Summary:
Chapter 2, Verse 31: Varna-ashrama dharma comprises four categories: Brahmana (thinkers), Ksatriya (rulers), Vaishya (commerce), Shudra (supporters). Each role vital like body parts. Krishna instructs Arjuna to fulfill kshatriya dharma despite discomfort. Avoiding duties brings shame, low self-esteem. Varna determined by actions, not birth. Verse essence: Perform svadharma without wavering.
Chapter 2, Verse 32: Following dharma yields satisfaction and svarga (heavenly realms). Jiva travels through 14 lokas based on noble actions. Battle for dharma brings greater punya than territorial wars. Svarga stay temporary due to limited punya. Verse essence: Dharmic battles open gates to heaven.
Chapter 2, Verse 33: Choosing easy path over dharma creates papa (sin). Avoiding challenges breeds failure mindset. Life offers continuous chances to restore honor through right action. Verse essence: Abandoning dharma brings sin.
Chapter 2, Verse 34: Dishonor affects your future lives. Three accountabilities to keep in mind before any action: dharma (is this aligned to universal ethical values), karma (what kind of consequences will this have in the future), reputation (is this something I'll be proud of doing in 5 years). Unhealthy decisions seek approval; healthy engagement provides self-growth feedback. Verse essence: Dishonor exceeds death in severity.
Nature of Ishvara & Relating with Ishvara:
1. Understanding Ishvara's Nature
Iswara is the intelligence manifesting as laws and forms governed by those laws. It is also possibilities that are collapsed by your choices. Isvara is not a fixed entity but an intelligence that constantly reshuffles itself to account for the changes happening in universe.
2. Recognizing Ishvara in Daily Life
To appreciate the invisible intelligence, we can begin by looking at:
- Laws:
- Did you have any part putting together your body? If you did, surely you would have made some changes. The body & world is subject to physical, chemical, biological, genetic, physiological, and psychological laws. These laws are manifestations of Ishvara’s intelligence.
- EG:
- Milk teeth at age 5-6, Birth at 9 months.
- Scar > body stops bleeding, forms a scab.
- Honeycomb structure, structurally strong. We use in laptops.
- Migrating birds fly in V shape. Because bird behind benefits from vortex created by front bird. Reduces drag. Airbus copied, reducing fuel consumption 10-15%.
- Education: When study laws of physics, biology, psychology – you are studying Īśvara.
- Physical Order: When you understand/apply physics, such as gravity for greater good, you are working with Ishvara’s laws. EG: Building a bridge requires knowledge of physical laws, and successful construction is Īśvara’s feedback.
- Biological Order: Understanding human body's physiology and applying the knowledge to heal is working with the laws that sustain the body. Body's response to treatment is Ishvara’s feedback. Similarly, when plant a seed and water it, and it grows into a plant, you are activating Ishvara’s laws. EG: You see body, but doctor sees knowledge.
- Psychological Order: Recognizing and helping yourself to release from unhelpful emotions and thoughts, is aligning with Īśvara’s psychological order.
- Scientists / Atheists: Scientists study these laws, though they may not call it Ishvara. For example, biologists examine genetics, and ophthalmologists study the intricate design of the eye. All of them are exploring the underlying intelligence that governs the universe, even if they don’t label it as Ishwara.
- Cause-effect Relationships:
- What remembers your present action to future result lifetimes later? What connects today to tomorrow?
- Ancient cyanobacteria produced oxygen billions of years ago.
- Extinction of dinosaurs allowed mammals to thrive
- Act of eating involves countless individuals and processes, from farmers to transporters to cooks.
- Connections between Things:
- EG:
- Sun connected to Earth, plants, beings.
- A tornado connected to extreme wind > generated by pressure differences (heavy/light) on Earth's surface > differences are caused by uneven heating of the surface > caused by Sun.
- EG:
3. Why Ishvara Understanding Must Precede Brahman
We start out by carrying false conclusions about the world. We can't say “I am Brahman” while simultaneously implying “unfair world is not Me.” Reducing personal distortions is the first step, so you can see the world as a relatively pleasant place. Only when world is pleasantly perceived, you are willing to analyse it deeper. Otherwise complaints take up most of the time.
4. Consequence of Not Recognizing Ishvara:
When we fail to recognize this intelligence manifesting as laws and forms, we may think, “I'm not doing enough to help myself” (leading to self-blame), or “I'm being punished” (victim) or “I'm lucky” (leads to arrogance).
By recognizing interconnectedness, we transform from consumers (focused on “me, my growth, my skills”) to contributors. This shift brings emotional unloading, healthier self-image, and more meaningful life.
5. Ishvara is Your Bridge to Brahman
Knowledge is coming from Ishvara, and not Awareness. Thus can't bypass, otherwise would've become a Jnani long time ago if it was all about Brahman. Ultimately, Ishvara lifts the final veil of ignorance. Awareness doesn't. Thus need Ishvara’s grace by aligning to its laws.
6. Concluding with a Metaphor:
In presence of Ocean, laws facilitate interactions of waves. As the wave aligns with the laws, it cleans itself up, reduces subjectivity. Finally Ocean graces the wave, telling it (through guru / Pramana), it's truth is Water. Where there is wave (person/world), there exactly is Ocean (Intelligence), and there exactly is Water (Awareness). All 3 constitute Oneness.
NEXT VERSES: Next question is, how does this wave live in this world? What is to be done while alive?
BHAGAVAD GITA, CHAPTER 2, VERSE 31:
(My Duty — Verse 31-38)
स्वधर्मम् अपि च अवेक्ष्य न विकम्पितुम् अर्हसि ।
धर्म्यात् हि युद्धात् श्रेयः अन्यत् क्षत्रियस्य न विद्यते ॥ २-३१॥
svadharmam api ca avekṣya na vikampitum arhasi ।
dharmyāt hi yuddhāt śreyaḥ anyat kṣatriyasya na vidyate ॥ 2-31॥
And also, from the standpoint of your own duty, you cannot waver. For, there is nothing greater to a kṣatriya than a battle for the cause of dharma.
Varna-Ashrama
Verse is asking, “What am I here for?”. Veda give a framework to fit your life into. It’s called Varna-ashrama, which points out 4 types of people:
- Brahmana: Thinker, philosophers, scientists.
- Ksatriya: Ruler, prime minister. Navy/army/police. Keep order in society.
- Vaishya: Engage in business, commerce. Enables value for value exchange infrastructure.
- Shudra: Those who support activities of above 3.
Show one country that doesn’t have these 4 categories of people. Therefore we can’t say one is more important then another. It’s like a body. Every part important for body to do what is was intended for. Brain thinks, arms do, legs support the head/arms.
Do you part without being carried away by emotional discomfort
Krishna tells Arjuna, “You have certain skills/strengths, indicative of kshatriya”. You have duties to perform in that role (protect the kingdom).
In context of Mahabharata, if there is a king (Dhritarashtra) without sense of right-wrong, he’ll go to any length to increase his power. You’re in position to challenge him. If don’t challenge him (or do your part in this world even if it's uncomfortable), you’re going against your innate nature – which carries negative repercussions.
Thus do what needs to be done, without being carried away by your emotional discomfort.
Even though Running away (refusing to do your part in this world even if uncomfortable) is the easy way out, but it creates to 2 problems: (a) You won’t be satisfied with yourself, (b) There are unfavorable future repercussions (low self-esteem, shame, “I can't” mentality).
SUMMARY:
- Krishna reminds Arjuna his role according to his strengths/talents.
- No inferiority/superiority: Societies complex turns varna into superiority/inferiority. If you dismiss leg, whole body suffers. Participation of all parts required.
- Not necessarily by birth: Your birth doesn’t dictate your varna-ashrama. But decided by your day-to-day actions.
NEXT VERSE: When do thing that are to be done, what is the outcome?
BHAGAVAD GITA, CHAPTER 2, VERSE 32:
Opportunity for heaven
यत् ऋच्छया च उपपन्नं स्वर्ग-द्वारम् अपावृतम् ।
सुखिनः क्षत्रियाः पार्थ लभन्ते युद्धम् ईदृशम् ॥ २-३२॥
yat ṛcchayā ca upapannaṃ svarga-dvāram apāvṛtam ।
sukhinaḥ kṣatriyāḥ pārtha labhante yuddham īdṛśam ॥ 2-32॥
Pārtha (Arjuna)! Only lucky kṣatriyas get this kind of battle, which has come by chance and which is an open gate to heaven.
Arjuna's objection:
Why should I do what is to be done? Despite me being capable, why fight when it’s so uncomfortable?
Krishna's reply:
Ksatriyas (warriors) get to fight to expand or protect territory. However this particular battle isn’t about expanding kingdom. It's fought for sake of something even more important – dharma (universal ethics which will impact generations). And when you're fighting for something so great, your punya gains are astronomical.
Rewards for following through:
If you follow through Arjuna, there will be (a) immediate satisfaction, and (b) Svarga.
What is Svarga? Every religion speaks of it. According to Vedas – jiva takes different bodies, insects, animals, plants, human – and even other realms of experiences (14 lokas or dimensions such as Pitr-loka, indra-loka, brahma-loka).
How to get to Svarga? Nothing to do which religion you’re in. But according to your actions (how noble is this action). Eventually the jiva returns, as each noble action is limited. Thus staying in heaven is not eternal.
NEXT VERSE: What if I don’t rise up to the challenge, don’t do what is to be done?
BHAGAVAD GITA, CHAPTER 2, VERSE 33:
Will gain sin
अथ चेत् त्वम् इमम् धर्म्यम् सङ्ग्रामम् न करिष्यसि ।
ततः स्वधर्मम् कीर्तिम् च हित्वा पापम् अवाप्स्यसि ॥ २-३३॥
atha cet tvam imam dharmyam saṅgrāmam na kariṣyasi ।
tataḥ svadharmam kīrtim ca hitvā pāpam avāpsyasi ॥ 2-33॥
But, if you refuse to engage in this war that is in keeping with dharma, then, forfeiting your own duty and honour, you will gain only sin.
Usual criteria for decision making is taking path of least resistance. Correct view is doing the right thing, which isn’t always easy.
Suppose Arjuna retreated, how happy would he be with himself? He’d feel like a failure.
Every time there’s challenging situation and you don’t engage, you hurt yourself by virtue of feeling like a failure, incapable, incompetent. Life is constantly giving you opportunities to say “yes” and restore your honor.
NEXT VERSE: And how will people perceive you Arjuna, knowing you took the easy path?
BHAGAVAD GITA, CHAPTER 2, VERSE 34:
People will speak of your infamy
अकीर्तिम् च अपि भूतानि कथयिष्यन्ति ते अव्ययाम् ।
सम्भावितस्य च अकीर्तिः मरणात् अतिरिच्यते ॥ २-३४॥
akīrtim ca api bhūtāni kathayiṣyanti te avyayām ।
sambhāvitasya ca akīrtiḥ maraṇāt atiricyate ॥ 2-34॥
Also, people will speak of your unending infamy. For the honoured, dishonour is surely worse than death.
Krishna reminds us…
People are looking up to you as role model whether you realize it or not. When you don’t do what is to be done (because of your stories or unresolved emotions) – they’ll say you’re running away.
A shameful existence
Additionally you’ll have a hard time regaining your honor (even in next life it'll pass on as low self-esteem). It’s painful living with dishonor or sense of shame about your existence.
People look up to you
And because you're looked up upon by others as a leader, certain qualities are expected of you, such as: Bravery, courage, ability to face difficult situations, asses situations from right perspective.
Social Impact
People will spread stories of Arjuna's (your) desertion, with each person adding his or her own embellishments. Future generations will mock his name as “the one who fled.”
Krishna's Argument Structure:
Life presents us with three levels of accountability:
- Our inner sense of duty (svadharma), and is it aligned to universal ethical values (samanya-dharma).
- Karmic consequences of our actions (puṇya-pāpa).
- Our reputation in society.
All three aspects deserve careful consideration before making major decisions.
Healthy and Unhealthy Way to make Decisions
Many actions are based on what people think about us. Is this a healthy or unhealthy? There’s 2 answers:
- Unhealthy:
- When you are overly concerned how you are perceived by others. Makes you make decisions to please others and gain their approval. It's unauthentic.
- Interesting study of killer of happiness is linked to unhealthy way of making decisions: Study says we’re so much better of then 3-4 generations ago. Then why isn’t society significantly happier? Because we don’t compare ourselves to previous generations — but people, situations and living standards around us. EG: Going to University isn’t enough, have to go to prestigious one, or living in big home isn’t enough, has to be a wealthy area. It's also prevalent in third world countries, people driving Mercedes, while living in below average home.
- Healthy: People can see in you things you can’t see in yourself. Thus engaging in world is beneficial as you get feedback. Easy to figure someone else’s life, but not your own.
NEXT VERES: What will people think if Arjuna pulls out…
—
Course was based on Swami Dayananda (Arsha Vidya) home study course.
Recorded 24 Nov, 2024