Gita : Ch-2. Slo-38.




Srimad    Bhagavad-Gita :


Chapter-2. ( Samkya-yogam )


Slokam- 38. ( Lord's advice  : Do thou fight for the sake of fighting, without considering happiness or distress, loss or gain, victory or defeat—and, by so doing, you shall never incur sin. )
   




Sukha-duhkhe    same    krtva   labhalabhau     jayajayau,


Tato    yuddhaya    yujyasva    naivam     papamavapsyasi.



sukha    duhkhe    =   ( both )   Joy    and    sorrow;

Labha-labhau  =   ( both )   Gain  and   loss;

Jaya-jayau   =  ( both )   Victory    and    defeet;

Same-krtva  =   in   equanimity,   thinking     so;

Tatah     yuddhaya    yujyasva   =   therefore     get    ready    for    the    battle.

Evam    =   if    this    is    the    way    (  you choose ),

Papam     na     avapsyasi   =    ( you )   never    affected      by     sin.







Lord Krishna now directly says that Arjuna should fight for the sake of fighting because He desires the battle. There is no consideration of happiness or distress, profit or gain, victory or defeat in the activities of Krishna consciousness. That everything should be performed for the sake of Krishna is transcendental consciousness; so there is no reaction to material activities. He who acts for his own sense gratification, either in goodness or in passion, is subject to the reaction, good or bad. But he who has completely surrendered himself in the activities of Krishna consciousness is no longer obliged to anyone, nor is he a debtor to anyone, as one is in the ordinary course of activities. It is said:


"Anyone who has completely surrendered unto Krishna, Mukunda, giving up all other duties, is no longer a debtor, nor is he obliged to anyone—not the demigods, nor the sages, nor the people in general, nor kinsmen, nor humanity, nor forefathers." That is the indirect hint given by Krishna to Arjuna in this slokam, and the matter will be more clearly explained in the following slokam-s.



The previous statement given by Arjuna in chapter -1, slokam- 36 concerning his apprehension of sin coming upon him is now being nullified by the Supreme Lord's instruction of non-attachment to the fruits of action. Regarding as equal pleasure and pain, loss and gain and also the cause of both these dualities which is victory or defeat. The attribute of equanimity is absolute freedom from elation and despondency. Giving up all notions of what is pleasurable, being equalised by whatever comes of its own accord and by fighting the battle as a matter of Kshatriya duty Arjuna will not incur any sin.


Now Lord Krishna refutes Arjuna previous worry about accruing sin by killing his heinous enemies with the words sukha and dukha meaning happiness and unhappiness. Although the pleasure of happiness and the pain of unhappiness in fighting this righteous war are inevitable; still this must be considered as pertaining to the body only and not to the soul which is distinctly different from the physical body. Profit and gain, victory and defeat even without considering the goal of heaven Arjuna should prepare to fight for the sole purpose of exclusively fulfilling his duty. Thus fixed in this determination with proper understanding if he slays anyone he will not incur sin. To the contrary Arjuna will be free from the sin incurred by refraining from the battle and not executing his duty.

To be continued  ...



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