Be right morally and socially as well! (Part 3 of Ch. 2)

Chapter 2

Sankhya Yoga 

Part 3 (Stanza 2.31 to 2.39)

Synopsis:  (Stanza 31-39)  Arjun had put forward several reasons for not fighting and accordingly Krushna also had to convince Arjun from different angles so that his reasons are properly considered. In Part 2, philosophical side of the issue was discussed. In this part the  Arjun’s problems is taken up from moral and social angles. Stanzas 31,32 and 33 pertain to moral issues.

Stanzas 34 to 37 describe social repercussions.

Stanza 38 sums up an important technique of equanimity for performing duties without doing a sin.

Stanza 39 concludes knowledge of Self or Atma and introduces Karma Yoga which is the subject of the next part.

स्वधर्ममपि चावेक्ष्य न विकम्पितुमर्हसि ।
धर्म्याद्धि युद्धाच्छ्रेयोऽन्यत्क्षत्रियस्य न विद्यते ॥ २-३१ ॥

svadharmamapi cāvēkṣya na vikampitumarhasi|

dharmyāddhi yuddhācchrēyō'nyat kṣatriyasya na vidyatē || 2.31 ||

31. Moreover, considering your own duty also, you should not waver.

Because, for a warrior nothing else is greater than a righteous war.

Inference: Non violence is normal way in society. If any person or a group breaks the moral rules, initially non violent methods like (Sama) means persuasion,  (Dama) means monetary incentive and support (not bribe), Bheda (Politically divide) should be  first attempted. If however, none of these methods succeeds as a last resort punishment which involves a certain violence, is allowed or rather necessitated by the moral science or religions. As a matter of fact it is the duty of  (Kshatriyas) warriors. kṣatāt, adharmāt trāyate iti kṣatriyā. Kshatriya safeguards society from defect or fall.  

यदृच्छया चोपपन्नं स्वर्गद्वारमपावृतम् ।
सुखिनः क्षत्रियाः पार्थ लभन्ते युद्धमीदृशम् ॥ २-३२ ॥

yadṛcchayā cōpapannaṃ svargadvāramapāvṛtam |

sukhinaḥ kṣatriyāḥ pārtha labhantē yuddhamīdṛśam || 2.32 ||

32. Oh Arjuna! Only fortunate Ksariyas get such a righteous war, which

has come to you by chance, and which is an open gateway to heaven.

Inference:  In other professions like teachers (Brahmins) or merchants (Vaishya) etc have regular duties but as the wars are not happening regularly, warriors rarely get the chance to prove their abilities. It is said that if a person dies performing his duties he goes to heaven.

अथ चेत्त्वमिमं धर्म्यं संग्रामं न करिष्यसि ।
ततः स्वधर्मं कीर्तिं च हित्वा पापमवाप्स्यसि ॥ २-३३ ॥

atha cēttvamimaṃ dharmyaṃ saṅgrāmaṃ na kariṣyasi|

tataḥ svadharmaṃ kīrtiṃ ca hitvā pāpamavāpsyasi || 2.33 ||

33. On the other hand, if you do not fight this righteous war, then, you will

be forsaking your duty and honour, you will incur sin.

Inference: By not fighting the war Arjun will not go to heaven, but it does not stop there. By not doing his duty he is committing a sin of omission and for that he will incur sin for that he will go to the hell.

अकीर्तिं चापि भूतानि कथयिष्यन्ति तेऽव्ययाम् ।
सम्भावितस्य चाकीर्तिर्मरणादतिरिच्यते ॥ २-३४ ॥

akīrtiṃ cāpi bhūtāni kathayiṣyanti tē'vyayām |
sambhāvitasya cākīrtirmaraṇādatiricyatē || 2.34 ||

34. Moreover, people will impute permanent infamy to you. For a person
who has been honoured, infamy is worse than death.

भयाद्रणादुपरतं मंस्यन्ते त्वां महारथाः ।
येषां च त्वं बहुमतो भूत्वा यास्यसि लाघवम् ॥ २-३५ ॥

bhayādraṇāduparataṃ maṃsyantē tvāṃ mahārathāḥ |
yēṣāṃ ca tvaṃ bahumatō bhūtvā yāsyasi lāghavam || 2.35 ||
 
35. (These) great warriors also will think of you as one who has withdrawn from the war out of fear. Having been honorable to such (warriors), you will come to disgrace

अवाच्यवादांश्च बहून्वदिष्यन्ति तवाहिताः ।
निन्दन्तस्तव सामर्थ्यं ततो दुःखतरं नु किम् ॥ २-३६ ॥

avācyavādāṃśca bahūn vadiṣyanti tavāhitāḥ|
 nindantastava sāmarthyaṃ tatō duḥkhataraṃ nu kim || 2.36 ||


36. Moreover, ridiculing your ability, your enemies will utter many unmentionable words. What can be more painful than this?

हतो वा प्राप्स्यसि स्वर्गं जित्वा वा भोक्ष्यसे महीम् ।
तस्मादुत्तिष्ठ कौन्तेय युद्धाय कृतनिश्चयः ॥ २-३७ ॥

hatō vā prāpsyasi svargaṃ jitvā vā bhōkṣyasē mahīm |
tasmāduttiṣṭha kauntēya yuddhāya kṛtaniścayaḥ || 2.37 ||


37. Killed, you will attain heaven. Or, victorious, you will enjoy this world. Therefore, get up, having resolved to fight, Oh Arjuna!

सुखदुःखे समे कृत्वा लाभालाभौ जयाजयौ ।
ततो युद्धाय युज्यस्व नैवं पापमवाप्स्यसि ॥ २-३८ ॥

sukhaduḥkhē samē kṛtvā lābhālābhau jayājayau |
tatō yuddhāya yujyasva naivaṃ pāpamavāpsyasi || 2.38 ||


38. Regarding happiness and sorrow, gain and loss, victory and defeat alike, prepare for war. In his manner you will not incur sin.

एषा तेऽभिहिता साङ्ख्ये बुद्धिर्योगे त्विमां शृणु ।
बुद्ध्या युक्तो यया पार्थ कर्मबन्धं प्रहास्यसि ॥ २-३९ ॥

ēṣā tē'bhihitā sāṅkhyē buddhiryōgē tvimāṁ śṛṇu|
buddhyā yuktō yayā pārtha karmabandhaṁ prahāsyasi|| 2.39 ||


39. This knowledge, imparted to you (till now), deals with sāṅkhyam.
Now, you listen to this (following teaching) which deals with Yōga.


Endowed with this knowledge, you will give up all the bondage of Karma, Oh Arjuna!

Utilitarian: Though spiritual considerations are highest, in real world one cannot ignore moral and social angles.

Also you should not be emotionally attached when performing the duties. That way you will avoid sin and remain from the bondage of results.