Lord Krishna spoke of svadharma or specific duty as per religious principles. In the bodily context this specific duty is called varnashrama-dharma which becomes the cornerstone for spiritual understanding and elevates one to a higher status of life.
Arjuna was a ksatriya, one who gives protection from harm. ksat means hurt and trayate means to give protection. A ksatriya protects citizens from all kinds of difficulties. He applies law and order and rules the world under religious principles. He is even trained in forests for killing and be ready to counter religious violence.
Only out of ignorance a ksatriya refrains from fighting and becomes non-violent in the discharge of his duty. Hence Lord Krishna condemned Arjuna’s attitude of ignorance. Arjuna would certainly incur sins for neglecting his duties.
Arjuna would also lose his reputation and prestige in society if he withdrew as a fighter. He would earn ill fame of misusing Lord’s friendship. He would be declared a coward and declared non-Aryan. Infamy is worse than death.
Arjuna would attain heavenly planet if he was killed in the religious battle. He would anyway enjoy a kingdom If he conquered the enemy.
He would also not incur sin for the sake of fighting. This is because everything performed for the sake of Krsna is transcendental consciousness and there is no material reaction. Also a person who has completely surrendered himself in activities of Krsna consciousness is no longer obliged to anyone, nor is he a debtor to anyone.
Arjuna was a ksatriya, one who gives protection from harm. ksat means hurt and trayate means to give protection. A ksatriya protects citizens from all kinds of difficulties. He applies law and order and rules the world under religious principles. He is even trained in forests for killing and be ready to counter religious violence.
Only out of ignorance a ksatriya refrains from fighting and becomes non-violent in the discharge of his duty. Hence Lord Krishna condemned Arjuna’s attitude of ignorance. Arjuna would certainly incur sins for neglecting his duties.
Arjuna would also lose his reputation and prestige in society if he withdrew as a fighter. He would earn ill fame of misusing Lord’s friendship. He would be declared a coward and declared non-Aryan. Infamy is worse than death.
Arjuna would attain heavenly planet if he was killed in the religious battle. He would anyway enjoy a kingdom If he conquered the enemy.
He would also not incur sin for the sake of fighting. This is because everything performed for the sake of Krsna is transcendental consciousness and there is no material reaction. Also a person who has completely surrendered himself in activities of Krsna consciousness is no longer obliged to anyone, nor is he a debtor to anyone.
No comments:
Post a Comment