Gita 02.05 Deliberation is desirable, but depth of deliberation is decisive

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gurūn ahatvā hi mahānubhāvān
śreyo bhoktuṁ bhaikṣyam apīha loke
hatvārtha-kāmāṁs tu gurūn ihaiva
bhuñjīya bhogān rudhira-pradigdhān (Bg 2.05)

Word-to-word:
gurūn — the superiors; ahatvā — not killing; hi — certainly; mahā-anubhāvān — great souls; śreyaḥ — it is better; bhoktum — to enjoy life; bhaikṣyam — by begging; api — even; iha — in this life; loke — in this world; hatvā — killing; artha — gain; kāmān — desiring; tu — but; gurūn — superiors; iha — in this world; eva — certainly; bhuñjīya — one has to enjoy; bhogān — enjoyable things; rudhira — blood; pradigdhān — tainted with.

Translation:
It would be better to live in this world by begging than to live at the cost of the lives of great souls who are my teachers. Even though desiring worldly gain, they are superiors. If they are killed, everything we enjoy will be tainted with blood.

Explanation:
In this verse, Arjuna explains his reasoning for not fighting. He says:
gurūn ahatvā hi mahānubhāvān : “Without killing my spiritual teachers, who are great personalities, highly experienced, wise, and noble souls,
śreyo bhoktuṁ bhaikṣyam apīha loke : it is better to live by begging in this world than to enjoy the kingdom obtained by killing them. What would such enjoyment lead to?
hatvārtha-kāmāṁs tu gurūn ihaiva : Even if they are no longer behaving like gurus because they are driven by desires, it would be better for me to let them kill me.
bhuñjīya bhogān rudhira-pradigdhān : Winning a kingdom through such actions would mean enjoying pleasures tainted with the blood of my loved ones.”

Here, Arjuna reflects on the long-term consequences (śreyo). He has previously used the term śreyo in na ca śreyo ’nupaśyāmi (Bhagavad-gītā 1.31), meaning, “I don’t see how this can be beneficial even in the long term.” We have discussed that Arjuna’s conception of the long term is not truly long enough.

What constitutes the long term depends on the scope of our vision and the framework through which we evaluate situations. To the extent we understand the temporality of life, we process events differently. Each of us interprets experiences not only based on the circumstances we are currently in but also on the dispositions we have developed over time, potentially throughout our lives.

Essentially, Arjuna is implying, “These are my gurus, and they remain my gurus even if they are not behaving in a guru-like manner. Even if they are currently influenced by worldly desires—even if I attribute their actions to a craving for wealth—that does not automatically disqualify them from their position as gurus. I cannot afford to alienate or attack them, as they are meant to be objects of my veneration.” Arjuna acknowledges their flaws but chooses neither to whitewash nor blackwash them.

Whitewashing would mean denying their faults entirely and insisting that they remain his gurus regardless of their actions. Blackwashing, on the other hand, would mean rejecting them outright, deeming them unworthy of being gurus because of their actions. Arjuna adopts a balanced perspective, refusing to fall into either extreme.

At this stage, in Arjuna’s vision, the fact that they are his gurus is paramount. In every action we undertake, we evaluate—whether consciously or subconsciously, objectively or subjectively—what the best course of action is for a given situation.

The Bhagavad-gītā captures Arjuna’s process of deliberation as he seeks to make a decision, navigating the moral and emotional complexities of his predicament. Deliberation is essential for making good decisions. Interestingly, the word “deliberate” often carries a negative connotation, as in “deliberately done” implying something knowingly or intentionally harmful, such as a deliberate fraud or mistake.

However, the word “deliberation” holds a more positive meaning. It refers to thoughtful discussions, contemplation, and conscious, intentional focus on a subject to analyze it thoroughly. Yet, deliberation alone does not guarantee a good decision—the depth and quality of the deliberation are equally important.

Arjuna’s deliberation is ongoing, but it is not yet deep enough. In his contemplation, he reasons, “I don’t want the kingdom—I want to respect my elders.” Respecting elders is indeed a higher value than merely seeking a kingdom. However, establishing dharma is an even deeper value.

To establish dharma, one must first understand what dharma truly is and act accordingly. Arjuna believes that seeking a kingdom at the cost of killing his loved ones would amount to adharma. Kṛṣṇa, however, will guide the discussion to a deeper level, explaining that neglecting his duty as a kṣatriya—a martial guardian of society—to establish dharma and protect citizens from adharmic rulers would itself constitute adharma.

Kṛṣṇa guides Arjuna to a deeper understanding of his identity. If Arjuna views himself merely as a prince deserving a kingdom, he may feel inclined to fight. However, if he identifies as a Kuru descendant and sees his opponents as members of the same dynasty, he may feel, “What is the point of fighting against my own loved ones? The cost is too great.”

Kṛṣṇa, however, takes him further, revealing a deeper truth—that he is a soul. This understanding, as explained in subsequent verses, emphasizes that as a soul, Arjuna is meant to act in harmony with the Whole. The Whole—Kṛṣṇa Himself—is all-benevolent and acts for the well-being of all.

In this universal scheme of things, everyone has a role to play in assisting the Whole. If individuals neglect their roles, it disrupts the balance and creates problems. Kṛṣṇa encourages Arjuna to play his role in harmony with the Whole, fulfilling the role assigned by the Whole. By doing so, he can contribute to the welfare of everyone.

Thus, Kṛṣṇa will counter Arjuna’s reasoning, yet the principle of deliberating before deciding is exemplified by Arjuna in this situation. Kṛṣṇa, however, engages in a similar deliberation but at a much deeper level. This depth results in a profound and evolved discussion, offering insights for all people to contemplate and derive lasting benefit from.

Thank you.