World of Philosophy

Author(s): Christopher Key Chapple, Intaj Malek, Dilip Charan, Sunanda Shastri, Prashant Dave
Publisher: Shanti Prakashan

Page 509

body), it should not cause you sorrow (then it is the law of nature!). Then everyone born has to die & the dead are sure to be born. When it is inevitable why feel sad? A being is un-manifest in the beginning, manifest in the middle and again un-manifest in the end. Soul goes to where it came from, so why feel so much pain?"
(iii) Arjuna's 'duty' in the society as a Warrior, as a Protector: Fight and kill if he has to.
na. If he rejects
and hence will teland in 'sin'
19-774-34f9a-3 a faan 4g4-3fet Enferra-Fe JeaTa - 514: Rq-erupa faed II (2/31) अथ चेत-त्वम्-इमम धर्म्य संग्रामं न करिष्यसि। Ma: Tae dicta fecal 444 370144f II (2/33) भयात् -रणात् - उपरतम्मंस्यन्ते त्वां महारथा।
maiera 64a Rei M1494|| (2/35) One can perform at his best in a skill that he/she has been practicing all the lifè. For a warrior, 'Kshatriya' it is not appropriate to be scared & exhibit weakness of nerves. To fight the holy-war was therefore the most sacred social duty for Arjuna. If he rejects this idea he would go against his own intrinsic nature and lifelong practice and hence will remain in perpetual self-criticism & conflict. He would lose his reputation & land in 'sin'. What Arjuna wants to avoid by running away from war, he eventually & surely would land there. 'Sin' is that which brings the state of division of mind that makes you restless.
People will say Arjuna has run away from battle field due to fear & will remember him as a disgraced warrior. This loss of esteem will make him look-down upon himself. Low self-respect again would mean restlessness in the mind; hence living in 'sin' (applies to any individual). If one does not do what he is supposed to do or does what he is not supposed to do, a self questioning appears in mind, restlessness sets in, that leads to sinful feeling. In the social context, then it was best to fight the battle of righteousness. The Lord further explains;
हतो वा प्राप्यसि स्वर्ग जित्वा वा भोक्ष्यसे महीम् ।
A rq-3fas atata giar o afasta: 1(2/37) If Arjuna died in battle, he would get heaven, being satisfied that he lived & died according to his own nature. He will not suffer division in psychology & with unified mind one is in a state of restfulness, peace and that is heaven. If Arjuna wins the battle he would rule the world. Here more than enjoyment of the pleasures of world, it is important that people, society, would then be managed by a more rational & righteous ruler. The concept of gen
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