In the previous episode, we had witnessed Bhagawan Krishna extending the discussion on the “Karma Yoga” in a different angle here – He’s clarifying an important point with regards to modern-day leadership as well. On the pretext of performing our “Karma” (Actions), leaders should be very careful with what actions they are performing in the public domain. This is because great leaders will be watched keenly by thousands of people around him / her. If the leader is performing unwanted heroics or stunts, just to grab the attention of people, chances are very high that people might imitate his / her behavior in their real lives too. We see a lot of advertisements in today’s context which contain a lot of such stunts, but it would clearly be written beneath the advertisement that the performing artists are specially trained to do the stunts, and these actions should not be imitated by common people. Hence, in this way, while performing our “Karma”, Bhagawan Krishna sounds a caution to Arjuna that he needs to be very careful with every move that he makes because people are closely watching him!
Emphasizing this point clearly, Bhagawan Krishna advises Arjuna thus, “Oh my dear Arjuna! If you’re running away from the battlefield today, what kind of an example are you setting for the future? What will people say tomorrow? They would say thus, ‘Oh! Why should I fight a war and protect my country? There is a great example of a great warrior by name Arjuna, who himself has run away from a battlefield by shunning his weapons! If he can shun the battle, why can’t I?’ Is this a narrative you want to hear from people in the future? Hence, you’ve to be very careful with whatever actions you’re performing!”
The point is very clear here – As leaders, we should set an example for others to follow. This is the first stage. Second stage is that the same leaders should set the right example for others to follow. The above two stages have a slight but a distinct difference between them, don’t they? Setting an example is fine – But what kind of an example are we setting up for people? A leader should not be an epitome of “how not to lead”, isn’t it? Rather, a leader should “lead from the front”! This is exactly what Bhagawan Krishna is emphasizing here! Bhagawan Krishna continues further thus, “Oh Arjuna! Look at me! I’m someone who is completely unaffected by any kind of “Karma-Phalam” (Fruits of actions). Neither “Punya Karma” nor “Paapa Karma” can have any effect on me! However, I’m still performing all my duties because I’m born as a normal human being in this world just like you! I’m performing my duty meticulously as your charioteer. I’ve performed my duty towards brokering peace between you and Duryodhana by going as a messenger to Hastinapura. Similarly I’ve performed many other duties for which I’ve incarnated in this world. Also, I’m continuing to perform my duty as the king of Dwaraka. Hence, Oh Arjuna! Nobody including me can escape from the “Karma Yoga”!”
Bhagawan Krishna continues further thus, “Oh Arjuna! You might ask me a question here – You are Bhagawan incarnate! Why should you take so much effort to do these kinds of worldly duties? Why can’t you refrain yourself completely from all these? Now let me give you the answer to this question – If I refrain from my duties and sit in a corner commanding others, what will the world say? Oh wow! Bhagawan Himself is not performing what He has to perform! If Bhagawan can escape from His duty, why can’t I? This is why I make sure that I perform my duties correctly, so that the world will look up to me and follow me as an example!”
This is also exactly why Bhagawan voluntarily took up so many difficulties and challenges during His incarnation as Bhagawan Rama in the previous Yuga! One might ask – Why did Bhagawan Rama suffer so much, even though He’s all-pervasive and all-capable? Why did Bhagawan Rama go to the forest for fourteen years? Why didn’t Bhagawan Rama kill Ravana at that moment itself when he abducted Mother Sita? There is a procedure for all this, isn’t it? Bhagawan Rama’s main purpose of incarnation was to illustrate to the world, the significance of performing one’s “Karma”. Our “Karma” is of different forms – For instance, our “Karma” towards our parents, our “Karma” towards our family (wife, children, etc.), our “Karma” towards other fellow beings, our “Karma” towards establishing “Dharma” and standing by it! Bhagawan Rama performed everything meticulously all through His divine incarnation, even though He was Bhagawan Himself, who is not bound by any of these “Karma”! This is how Bhagawan sets Himself as the role model for all of us to follow suit! So for today, let us understand this point clearly and we shall wait till the next episode to continue this discussion further! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 