After setting the background with the highest knowledge, Shri Krishna switches focus to the performance of one’s duty and specifically instructs Arjun on his duty as warrior. While the lord comes down to transactional reality for this subject, we must see the importance of performance of self-duty in spiritual development as well (this will be covered further in future chapters in Karma yoga).
Performing self-duty helps one exhaust their tendencies in the right way. Such exhaustion, slowly and steadily, leads to purity of mind (चित्तशुद्धि). In purer mind, light of consciousness reflects brightly, leading one to Self-knowledge. As we saw earlier, such knowledge breaks all delusion and frees one from all sorrows (more on this subject in subsequence chapters).
However the questions arise, what is self-duty and how does one know what is his duty? Self-duty or Sva-dharma (स्वधर्म), is one’s call of duty that comes from within – one’s nature. It is a duty, performing which one gets a sense of completion. If one has strong urge to teach, then his duty is to become a teacher and exhaust his tendency in a self-less manner. Similarly, if one has strong urge to be an artist, then his self-duty is to learn and perform arts. However, clarity on self-duty only comes when one looks within.
In this context, focus is on the duty of a kshatriya, what is his dharma? Kshatriya (क्षतात् त्रायते इति क्षत्रिय) is the one who protects entire society from decay. One who identify himself as Kshatriya will feel fulfilled when he works towards protecting the society. That is his purpose of life, his nature. In Purush-suktam, Kshatriyas are said to be the “Hands of Viraat purusha (the universal being)”, with aim to protect. It is the nature of hands to protect the being to whom they belong.
Now, with this backdrop of self-duty, Shri Krishna presents two sides covering implications of performance of duties and even lack of thereof in verses V2.32 to V2.36. Lord presents implications for both worlds, i.e. here and hereafter, with summary in verse 2.37.
Lord opens with the anvaya (अन्वय) method covering implications for Arjun if he performs his duty. He encourages him to perform his duty as a warrior citing there can’t be better opportunity for a warrior than fighting a righteous war. Fighting such war with sense of duty opens up doors of heaven (i.e. improves life hereafter) for warrior. However, avoiding such battles only incurs sin, as it is viewed as running away from one’s own duty (Ref V2.32). It will be foolish for one to literally interpret this verse as message for Kshatriyas to attain heavens. This message does not just apply to Kshatriya (or Arjun in specific), but it applies to all of us. It shows the importance of performing one’s duty, no matter what the consequences are. Attaining heavens indicates a attaining a peaceful mind, filled with content and satisfaction of doing your best, and incurring sin refers to agitations of mind.
Shri Krishna, however, puts more emphasis on impact of NOT doing one’s duty in next few verses (V2.33 to V2.36) through vyatirek (व्यतिरेक) method. The impact is described in a four-fold manner, viz. a) Impact on his own mind, b) treatment by his well-wishers c) impression of his fellow kshatriya (warriors) and d) finally, his enemy’s reaction.
Whether Arjun walks away or fights, war will happen anyways, but how will Arjun identify himself after that war (the one that he walked away from)? How will he face himself? He will fall in his own eyes and lose peace of mind. He will not be able to face himself (Ref V2.33). He will incur a sin. Here, sin must be interpreted intelligently as agitation of mind – “I should not have done this“, “I should have done that“. Such agitations are generally caused by a) doing something that is prohibited (अधर्म आचरण) b) not doing something that is prescribed (धर्म त्याग) or c) doing something in a wrong way than prescribed (धर्म अनाचरण). Arjun will not only lose this world (lose his peace of mind for the rest of this life) but also the next (i.e. will carry this baggage in subsequent worlds / lives / bodies).
Even his well-wishers will abandon him for running away from his duties. Will Bhishma and Drona continue to be proud of Arjun if he walks away? Will Kunti and Draupadi see him with love? Will Abhimanyu look at his father with respect? On the contrary, they will criticize his actions. Arjun will not only lose their pride, love and respect, but he will also be dishonored for rest of the life and even after his death, generations after generations. This surely is, worse than death. (Ref V2.34)
Though the intent of Arjun to walk away is not due to fear (Ref: Chapter 1 Commentary) but due to compassion, will his fellow warriors of kshatriya clan believe him? Warrior who runs away from the righteous war loses his honor in society, which is worse than (his) death. No matter what the reason of running away from battle is, society will attribute it to fear (Ref V2.35). Such attribution does not suit a warrior, certainly to not the bravest on one the planet like himself. Just like sugar is no longer a sugar when it loses its sweetness, kshatriya does not remain kshatriya when he runs away from the battle. Foundation of his personality will be lost when he runs away from his duty, his purpose.
Lastly, his enemies will not only rejoice and will enjoy the tactical advantage of his absence from the war, but they will “kill” such (runaway) warrior every day and every moment with their brutal, unspeakable words attacking his characters and even questioning his lineage (Ref V2.36).
Hoping Arjun gets this message and shakes up his anxiety, Shri Krishna summarizes in V2.37 and makes it clear that while running away will make his life living hell, fighting will result in success – whether he wins (enjoys fruits of victory) or dies (attain glory and higher realms).
Thus, performance of one’s duty never leaves any agitations in mind, thus he must get up and engage in battle (i.e. do his duty), whether pain or pleasure, victory or defeat. (Ref V2.38)
श्रीकृष्णार्पणम् अस्तु ।
Leave a Reply