We often face problems in life at three different levels of acuteness: adversity, atrocity, and agony. Adversity is what life naturally throws at us, such as a devastating earthquake. Atrocity is intentional; it is what a person tries to do to us, like a bomb exploding. Both involve bad things happening to us, but the worst pain often comes from the third level: agony.

Agony specifically arises when something difficult has to be done by us. It occurs when we face an ethical dilemma where two choices are before us, and we are forced to make one. For example, during a crisis, a doctor with only two oxygen cylinders must choose who receives treatment, knowing the other patient will surely die. One wrong decision means their choice becomes the cause of death.

This immense stress often stems from our conflicting identities pulling us in entirely opposite directions. This is exactly the agony the warrior Arjuna faced in the Bhagavad Gita. If he identified primarily as a warrior—the martial guardian of society—he had a duty to fight and protect. But if he identified as a dynastic leader, his duty was to protect his extended family and community.

When our multiple identities pull us in opposite directions, it is agonizing. The decisions we make in those moments of deep conflict ultimately determine how we primarily identify ourselves. By recognizing the true source of our agony, we can begin to look deeper into who we truly are beyond our temporary roles.

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02.31 Considering your specific duty as a kṣatriya, you should know that there is no better engagement for you than fighting on religious principles; and so there is no need for hesitation.