In the previous episode, we had witnessed Bhagawan Krishna explaining how important it is for a leader to walk the treacherous path and illustrate to people, rather than sitting on a high-throne and merely instructing people what to do. Bhagawan clearly explains to Arjuna that if he is going to run away from the battlefield today, this is going to set a very bad example for generations to come. People might start interpreting Arjuna’s “kindness” and “benevolence” to “cowardice” and “escapism” from performing his duty. Hence, it is very important for a leader to carefully tread the path of “Karma Yoga” by setting the right example for people to follow. As we’ve witnessed too, every move made by a leader is watched closely by people around, and hence, the leader should be extremely cautious and careful while taking decisions and implementing them.
Moreover, Bhagawan also insists that while carefully taking decisions and performing our “Karma”, we should not forget to offer all of these to Him! This is very important and Bhagawan has been stressing upon this point right from the beginning of the second “Adhyaaya”. Bhagawan says thus,
“Kaayenavaachaa manase indriyairvaa budhyaatmanaavaa prakriteshvabhaavaath!
Karomi yadh yadh sakalam parasmair narayanaayeti samarpayaami!!”
This is one shloka which is very famous and many of us might be knowing as well. The message behind this shloka is very clear – Do your duty and surrender every action that you perform to Bhagawan’s divine lotus feet! At this point, as Bhagawan says this once again (perhaps for the n’th time so far), Arjuna has a doubt constantly within himself. Now as Bhagawan finishes this accord, Arjuna is quick to ask this as a question. He asks thus, “Oh Krishna! Whatever you’re saying sounds very juicy and implementable! I’m also trying to implement your words. I’m starting it off very well. However, with due course of time, either I’m slowing down in my implementation, or, I’m completely swept away off track! Why is this happening? What is it that is preventing me from sustained and continuous implementation of whatever you’re saying now?”
Now this is a very important and pertinent question which all of us would have in our minds as well. After reading every episode that we publish on a daily basis, all of us will have a thought – From today onwards, let us start implementing whatever Bhagawan says as part of His Bhagawad Gita. From now onwards, whatever actions we perform on a regular basis, will be strictly according to whatever Bhagawan says in the Gita. However, something will happen in the middle, and we would be completely carried away by that event! Eventually, we would even end up forgetting what Bhagawan has said! So why is this happening to us? Why are we getting completely carried away by the “Maya” (Illusion) in this world? Are the words / actions of people around us more powerful than the words of Bhagawan, so that we pay heed to them unnecessarily and get carried away completely? I’m sure all of us might be having this question in mind, and for today, let us keep pondering over the reasons for this happening. We shall wait till the next episode to witness Bhagawan Krishna’s important answer on this, which of course, is going to be a detailed one! Stay tuned for the next episode to commence this detailed discussion! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 