This verse (02.69) addresses Arjuna’s concern articulated earlier: he couldn’t see the point of fighting (01.30) when it was going to be at the cost of his relatives’ lives (02.04-05)
In response, Krishna initially articulates the two main reasons warriors fought: victory would give them sovereignty on the earth; death while fighting heroically in a righteous war would lead them to heaven (02.37). When Krishna sees that Arjuna doesn’t find these reasons persuasive, he raises the discussion to a higher level by focusing on consciousness.
Krishna emphasizes that life’s ultimate purpose is to raise our consciousness to the spiritual level, free from the mortality and misery that besets a consciousness attached to matter. And Arjuna’s difficult duty of fighting can help him raise his consciousness if he fights unselfishly. Thus, Krishna urges Arjuna to fight without considering victory or defeat and concomitantly profit or loss (02.38). Generalizing, Krishna articulates a universal principle (02.47): do your duty without attachment to results.
What is the ultimate purpose of raising one’s consciousness? In this chapter, Krishna recommends such detached dutifulness as the means to liberation from material existence. Eventually, the Gita’s flow culminates in Krishna recommending devotional dutifulness — that will lead Arjuna to the attainment of Krishna’s personal abode, for an eternity of ecstatic loving reciprocations (18.65). Indeed, if Arjuna acts in this mood, with his mind and intelligence absorbed in a mood of service to Krishna, he will already be with Krishna even in this life (12.08).
If Arjuna does his duty in such consciousness, that will be different from, even opposite to, the way most warriors fight. His intentions may be incomprehensible to most people — some may criticize him for fighting against his own relatives, while others may praise him for being unflinchingly dutiful, even if it required fighting against his relatives. But neither will understand Arjuna’s ultimate purpose. Through this verse, Krishna readies Arjuna to walk that different, difficult, little understood path.
One sentence summary:
Krishna reminds Arjuna that he will be fighting with a consciousness radically different from that of other warriors.
Think it over:
- What are the main reasons why warriors fought?
- What is the different purpose for which Arjuna will be fighting?
- How does this Krishna prepare Arjuna for fighting with a different consciousness?
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02.69: What is night for all beings is the time of awakening for the self-controlled; and the time of awakening for all beings is night for the introspective sage.
To know more about this verse, please click on the image
GOD is always on vigil