previous episode, we had witnessed the continuation of an important pointer of discussion wherein we’re talking about how we balance success and failure, and also happiness and sorrow. Of course it is very easy to say and difficult to implement, but we’ve to start somewhere, don’t we? So how do we do it? This is where Bhagawan Krishna is continuing His lengthy accord in this regard with Arjuna, wherein He talks about how if we perform our actions obediently by listening to Bhagawan’s words and advice, they become part of our “Dharma”. However, if we perform the same actions out of our ego and frustration, it will not account for our “Punya-Karma” at all and rather, would be considered as an act of “Adharma”.
Moving on further thus, as Bhagawan Krishna explains all these things to Arjuna, he lifts up his head for the first time and laughs! Upon seeing Arjuna laughing, Bhagawan Krishna understands the meaning behind Arjuna’s laugh. By laughing, Arjuna conveys the thought process of all of us too! 🙂 He means thus, “Oh Bhagawan! You can say a hundred things like these! However, are they implementable? Do you think anybody in this world will be able to see happiness and sorrow on the same plane? If that happens, nobody will cry and nobody will laugh, right? So are you telling us that we should be completely devoid of all emotions? How is this even possible?”
As Arjuna thinks thus, Bhagawan Krishna quickly realizes this and replies back even before Arjuna articulates this into words! In fact, if we look at this section of the Bhagawad Gita, Arjuna’s question will not be documented, however, Bhagawan’s reply would be described at length! This simply means that Bhagawan has understood Arjuna’s thought process clearly and even before he asks a question formally, Bhagawan gives the reply! So what does Bhagawan say? He says thus, “Oh my dear Arjuna! I’m only talking about whatever I’ve implemented in my earlier incarnation! Oh Arjuna! Please understand one thing clearly first up – This is not my first incarnation in this world and this is not going to be my last as well! In my previous incarnation as Bhagawan Rama, I had demonstrated all these qualities that I’m talking about now. For instance, when my father, King Dasharata said that I’ll be succeeding him to the throne, I was taking it with a balance. However, when Mother Kaikeyi announced that instead of me, her son Bharata would ascend to the throne, did my face or body language exhibit any kind of sorrow? The answer is “No”! Thus, on both occasions, I was maintaining my calm and composure and this is the hallmark of a leader! At any occasion, a leader should never lose his calm! Even if the leader is at the brink of a huge failure, he / she should maintain his composure and should never panic! This is what I followed when Mother Kaikeyi stormed at me with her stunning decision!”
Bhagawan Krishna continues further thus, “Oh Arjuna! So please do not worry! Whatever I’m saying to you now, is completely implementable! I’ve been an epitome of all the implementations myself! Why should you go somewhere else for an example for this? I’ve patiently endured fourteen years of forest life and at the end of the thirteenth year, I had to lose Mother Sita too! Even at that time, I was calm and composed! I never panicked! Thus, no matter whatever the situation might be, you should never panic! If you panic, you will lose your temper and thereby, your decision-making capability!”
By saying thus, Bhagawan is cleverly playing His cards here! 🙂 Firstly, He understands Arjuna’s mindset clearly and articulates His reply in such a way that Arjuna is listening to Him! Secondly, if someone has performed something and then talking about it, people will listen! If we simply keep talking in the air without doing anything, how do we expect people to listen to us? Thus, a proven track record is very important for a leader to bank upon and this is why we always say that leaders should “walk the path” and should “lead from the front”! This is how we set an example for the others to follow! Thus, here too, Bhagawan Krishna invokes His proven track record of His “Rama-Avatara” and draws examples from there to highlight His points! Maybe this is why the “Rama-Avatara” came before the “Krishna-Avatara”! 🙂 Only if Bhagwan Rama would have done something, will Bhagawan Krishna be able to talk about it, isn’t it? 🙂
Thus, the point here is very clear – Leaders should have a proven track record, upon which they should bank and guide his followers! Bhagawan Krishna, through this reply clearly highlights this point to all of us! Hence, if we’re advising or guiding someone on something, we should always be sure that we’ve walked that path earlier! So for today, let us understand up to this point and we shall continue this discussion in the next episode as well! Now the question is very simple – Is Arjuna going to get convinced with Bhagawan’s reply? Or, is he again going to have apprehensions about it? Stay tuned for an interesting accord! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 