‘You Do your Duty, Leave the Rewards Unto Me’

Disappointments reduce our capacities. Disappointment erodes our power source. Whenever disappointment confronts us it confuses us and its first attack is on our intelligence.

The infatuation-afflicted Arjuna had become so highly despondent that his body had become frigid and lame and it also started trembling. He, at the same time, placing aside his mace and ornaments, also started talking of keeping away from the battle. Sitting on the battle chariot, which was stationed right in the middle of the battlefield, and surrounded by armies, the dejected Arjuna became anxious to put his views forward to Lord Krishna. He weaves a huge cobweb of arguments and counterarguments before Lord Krishna. 

‘If the War takes place many of the heroes will perish, a large number of women will get widowed, many of the social and ethical values will be destroyed, and that is why I think it is better not to fight the war. I will rather go to the forests and live there on alms than to fight such a war.’ Such was the spontaneous reaction on the mind of Arjuna. Whenever there grows the feeling of disappointment on the mind of a man, he tries to run away from the path of his duty. He begins to offer arguments in accordance with his feelings. 

We have to stay prepared to face challenges in life at some point in time. Man can never run away from himself. There is always a constant conflict between resolutions and ambiguity. The process of struggles continues so long as one keeps on breathing. God has endowed everyone with a special type of power. God never tries us beyond endurance. There should be enough energy within everyone with which that injustice is adequately encountered. That is why Lord Krishna tried to give a severe jerk to Arjuna: ‘Arjuna, don’t be a coward. Get rid of the weakness of your mind and get up to fight. If you become lazy and remain asleep and become indifferent to your duties, it is certain that the Kaliyuga has ushered in. Get up. Ignite resolutions within you.’

Lord Krishna addressed Arjuna as Parantap

The term actually means the person whose very name generates fear in the minds of enemies. One who can roast his enemies and who has made his life clean and pure by undergoing penance? Lord Krishna said: ‘There was no need to talk of being a coward. Those of whom you have begun to mourn, don’t mourn them at all. Nobody kills anyone. Only their deeds kill them. In fact, they have already died.’ Lord Krishna has never doubted Arjuna about his love for duty. Lord Krishna knows that fighting the battle is beneficial for Arjuna. To rid the society of its contradictions and distortions Lord Krishna wishes to make Arjuna as the medium. This is why Lord Krishna educates Arjuna: ‘Imagine this is the phase of change from childhood to adolescent, and from adolescent to youth and then one becomes old. Don’t get worried by looking at this transformation. This is natural. Accept this change, as such a change is inevitable. Old age makes the body weak and infirm. The body is inflicted with various diseases.’ ‘It is said that the youth passes away unnoticed. But the old age sets in not to go away. Such a change is sure, certain, and a fact of life. You are just a medium. Try to understand this key element. Perform your duty with full devotion and dedication. Hard times do come to test the man.’

‘Adore those agonies which give encouragement. Brighten life by encountering problems. The tree has grown tall by suffering cuts and hits, and the lamp shines brighter by going off and on. Worship whatever is obtained in this life.’ ‘It is the body only that dies, not the soul. Whatever is true that shall remain true. Whatever is untrue, delible, and temporary shall extinguish. It is like we put on new clothes after casting away the old ones. We get happy to have new clothes. We don’t even think of the old ones. We don’t even remember the old ones. Whatever is thrown away or get rid of is done forever.’

‘The soul puts on a new body after leaving the old one. A new transformation takes place. We hardly have any clue of the leaf which has just been blown away off the branch’. Just as has been said: ‘A leaf, upon separation from the tree, has been blown far away. Both of them do not even know where and when they will get together. The separation is complete.’

‘It is similarly easy for the soul to adopt a body just as we cast away the old clothes and put on new ones. This is an endless wheel and it remains in motion in the same way. Nobody is sure of life. Therefore, Arjuna, do not look for rewards for the duty performed. Leave the results unto Me. I am here to ensure rewards. Doing duty is your right. Giving rewards is My duty, not yours.’ 

‘Keep on doing your duty so long as there is life. Remaining ardently devoted to duty should become a part of your life. You will certainly be rewarded. But never ever think of rewards. Don’t get engaged in the traders’ mentality. Do not talk about the language of profit or loss. What you will get in reward, is not your concern.’

‘There is life after death. Death brings a change to life. The soul goes away. Every breath inhaled assures confidence, while every exhaled breath cautions us not to remain too confident of life.’ The teachings of Vedas and Upanishads have all said that you should enlighten your soul and keep always its right nourishment ready. Your soul is constantly hungry. You have been decorating your body well but do also think about the soul. It also needs to be decorated in the same way – with good deeds and right thoughts.

Lord Krishna has named this knowledge as the ‘Sankhya Gyan’ [the knowledge of rationalism]. The understanding and adoption of knowledge change the total outlook on life. The total ethos undergoes a change. It is thus important to give it serious consideration.