कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन ।
“One must do his duty, no matters what results from it”.I was wondering, whether Lord Krishna’s word on doing one’s duty irrespective of consequences, lacks the moral support?
A high school student asked his Sanskrit teacher whether it would be permissible to say that the divine Krishna got away with an incomplete and unconvincing argument against Arjuna’s doubt, whether killing his relatives is the right thing for him to do. His teacher said in reply: ‘May be you could say that, but you may say it with adequate respect’. Many years later with adequate respect, the student took the liberty of defending Arjuna’s original position.
Arjuna had the genuine doubts:
Why should he kill so many people even if that appears to be his duty?Can a just world be built through extensive killing?
One cannot close one’s eyes to what actually happens and stick to consequence-independent niti (strategy), ignoring altogether the state of affairs that will emerge. Arjuna’s arguments definitely lean towards the side of nyaya (Justice), rather than merely the niti of fighting a just war by giving priority to ones duty as a military leader. Arjuna also argued that a person whose decisions bring about some serious consequences must take personal responsibility for what results from his own choices.
The Arjuna’s “Social realization” and “idea of personal responsibility” was quite convincing, critically important and must not be ignored.
Hmmm…it totally depends on our understanding…I mean how much are we capable to understand the “कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन।”
There is nothing to criticise about it…but I can say its all about the matter of right understanding.
@ Turning the wheel
I have mentioned my understanding with best of my capability. If you think its not right,I am eager to understand it rightly. Hope you will help me out.
In psychology i read about something called ‘script’.From childhood we understand the things the way our parents, our relatives and our teachers make us understand. And by the time our mind starts thinking in its own way, the earlier understanding becomes rigid and predominant and we feel hesitant to change. This preconceived understanding is called ‘script’. More or less everyone think as per their scripts.(This is not my opinion. It is a study done by some psychologist).
I think sometimes we need to see the things from different lenses.
regards
Abhishek