In the previous episode, we had witnessed Bhagawan Krishna explaining how we should perform our “Karma” with the three “Thyaagams” that He’s lists – We should perform our “Karma” with the thought that we are not the doers. We should perform our “Karma” for upholding “Dharma” and not for any personal gains / brownie points from it. We should perform our “Karma” as our duty and we should never run away from it. Finally, as Bhagawan always says, we should perform our “Karma” not for results or our own name and fame, but for the simple reason that Bhagawan warrants us to do it! Hence, while performing our “Karma”, Bhagawan wants us to keep reminding ourselves of the above-mentioned four important pointers. This is exactly what He wants Arjuna also to do. He wants Arjuna to take the “Gaandipa” and start fighting the war at the Kurukshetra battlefield, not for himself – But to safeguard and uphold “Dharma”. If he shuns away from fighting the war at this time, “Adharma” is going to reign supreme and as a result, the entire world will run into chaos. If such a thing should not happen, Arjuna has to definitely fight against those perpetrators of “Adharma” and it is the duty of every “Kshatrya” to protect his country / territory and his people.
Secondly, Bhagawan says that Arjuna should not fight the war just because he would be victorious at the end of it. Arjuna has to fight the war with a neutral approach, implying that results of the war aren’t of much importance. The real question here is whether Arjuna is giving his best effort for the protection of “Dharma” through the war. Thirdly, Bhagawan wants Arjuna to fight the war because Bhagawan wants him to do so! This will eliminate the “Kartrutva Buddhi” which means that we would start taking credit for all the success that we encounter in our pursuit! Bhagawan doesn’t like that. He wants us to shun this “Kartrutva Buddhi” completely while performing our actions. Finally, Bhagawan says to Arjuna that he can convert this war itself into Bhakti by fighting it with a sense of surrender to Him! Thus, for all these reasons, Bhagawan Krishna is once again motivating and urging Arjuna to start fighting the war. Moving on further, Bhagawan says thus in the 61’st shloka of the eighteenth Adhyaaya:
“Ishwarah sarva bhootaanaam hriddheshe ardhvana drishtati!
Braamayan sarva bhootaani yantraarudaani maayayaa!!”
Here, Bhagawan explains thus, “Oh Arjuna! Please understand that “Ishwara” (Bhagawan) exists inside the hearts of every living being! So what does this “Ishwara” do by sitting inside every living being’s heart? He has a “Yantra” (An instrument) with Him, upon which He places the “Atman” of every living being. For instance, if the “Yantra” is in the form of a “Chakra”, Bhagawan is placing the “Atman” of every living being on top of this “Chakra” and spinning it round and round! Thus, this spin that Bhagawan is doing, creates the “Maaya” (Ilusion) that living beings go into and come out every time! Oh Arjuna! Please realize that this spinning exercise is the one because of which you are repeatedly taking birth in this world again and again. As an ardent “Bhakta”, what should you be doing? You should be telling Bhagawan – “Oh Bhagawan! Please stop this spinning! Enough of this game of placing my “Atman” on top of this wheel and rotating it! Let me come out of this constant spinning!” However, all the living beings are of the thought process that this spinning exercise is so beautiful and exciting in nature, and are not prepared to come out of it! This is the problem! Hence, as an ardent “Bhakta”, you should be in a position to instruct Bhagawan to stop the spin and throw you out of it!”
What a deep philosophy is Bhagawan Krishna talking about here! This is a profound truth that He is establishing with regards to the birth-death cycle and how “Jeevatmas” like us are completely entangled into this cycle! So for today, let us spare a thought about this and through our actions, let us try and request Bhagawan (if not command Him) to stop this vicious spin of our “Atman” time and again to push us into several births and deaths in this world! We shall wait till the next episode to continue this discussion further! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 