01:840:211 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Dharma, Yajna, Sattva
Religion in Asia 02/14/17
Bhakti and the Bhagavad Gita (Cont’d)
<Gita 1: Arjuna’s dilemma>
● What is Arjuna’s dilemma?
- Verses 28-47
- Key themes:
-- The “Sin” (papa) of “Family destruction” (Kula-ksaya)
-- Transgression of family duty (Kula-dharma)
-- Emergence of chaos/unlawfulness (A-dharma, “Not-dharma”)
-- The “Corruption” of “Defilement” of women
-- Confusion or mixing of the social classes (Varna-Samkarah)
-- “Family Killers” (Kula-Ghna)
- Arjuna is a Kshatriya - thus has a sacred duty as a warrior to fight - but a sacred duty also to
protect the institution of the family and the sacred dharma represents.
- His concern is for the negative “effects” (fruits, phala) that might result from either course of
action (karam)
- His dilemma: how to negotiate these conflicting duties?
<Gita 2: The theory of action and the self>
● Krishna tells Arjuna not to despair - and to fight the battle. Why?
● Krishna explains the nature of the self - Krishna tells Arjuna NOT to grieve because
beings do not cease to exist even though they may die and be reborn
● The embodied self or soul (Atman) - is eternal and undying - therefore he should fight.
- A justification for murder?
● Krishna - tells Arjuna he cannot neglect his Warrior Dharma - he should therefore fight
without concern for the consequences
● Right understanding of the nature of action - the precondition for right action
● Krishna’s “Reinterpretation” of action - A critique of Vedic ritualism and its orientation
towards the fruits of action
● In contrast - one should act, disciplined by knowledge of the eternal undying Atman -
without being motivated by desire for the fruits of action. Only then will the individual be
released from the cycle of Rebirth
● Individual who renounces all desire (For the fruits of action) → In action realizes the unity
of the soul and the infinite spirit (Brahman) and attains the “Pure calm of infinity” -
Brahma-Nirvana
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Document Summary
- the sin (papa) of family destruction (kula-ksaya) - confusion or mixing of the social classes (varna-samkarah) Arjuna is a kshatriya - thus has a sacred duty as a warrior to fight - but a sacred duty also to protect the institution of the family and the sacred dharma represents. His concern is for the negative effects (fruits, phala) that might result from either course of action (karam) Krishna tells arjuna not to despair - and to fight the battle. Krishna explains the nature of the self - krishna tells arjuna not to grieve because beings do not cease to exist even though they may die and be reborn. The embodied self or soul (atman) - is eternal and undying - therefore he should fight. Krishna - tells arjuna he cannot neglect his warrior dharma - he should therefore fight without concern for the consequences.
