“The great generals who have highly esteemed your name and fame will think that you have left the battlefield out of fear only, and thus they will consider you a coward.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 2.35)

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भयाद्रणादुपरतं मंस्यन्ते त्वां महारथाः
येषां च त्वं बहुमतो भूत्वा यास्यसि लाघवम्

bhayād raṇād uparataṁ
maṁsyante tvāṁ mahā-rathāḥ
yeṣāṁ ca tvaṁ bahu-mato
bhūtvā yāsyasi lāghavam

1. Getting that job over the colleague

“I don’t feel right about this. That other person has worked here much longer. They have seniority. Why am I being promoted? Okay, I must be doing a good job. The managers see potential in me. They trust me with important responsibilities. Still, this is going to make things awkward. I would rather someone else take the position.”

2. Winning the match against the injured player

“I don’t feel right about this. He is obviously hurt. That turn when running to the ball at the baseline must have caused a muscle to pull. The spectators paid to see a show. The championship trophy is on the line. I am getting booed for hitting drop shots, for making the opponent run. I would rather call the match a draw, at this point. Let everyone see how magnanimous I am.”

3. Victory over someone junior

“I don’t feel right about this. They are much younger than me. They are still learning the ropes. What could they possibly know? I see the eagerness in their eyes. I can feel their enthusiasm. They want this much more than me. Perhaps I should let them have it. I already experienced victory; many times over. There is no more room in my trophy case at home, anyway.”

4. Victory over a teacher

“I don’t feel right about this. They taught me everything I know. This is how I repay them? The contest is not going to be close. My skills are superior, at this point. That is the influence of time. I am on the rise at the moment. They are on the decline.”

5. Victory over someone respected

“I don’t feel right about this. I respect this person so much. They have the highest character. They are so nice. They would never cheat anyone. They say the nicest things about me. How can I do this to them? I think they should win, instead. That would be better for all parties involved.”

…

The appreciation for Bhagavad-gita can continue ad infinitum. The teachings are so profound that they remain relevant throughout the time continuum. No matter how much time has passed since that dialogue was first recorded some five thousand years ago, sourced on location at the battlefield of Kurukshetra, there is relevancy for the struggling individual. Whether they are living in the stone ages or can receive answers to questions almost instantaneously through an AI prompt, the teachings from Krishna have the highest value.

One area that might be overlooked is the profoundness of the situation itself. In order to establish a cause for the instruction, to set the stage, so to speak, a dilemma is helpful. That is how the typical narrative plays out in theater, literature, and film. In this case, we have a person going to work, ready to start their day. But suddenly, they are hesitant to continue. It is their very work they are concerned over. More specifically, if they do their job the right way, to reach a successful end, they feel as if they will have committed the worst wrong.

Adding to the glory of the situation is the stakes. If I am afraid of writing code while at the office, to build a new smartphone application, what harm can really result? If I do a good job, people will buy the app. The company will make money. I might become wealthy, as a result. There are negatives associated with every kind of advancement, and so to be a little concerned is natural.

सह-जं कर्म कौन्तेय
स-दोषम् अपि न त्यजेत्
सर्वारम्भा हि दोषेण
धूमेनाग्निर् इवावृताः

saha-jaṁ karma kaunteya
sa-doṣam api na tyajet
sarvārambhā hi doṣeṇa
dhūmenāgnir ivāvṛtāḥ

“Every endeavor is covered by some sort of fault, just as fire is covered by smoke. Therefore one should not give up the work which is born of his nature, O son of Kunti, even if such work is full of fault.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 18.48)

In the case of Arjuna, the successful outcome was death. At the largest scale imaginable. Applying to leaders within the community. Affecting countless households. Carrying a rippling effect, to pass through many future generations, in fact. Arjuna was like a warrior afraid to shoot non-strangers. There were respected individuals on the other side. Arjuna wanted to drop his weapons and go home.

It felt wrong for Arjuna to win, but thankfully Krishna was there to set him straight. There was nothing good to be gained by quitting at this most important time. The people on the other side would not respect Arjuna for the decision. They would think that Arjuna was too afraid to meet his responsibilities. They would not reward Arjuna for the show of compassion, for caring about the affected families, for having no interest in ruling over a kingdom.

A portion of Krishna’s presentation to Arjuna focused on occupational duty. This is one way to define dharma. This duty is based on guna and karma. The material qualities a person assumes at the time of birth and the work they carry out based on those qualities configure the ideal occupation. Arjuna happened to be a kshatriya warrior. This is like a police officer or defender of the peace. Arjuna was simply carrying out his duty in delivering justice to wrongdoers. It should not matter the makeup of the opposition. Be they friends, family, or teachers, Arjuna had a job to do.

Dharma in the higher sense is duty to rising to transcendence, to serving the one person who is above duality. Arjuna could carry out both his occupational duty and his dharma as an individual soul through proceeding with detachment, while holding attachment to Krishna. The outcomes are not in Arjuna’s control, after all. We can carry forward, whether we feel comfortable or not, and leave everything up to the grandest coordinator, who is always wishing well to the devotees, keeping them under the protection of the higher prakriti.

महात्मानस् तु मां पार्थ
दैवीं प्रकृतिम् आश्रिताः
भजन्त्य् अनन्य-मनसो
ज्ञात्वा भूतादिम् अव्ययम्

mahātmānas tu māṁ pārtha
daivīṁ prakṛtim āśritāḥ
bhajanty ananya-manaso
jñātvā bhūtādim avyayam

“O son of Pritha, those who are not deluded, the great souls, are under the protection of the divine nature. They are fully engaged in devotional service because they know Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, original and inexhaustible.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 9.13)

In Closing:

With competing interests to find,
Creating dilemma in mind.

That for work equipped and ready,
But damage from proceeding steady.

Perhaps friends and colleagues to fall,
That one previously as teacher to call.

Krishna from this condition to save,
Timeless wisdom to Arjuna gave.

Categories: the five

Tags: bhagavad-gita, dailyprompt, hare krishna, poem, poems, poetry