In the previous episode, we had witnessed Arjuna asking a very important question – Even though we appreciate Bhagawan’s words to the fullest and commence our implementation of the same, we’re not able to sustain in our efforts. Why is this happening? What is preventing us from continuing our implementation of Bhagawan’s words? For this, Bhagawan is going to give an important answer, which we’re about to witness today. Bhagawan explains in detail thus,
“Kaama yeshaha krodha yeshaha rajo guna samudbhavaha!
Mahaashanaha mahapaaptma viddhi yenam iha vairinam!!”
Bhagawan gives an important answer to Arjuna thus, “Oh Arjuna! The main reasons for not being able to implement my words are “Kaamam” and “Krodham”. “Kaamam” is desire, and “Krodham” is anger. These two characteristics dominate in a living being and this domination leads to something called “Rajo Guna”. This “Rajo Guna” is the one that prevents us from implementing any of Bhagawan’s words properly! Oh Arjuna! If you’ve to implement my words, you’ve to somehow get rid of your “Rajo Guna”. Let me tell you how this works. “Kaamam” (Desire) leads you to direct your senses towards the object / goal that you want to attain. If you’re able to attain whatever you wish to, do you think your desire will be satisfied? The answer is “No”! If you attain whatever you’ve desired for, you’ll start craving for more of it! Until your craving keeps getting satisfied, you will be happy. However, is it a guarantee that all your desires will be satisfied at all times? The obvious answer is a “No”! Hence, if at some point of time your desire doesn’t get fulfilled, it will turn into frustration and as a result, you will start making extra efforts to somehow attain it. If you encounter repeated failures in your pursuit, this will automatically transform into “Krodha” (Anger)! If you’re at the peak of anger, your ego will take over, and ultimately you will end up forgetting what I’ve advised you to do! Rather than implementing my words, you will end up doing exactly the opposite of what I’ve said!”
Bhagawan Krishna continues further thus, “Oh Arjuna! So from my above narrative, it is clear that unless and until you have a check on your desires, you will be unable to control your anger / frustration! Without controlling your anger / frustration, you will not be able to implement anything that I’ve told you so far. Hence, this is a vicious cycle into which all of us get trapped into, and you’ve to find a way to somehow plug this loophole at the grassroot level itself without allowing the problem to complicate further! Hence, my advice to you is very simple – Perform your duty just because you’re destined to do it, and with Bhagawan’s divine “Anugraha”. Do not look at your duty in terms of fulfilling your desire of obtaining a positive result out of it! If you start doing so, your desire will start growing and you will start striving for achievement come what may! Of course, success is important, but it is not in your hands! Hence, you should be able to balance your duty in such a way that you will perform it sans desires. Once this is achieved, automatically your anger will reduce and you will be able to see things in a more balanced way. If you’re able to control your desire and anger successfully, you are already on the track of implementing whatever I’ve explained to you till now!”
Now, this is one of the most important philosophies that we’ve to understand from the entire Bhagawad Gita. So the concept goes like this:
- Controlling desires
- Controlling the craving feeling
- Controlling frustration
- Controlling anger
If all these are brought under control, other things will automatically start falling in place. So for today, let us understand up to this point, and we shall witness the practical implications of this in the next episode! Stay tuned for an interesting accord! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 