Why a message of peace on a battlefield? – The Bhagavad-gita is spoken on the battlefield to a reluctant warrior urging him to fight. Then, why does it talk about peace? And that too without any strategies for negotiating to settle hostilities?  Because the Gita is talking about inner peace whose loss is what has afflicted Arjuna severely. Arjuna had stated that he won’t be able to enjoy if those he cares for are killed in the fight for the kingdom. In response, the Gita tells him that he needs to act considering that Krishna is the ultimate enjoyer and all actions should be done for his satisfaction. That point is elaborated later when the Gita states that we all are parts of Krishna — satisfying the whole is the best way to satisfy the parts.

Arjuna had stated that he feels fratricide is too steep a price for gaining the kingdom. The Gita replies that everything belongs to Krishna — even the kingdom under disputation. He should fight to return the kingdom to its original proprietor by establishing as king one who is a devoted servant of the original operator. 

If Arjuna is not to be the enjoyer or proprietor, they why should he fight? What was there in it for him? Krishna was his greatest well-wisher, and doing his will would promote Arjuna’s greatest welfare. . 

Moreover, Arjuna had stated that not fighting would lead to the greatest welfare for his dynasty. The Gita explained that Krishna was the greatest well-wisher of everyone; doing his will would do the greatest welfare for everyone. 

One-sentence summary: 

By acting for Krishna’s pleasure, instead of his own pleasure; by striving to establish Krishna as the proprietor, instead of himself becoming a proprietor, and by deferring to Krishna’s will knowing him to be the well-wisher of everyone, instead of claiming to be the wellwisher, Arjuna would attain inner peace. 

Think it over:

  • How does accepting Krishna as the enjoyer lead to peace?
  • How does accepting Krishna as the proprietor lead to peace?
  • How does accepting Krishna as the well-wisher lead to peace?

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05.29: A person in full consciousness of Me, knowing Me to be the ultimate beneficiary of all sacrifices and austerities, the Supreme Lord of all planets and demigods, and the benefactor and well-wisher of all living entities, attains peace from the pangs of material miseries.

Why a message of peace on a battlefield?

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