Bhagwad Gita - Post 23

Dear All,

Having covered the essence of the second chapter verses dealing with SELF, we move on to the next part - Dharma or action / duties. 

Verse 31

Swadharmam api chaavekshya

na vikampitum arhasi;
Dharmyaaddhi yuddhaacchreyo'nyat

kshatriyasya na vidyate.

Further, having regard to your own duty, you should not waver, for there is nothing higher for a Kshatriya than a righteous war.

Having established the fact that it is not intelligent to lament about the soul of any living entity, Lord Krishna subsequently responds to Arjuna’s supplication on what is in his highest good with the word Swadharma or principles of righteousness. 

Lord Krishna is emphasizing this to Arjuna so that he will follow his duty as a kshatriya and act like a warrior. 

For, to act contrary and hesitate is not in accordance with kshatriya code according to Vedic scriptures and such a deviation by Arjuna, would be considered an act of unrighteousness. 

What then is duty? Righteousness is duty which is not separate from those who are righteous. For a kshatriya there is nothing more welcome than the opportunity to fight a battle to protect righteousness. 

Swa-dharma is one’s duty as an individual, in accordance with the Vedas. There are two kinds of swa-dharmas, or prescribed duties for the individual — spiritual duties and material duties. 

Since a vast majority of humankind does not possess this spiritual perspective, the Vedas also prescribe duties for those who see themselves as the body. These duties are defined according to one’s āśhram (station in life), and varṇa (occupation). They are mundane duties. 

This distinction between spiritual duties and material duties needs to be kept in mind while understanding the Bhagwad Gita and the Vedic philosophy at large.

By occupation, Arjun was a warrior, and so his occupational duty as a warrior was to fight for the protection of righteousness. Sri Krishna is calling this swa-dharma, or prescribed duty at the bodily level.

Krishna tells Arjuna to fulfil his duty as a Kshatriya. A Kshatriya’s obligation is to uphold righteousness, protect the good and ensure that justice prevails. Here is a war that has come to Arjuna unsought. He must display courage, valour and skill. Instead Arjuna is focusing on extraneous issues and getting overpowered by emotion.

Now, let us try to get deeper into this SWADHARMA in spiritual sense.

In Spiritual sense, SWA+DHARMA = Dharma of SELF or ATMA DHARMA.

For example, every nation has its written constitution. We have our constitution in India. 

So, all the legislative laws and decisions have to be in a way that they are within the framework of the constitution. Many a times, laws are challenged in court. In such situations, court decides whether the concerned law is in accordance with the constitution. If the law is within the constitution, it is upheld otherwise, court declares the law as invalid and it is struck down.

So, Atmadharma means - “You shall do nothing, which is against the nature of Atma”.

We all know the story of Sibi Chakravarthy. Once a pigeon seeks refuge in Sibi, saying that it is being chased by an eagle. When the eagle comes, Sibi warns the eagle to leave the pigeon alone. 

The eagle then challenges Sibi and says, 

“O King, you are known to strictly adhere to Dharma. I too follow my own Dharma which is to survive by hunting. You are interfering in my dharma.

You may be right in following your dharma to protect the one (pigeon) who has sought refuge but how about my dharma? Are you not obstructing my dharma?”

The story goes that King Sibi honors the Dharma of the eagle and offers to the eagle flesh from his own body, equal in weight to that of the pigeon.

Paradharma of duty at physical level changes from person to person and in fact, for the same person himself depending upon which ashram he is in. His duties are different in his childhood, in his youth, as a householder etc.

However, irrespective of the varnas, irrespective of diversities in human beings, ATMA DHARMA is the same for one and all.

Continued…

Love.