Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada

Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan

We are discussing how Karma yoga gradually elevates through Gyana Yoga to Bhakti Yoga.

And within the arrangement of Karam Yoga we are discussing Varanashram. How the system of Varanshram involves gradual spiritualization of one’s activities. 

Now let us discuss the qualities of a Kshetriya:

Bg 18.43

śauryaṁ tejo dhṛtir dākṣyaṁ
yuddhe cāpy apalāyanam
dānam īśvara-bhāvaś ca
kṣātraṁ karma svabhāva-jam

Synonyms: 

śauryam — heroism; tejaḥ — power; dhṛtiḥ — determination; dākṣyam — resourcefulness; yuddhe — in battle; ca— and; api — also; apalāyanam — not fleeing; dānam — generosity; īśvara — of leadership; bhāvaḥ — the nature; ca — and; kṣātram — of a kṣatriya; karma — duty; svabhāva–jam — born of his own nature.

Translation: 

Heroism, power, determination, resourcefulness, courage in battle, generosity and leadership are the natural qualities of work for the kṣatriyas.

svabhāva-jam, this is born of their nature

So what are these qualities?

śauryaṁ tejo dhṛtir dākṣyaṁ, 

śauryaṁ, heroism, courageousness, taking risks in doing adventurous things 

 Kshetriyas are Ksheta Trayate Iti Kshetriya 

Everyone in life needs some source of satisfaction, some excitement, now different people get this satisfaction from different things in their life, those who are Brahmanically inclined they get it by studying new books, understanding new concepts, learning new things, in terms of doing things which gives intellectually titillation and gratification. Similarly Kshetriyas they have adventure, another quality is   yuddhe cāpy apalāyanam, apalāyanam not running away from battle. So different people have their different sources of stimulations. And we need to understand these stimulations are not in terms of right or wrong, we can say some are material and some are spiritual. E.g. when devotees are remembering Krishna that is spiritual stimulation. Spiritual stimulations bring supreme satisfaction but till we get to that level we need some material stimulations for our satisfaction. 

śauryaṁ, heroism, to protect the weaker people, some people gets satisfaction in doing this, if this is within dharma it is good.

Tejo, power, Kshetriays had formidable power. The point is Kshetriyas had to be strong.

dhṛtir is determination, actually determination is required for all varnas but especially in this world to get things done is not easy, Kshetriyas are meant not only to do things but get things done. Ishwar Bhava. Brahamans deal with ideas / concepts / principles, Kshetriyas deal with people, Vaishyas deal with animals, and Sudra deal with things, of course this is not water tight divisions everyone has to deal with everyone else even Kshetriyas deal with ideas and sudras deal with people. But the point is primarily / focus / thrust. 

dānam īśvara-bhāvaś ca, īśvara-bhāvaś can be seen negatively, general our understanding is this idea keeps us in material world. But here Krishna talked about it in more and less positive light. He is talking about the qualities in each varna in a desirable sense that people would cultivate these qualities. And therein He is saying that the Kshetriya should be having Ishwar Bhava, what does it mean? Actually in this world somebody has to take the role of Ishwara Bhava / controller. Every kingdom needs some governing authority. Here Ishwara Bhava doesn’t mean mentality but mainly ability. Supreme Lord needs agents to do His work in this world, and that is how Kshteriays plays their role. They can become Lord’s agent. E.g. Hanuman Ji work in Ramayan. 

dākṣyaṁ means expertise

yuddhe cāpy apalāyanam. Means never running away e.g. in war either win or die

dānam īśvara-bhāvaś ca, dana is in extremely important function of Kshatriyas. Actually it is important function of anyone who is in household order. In 16th chapter Krishna has talked about Dana as godly qualities.

So Kshetriyas collect taxes and build national treasure and give it to those who are in need of that.

End of transcription.