Krishna blends the metaphorical and literal wars  –  In the last verse of the Bhagavad-gita’s fourth chapter (04.42), Krishna urges Arjuna to fight. That is expected considering that they are on a battlefield and Arjuna has turned to Krishna for addressing the second thoughts he had about fighting. What is unexpected, however, is that Krishna asks Arjuna to fight with a sword, when Arjuna is a celebrated archer. What is even more unexpected is that Krishna asks Arjuna to fight with a metaphorical sword: a sword of knowledge. What is most unexpected is that he asks Arjuna to fight for destroying inner doubts, not outer enemies. 

Does this call for nonliteral fighting replace the need for literal fighting? No, it complements. While exhorting Arjuna to fight literally against those who have disrupted dharma, Krishna expands Arjuna’s vision of his actions. As long as Arjuna has a narrow vision, thinking that he is fighting against his relatives or that he is fighting for gaining a kingdom, he will remain unsure whether the fight is worth its cost. How can Arjuna become sure? By fighting against that narrow vision using the sword of spiritual knowledge, which will expose and expel his ignorant misconceptions. 

Moreover, by referring to the metaphorical war, Krishna highlights the universality of the Gita’s message. We may not be interested in a war fought thousands of years ago, and we may not have to fight a war ourselves. Still, we all still have to fight against our inner misconceptions, which make us hesitate and vacillate when faced with challenges. Gita wisdom provides us all the sword of knowledge to rise from ambiguity to clarity. 

One-sentence summary: 

By urging Arjuna to fight with the sword of knowledge, Krishna deepens Arjuna’s vision of the war he is fighting and expands our understanding of the Gita’s relevance. 

Think it over:

  • What is unexpected about Krishna’s call to fight in Gita 04.42?
  • When Krishna wants Arjuna to fight the war literally, why does he refer to the metaphorical war?
  • How is the Gita’s call to fight relevant for us?

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04.42: Therefore the doubts which have arisen in your heart out of ignorance should be slashed by the weapon of knowledge. Armed with yoga, O Bharata, stand and fight.

Krishna blends the metaphorical and literal wars

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