In the previous episode, we had witnessed Bhagawan Krishna clarifying a few things with Arjuna, on the pointer of being able to view happiness / sorrow, success / failure equally with a balance. Arjuna is of the opinion that it is easy to say all these things, but is it practically possible for people to follow! Bhagawan Krishna resorts to immediately clear this doubt by illustrating how He Himself was an epitome of this point during His previous “Rama-Avatara”. Bhagawan explains how He was neutral when He was awarded the kingdom of Ayodhya and also when it was taken away from Him by Mother Kaikeyi. Moreover, when He had to lose Mother Sita in the forest, He was not very perturbed, but did His duty to bring her back. By saying all this, Bhagawan Krishna illustrates that it is possible to lead a life in a balanced way with regards to happiness / sorrow and success / failure. This also proves one important point with regards to leadership and management of today – When Bhagawan Krishna is asserting this point, He talks about what He has done earlier, isn’t it? This shows that leaders should always have a proven track record while guiding others. Leaders should not talk simply in the air without practising what they preach. If such is the case, people will not respect the leader in any way. Thus, it is always important for a leader to “walk the talk”, rather than “only talking”! 🙂 Bhagawan Krishna is extremely good at this!
Moving on further, now our important question here is whether Arjuna is convinced with what Bhagawan is saying. Arjuna immediately asks thus, “Oh Bhagawan Krishna! If you’re doing so many things, can you expect normal people like us to do everything whatever you do? How fair can this be? You are Bhagawan! You may have the infinite capability to do anything and accomplish anything and everything in this world. However, we are normal people. We do not have the capability and intellect that you possess. For instance, you can instantaneously change the mindset of Kaikeyi if you want to. You can instantaneously change the mindset of Ravana too. You can even change Duryodhana’s mindset too if you want too, at this very moment! You can do all that! But we cannot, isn’t it? Moreover, the sole purpose for which you took the “Rama-Avatara” was to go to the forest and kill Ravana at Sri Lanka. If Kaikeyi’s wish is for you to go to the forest, why wouldn’t you take it? Hence, oh Bhagawan Krishna! Please stop this comparison between you doing something and we doing something! Please be practical! Now tell me how do we implement this point in our daily lives, if at all possible? Oh Bhagawan! You should always talk in my context! You should not generalize you with me! Please tell me what is implementable for me!”
As Arjuna asks thus, Bhagawan Krishna laughs and replies immediately! This seems a very valid point raised by Arjuna, isn’t it? Bhagawan can do so many things, but can we do the same whatever He does? However, Bhagawan is sharp in retaliating to Arjuna thus, “Oh Arjuna! I knew you would ask this question to me! If you’re not able to follow whatever I do, why don’t you look at the Gurus, Alwars and Aachaaryas? They are also normal people like you! If they are able to do all these, why can’t you do? So please do not think that whatever I’m saying is impractical. Everything is doable! It is only in the mind whether we want to really do something or not. If we change our mindset and attitude, everything is possible!”
Now this is a very important message that Bhagawan Krishna is sending out, not only for Arjuna but also for all of us! If we have the right attitude, everything is possible in this world, isn’t it? So for today, let us ponder over this point deeply and from here on, Bhagawan Krishna is slowly going to introduce the “Karma Yoga” to Arjuna and to all of us! We shall wait till the next episode to commence this important discussion! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 