Unpacking the powerful opening words of Bhagavad Gita

 

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The Bhagavad Gita is not a mere scripture. It's a living master. It is Krishna himself.

From time to time the Gita makes a comeback in my life and creates an impact by shaking the foundations (for the better).

I had the most recent rendezvous few weeks back. While it's not proper to share the mystical experience publicly, I do want to share some insights and takeaways which is beneficial to everyone.

The Bhagavad Gita starts with "Dharmakshetre Kurukshetre..."

There is a lot packed into just these 2 words.

"Dharma" sometimes is translated or understood as religion or faith. That's not accurate. Dharma is abiding by principles and laws that govern creation and life. The Mahabharata war was a dharma yuddha. Both Pandavas and Kauravas belonged to the same ancestry and probably had same family deities. The war between them was not about which God they worshiped.

The difference was in principles they followed and principles they violated. One was on the side of dharma and the other on the side of adharma.

Dharma vanquishes adharma eventually.

Kurukshetra is understood as a geographical location where the war happened. The deeper meaning though is field of action or work.

Kurukshetra is any place where action or work is happening. Every workplace is Kurukshetra.

Every workplace/Kurukshetra is home to the dynamic of dharma yuddha. There will be forces of dharma (principled work and actions). There will be forces of adharma (non principled work or actions). Both will be at loggerheads.

Competent people who are silent spectators to wrong and injustice are like Bhishma, Drona and Kripa. Their loyalty to the "throne" puts them on the wrong side of dharma. Eventually they are taken down despite their great competence.

People who misuse their power for vested interests are like Duryodhan and Dushasan. They lose their discretion in the intoxication of power and do things which eventually leads to their extermination.

People who are at the helm but are blind to what's going on are like Dhritarashtra. They don't act in ways suitable to their position by pretending to not see anything. They lose everything including what's most dear to them.

People who see the wrongdoing but justify inaction against it are like Arjuna in first chapter. They forget the wrongdoings and ponder the severe consequences of actions to end it.  They get depressed and dis-empowered because of lack of clarity and action.

People who stand up and fight for dharma (principles) not worrying about themselves or who is standing in front of them are like Arjuna of eighteenth chapter.

When you become Arjuna fighting for dharma, Krishna (inner conscience) gives you clarity and wisdom, guides you in every step and navigates you to victory and glory.

~S~