In the previous episode, we had witnessed an interesting discussion wherein we’ve tried answer a common and a pertinent question that props up often in our minds – Given that Bhagawan hasn’t incarnated as yet in this Kali Yuga, and given that there’s so much “Adharma” happening right in front of our eyes all around, are Bhagawan’s words true? We’ve seen Bhagawan declaring to Arjuna that whenever “Adharma” raises its head, He would incarnate and make sure that it is destroyed. So maybe, given the accord of the Kali Yuga by Sage Shukaachaarya in the Shrimad Bhaagawatha Puraana, the definition of “Adharma” according to Bhagawan in this Kali Yuga is very different and whatever we’re seeing today are just glimpses of it. This is why we say that whatever “Adharma” we’re seeing right now is just the “tip of the iceberg” and there’s a lot more to come in the future. We shall be rest assured that Bhagawan’s words would never be false, and as per the same Bhaagawatha Puraana, Bhagawan Vishnu will incarnate towards the end of this Kali Yuga as Bhagawan Kalki to restore the “Dharma” in this world once again.
With this, we shall move on further. Now Arjuna asks the final question to Bhagawan Krishna thus, “Oh Bhagawan! I know that we’re taking birth in this world due to our “Karma”. I also know that it is our “Karma” that decides when and where I should take birth in this world. Similarly I also know that the sole purpose of our birth in this world is to wash away all our “Karma” of the past. I’m able to understand up to this point very clearly. However, when it comes to your case, as you said, you are not bound by any “Karma”. You are not taking birth because of any previous “Karma”. You are only deciding when to take birth here, and no “Karma” decides it! Yet, if all these things are true, why do you want to take birth again and again in this world? Isn’t it enough if you take one incarnation and finish off all whatever you want to do? We are taking births again and again due to our “Karma Phalam”. But this is not the case for you, isn’t it? Inspite of this, what makes you take repeated incarnations in this world from time to time?”
Now before we go into Bhagawan Krishna’s answer, Arjuna is highlighting three important points here – Firstly, we are taking birth because of our “Karma Phalam”. Secondly, it is the “Karma Phalam” that decides where we should take birth and when. Thirdly, it is to wash off all our “Karma” that we’re taking birth in this world. Readers should make note of these three important points here as this is the crux of the entire discussion. Firstly we said that we’re taking birth because of our “Karma Phalam”, didn’t we? Now, this is the main reason why some people get a luxurious life with all sorts of facilities and many others aren’t fortunate enough to get such a life. For the former category, their “Punya Karma” would be extremely high and this results in such a luxurious life. For the latter category, their “Paapa Karma” would be extremely high and this is why they might be born in a poor family with enormous challenges to face and navigate. Of course, all of us have varying degrees of “Paapa Karma” and “Punya Karma” sticking on to us. It is only with this proportion, Bhagawan decides where we should take birth and when. We might have seen in a few cases that a newborn baby would die soon after it takes birth from its mother’s womb. If such a thing happens, we might feel sad, but the fact is something else – This baby had only a tinch of “Karma” (Either “Paapa Karma” or “Punya Karma”) sticking on to it. Hence, to wash it off, this baby was in the mother’s womb for ten months and subsequently passed away. Such babies would have been great “Mahatmas” in the past, and mothers of such babies should be extremely proud and fortunate that they had an opportunity to have a “Mahatma” in their womb.
The above discussion argurs well with Arjuna’s third point wherein he says that the very purpose of taking birth here is to wash off our “Karma”. This is exactly what all of us should do, but instead, we only keep accumulating more and more “Punya” and “Paapa Karma”, don’t we? We should always understand one thing – Whenever we have a happy moment in our life, it means our “Punya Karma” is getting washed away. Similarly whenever we have a sad and a distressed moment in our life, it means our “Paapa Karma” is getting washed away. Upon hearing this from me, someone asked me this question – “Oh! If that’s the case, can we sacrifice all our happy moments and experience only the sad moments in this birth, so that our “Punya Karma” is carefully stored?” 🙂 This is how we think as normal human beings, isn’t it?
So for whatever Arjuna asks, Bhagawan is now going to explain His stance on it. For today, let us understand up to this point clearly and we shall wait till the next episode to witness Bhagawan Krishna’s important answer! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 