Book Title: World of Philosophy
Author(s): Christopher Key Chapple, Intaj Malek, Dilip Charan, Sunanda Shastri, Prashant Dave
Publisher: Shanti Prakashan
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eral good of society appears to be in the background of this expression. Hence the definite advice, "Get up Kauntey and fight with determination."
(iv) While forced to fight & kill in battle, how Arjuna can avoid sin.
Ultimately, if Arjuna still felt that there was a possibility of committing 'sin' in doing what needs to be done (including killing of those people), the Lord gives a solution that would eliminate the ground for any sinful feeling:
सुख-दुखे समे कृत्वा लाभ - अलाभौजया जयौ ।
ततो युध्दाय युज्यस्वन - एवम् पापम् - अवाप्स्यसि ॥ (2/38) . बुध्दया युक्तौ ययापार्थ कर्मबन्ध (2/39)
"Engage in the battle, seeing victory & defeat, gain & loss, happiness & sorrow, with equanimity. Then 'sin', (that feeling of restlessness in mind) will not haunt you." "Yet again if you perform action with unified mind, results of such action will not bind you". This equanimity, when practiced even in our mundane situations of our work place, leads to greater satisfaction, sense of accomplishment & peace of mind.
यामिमां पुष्पिताम् वाचं प्रवदन्ति-अविपश्चितः ।
वेद-वाद- रताः पार्थ न अन्यतः अस्ति इति वादिन: । (2/42) विषया वेदा निस्त्रैगुण्यो भव - अर्जुन (2/45)
Those undiscerning people who are attached to the flowery words of the 'Vedas', (perform this rite to get that material result), say that there is nothing else. Arjuna appears to be influenced by such talks when he exhibits his worries about the destruction of 'Kuldharma' and fall of fore-fathers in disgrace. The Lord explains to Arjuna that the Vedic Rites are about the 'triplequalities' of 'Nature' & deal with material things, primarily. He is advised to strive to go beyond these 'gunas'. But how? The Lord directs:
कर्मण्येव-अधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन ।
मा कर्मफल हेतुः भूः माते संग- अस्तु-अकर्मणी (2/47)
Whatever is the action (work) presented (to you), do it with the best of your intentions as that is solely within your rights. Remember, you cannot choose the very action (work), you can only choose to do it with the best or worst of your intentions. One does not have right over the fruit of action. It is a statement of fact; one can control & decide only that which is in hands whereas the result is always at a future moment. It is not feasible to have right over fruit of action. Hence there is no point in keeping, result as motive for the action. Arjuna must fight the battle before him, with best of his ability, whatever may be the outcome! The direction holds for each one of us, in our own areas of activities.
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