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News India Live, Digital Desk: The war of Mahabharata was not just a fight between two families, but it was a great battle between Dharma and Adharma. When the armies of Pandavas and Kauravas were standing face to face in the battlefield of Kurukshetra, a moment came when Arjun, the best archer, got trapped in the web of illusion. The mere thought of taking up arms against his own people made Gandiva slip away from Arjun’s hands. The divine teachings given by Lord Shri Krishna at that time are still considered to be the biggest formula for success for humanity.
Arjun in sadness: ‘How should I shoot arrows at my own?’
As soon as the conch was blown and the war was about to begin, Arjun asked Shri Krishna to move his chariot between the two armies. Seeing grandfather Bhishma, Guru Drona and his brothers there, Arjun’s heart was filled with compassion. He said, “O Krishna! I cannot destroy my family for the happiness of the kingdom.” This ‘melancholy’ of Arjun was actually a deviation from the path of duty. He flatly refused to fight and sat at the back of the chariot.
First sutra of Shri Krishna: Body is mortal, soul is immortal.
Seeing Arjun immersed in grief, Shri Krishna smiled and enlightened him about the truth. He said that “Nainam Chhindanti Shastraani Nainam Dahati Pavakah…” That means neither weapons can cut the soul nor fire can burn it. Krishna explained that the bodies you are mourning for are going to perish anyway, but the soul residing within them is eternal. Your duty as a warrior is not to protect the body, but to establish the Dharma. This knowledge removed the fear of death from Arjun’s mind.
Karmayoga’s advice: ‘Stop worrying about results, concentrate on duty’
The most important sermon of Mahabharata ‘Karmanyevadhikaraste Ma Faleshu Kadachan’ originated from here. Shri Krishna taught Arjun that a man has the right only on his actions and not on its results. He said that if you fight a war with the desire to win or the fear of defeat, you will never be successful. Fight the war considering it a ‘Yagya’ and leave the outcome to me. As soon as Arjun understood that the expectation of fruit was the cause of unhappiness, his confidence returned.
Taking up arms is mandatory for the establishment of religion
At last Shri Krishna reminded Arjun of his ‘Kshatriya Dharma’. He made it clear that when injustice crosses its limits, remaining silent is also a sin. It is certainly difficult to wage war against one’s own people, but it is necessary to destroy unrighteousness for the welfare of the society and the coming generations. These words of Krishna cleared Arjun’s clouds of doubt and he again picked up Gandiva and shouted ‘Jai Shri Krishna’.