Mahabharat Quotes

Krishna to Arjun (Part III)

O son of Pritha, yield not to unmanliness,

It is not worthy of you, a man of prowess,

This petty weakness of the heart cast off,

O oppressor of foes; now try to get up.

Arjun: “If we fight, will it not result in the destruction of Dharma, that is, virtue, duty and moral action.”

Krishna: “At first, you are not even ready to fight this righteous war and yet, you ask what would happen to Dharma. In my judgment, Dharma will be lost any way.”

Arjun: “dharme nashte kulam kritasnam- dharmo-abhibhavatyut…This war will result in vitiation of women and in the admixture of castes by which the manes and their races will fall; social virtues and family merits will also be ruined.”

Krishna: “utseedeyurime lokaa na kuryaam karma chedaham…Have you ever consideredwhat might happen if I don’t perform my duty conscientiously? I shall be the cause of confusion of the social norms. The admixture of castes will be caused even without waging the war and I will still be held responsible for it.”

Arjun: “narke aniyatam vaaso bhavateetya nushushrum…I think that this war will definitely lead us to hell.”

Krishna: “sukhinah kshatriyaah paarth labhante yudh meedrisham…On the other hand, Arjun, such warfare is always an open gateway to heaven and happy are the warriors who easily find in war an open door to heaven.”

If in the war you are slain,

The bliss of heaven you shall gain;

Or if you may become the victor

Shall enjoy the earthly pleasure

 

Hence, O son of Kunti, do get up

And your mind for the battle make up.

Arjun: “aho bat mahatpaapam kartu vyavasitaa vayam…it is a shame that, though possessed of intelligence, and yet, motivated by greed, we are bent upon perpetrating the great sin of killing our relatives and friends.”

Krishna: “kaam esh krodh esh rjoguna samudbhavah…it is greed in the form of desires which is insatiable and grossly wicked. Its man’s enemy and conduces him to commit sin. Therefore, in all circumstances, it is the greed that should be renounced.”

Arjun: “katham bhishmaham sankhye dronam ch madhusudan…Hey Madhusudan! How shall I fight; with arrows against my teachers, such as Bhishma and Drona, who are also worthy of worship.”

 

Krishna: “kaalo asmi lok-kshaya krit pravridho…Hey Arjun, do you fail to recognize that as much as everything else, I am death, the Inflamed Kaal, the destroyer of the worlds. For your information, I am here to exterminate all these people and even without you, all those warriors arrayed in the enemy’s camp must die. Therefore, Hey Arjun, rise and win glory and enjoy the affluent kingdom. These warriors that you see in the battlefield, they stand already slain by me. maiyevaite nihitaah poorvamev nimittmaatram bhav savyasaachin…Therefore, O ambidextrous one, in this war you be merely an instrument; rise above the dualities that exist in this universe, and, therefore fight, with peace in thy soul.”

Arjun: “gurunhatvaa hi mahaanubhaavam, shreyo bhoktum bhaikshyamapeeh loke…Is it not better to live on alms than to slay these noble elders.”

Krishna: “shreyaan svadhrmo vigunah par dharmaatasvanshthitaat, svadharme nidhnam shreyah pardharmo bhayavahah…How many times should I remind you that it is better to do one’s duty though imperfect, than the duty of another even well performed. Even death in the performance of one’s duty brings happiness and salvation.”

Arjun: “You are continually insisting upon waging the war Madhusudan. But I see a potential a potential policy trap that is ready to snare us because we don’t even know what is preferable for us, that is, to fight or not to fight.”

Krishna: “shareer yaatraapi ch te na prasidhyed karmanah…. Perform your obligatory duty, for action is better than inaction. Since action is rooted in the Imperishable, therefore, if you only do just that, you will surely conquer the enemies in the war. It’s a fait accompli that desisting from action, you cannot even maintain your body, much less to think of your relatives or this kingdom.”

So you perform your allotted action

Since action is better than inaction    
    Even maintenance of physical life

is not possible if you stop the strife

Arjun: “nashto moha smritir labdhaa tvat prsaadnmyaa achyut, sthito asmi gat sandeha karishye vachanam tav…After hearing your discourse, my delusion born out of ignorance is destroyed and O the Unchanging One, by Your grace, I have recollected my memory. My doubts are gone and from now on, I shall surely do your bidding and, therefore, I will fight. However, in the short run, your policy is workable, but in the long run it creates a major dilemma.”

Krishna: “First things first, Arjun. You have to first give up your ego-centricity, and before I go on revealing more esoteric secrets to you, where the Goal, the Path and the one who treads the Path, all become the same; you have to first gain some practical and useful experience. And, once you have fully anchored yourself in the matters of karma-yoga, in our next encounter let us dwell on akarma-tattva. If that is agreeable to you, then next time come fully prepared for it. Until then what do you want me to do?”

Arjun: “Hey Govind, as a friend, charioteer and counselor, you have performed your duty well. Ready and eager for the upcoming battle, my brothers must be anxiously waiting for us. Therefore, Hey Madhusudan, please take my chariot near them so that I may blow my trumpet, the conch-shell Devadatta and begin to worship the All Pervading and the Nameless One by performing my natural duty.”

Krishna: “In that case, Arjun, I will also blow my trumpet, the conch-shell Panchjanya; and may I ask; what you intend to do after the war is over.”
 

           

THE END