In the Bhagavad-gita’s tenth chapter, Krishna declares that material nature works under his supervision (09.10). Some may find this declaration similar to a common saying, “Not a blade of grass moves without God’s will.” If that saying is true, that raises several questions: Were Duryodhana’s actions also by Krishna’s will? If yes, then why did Krishna want Arjuna to fight against Duryodhana?” 

Actually, Krishna’s statement is nuanced: everyone works under his supervision (mayadhyakshena), not that everyone does his intention. Krishna has given us all free will , and he doesn’t control how we use it. He does, however, control how much we can use it. This principle of freedom within limits is universal. For example, the government doesn’t usually control where we go in our car, but it does control how fast we go. Krishna illustrates the same principle with a more natural wind-sky metaphor (09.06). If we envision the sky to be an upside-down bowl, then the sky doesn’t control the movement of the air — it can move up, down, left, right — but the sky does control the area of movement of the air. 

Similarly, when Duryodhana had acted reprehensibly, Krishna had allowed, not approved. Generally, how much a person can act out their misdirected free will depends on their past karma — just as how much loan a person can get depends on their credit history. Those with greater good karma may seem to get away with far worse misdeeds  than those with lesser good karma. But everyone will eventually be curtailed and held accountable. 

Returning to the starting question, the Kurukshetra war was the time to curtail Duryodhana. And Krishna wanted Arjuna to be a part of that cosmic accountability initiative. 

One-sentence summary:

When people do evil things, they are not doing God’s will; they are doing their own will, as allowed by God within the limits of their karma.

Think it over:

  • Do all things happen by God’s will?
  • Explain the principle of freedom-within-limits using two examples. 
  • Why do some people seem to get away with far more misdeeds than others?

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09.10: This material nature, which is one of My energies, is working under My direction, O son of Kunti, producing all moving and nonmoving beings. Under its rule this manifestation is created and annihilated again and again.

If everything happens by Krishna’s will was Duryodhana too doing Krishna’s will?

To know more about this verse, please click on the image