My Year With Words

In Dec 2016 I embarked on writing a book, purely by chance “I’ll have it done in a few months” I said. I put it out there in to the universe, so I would make it happen (if I say it I do it). As part…

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You can OWN your Actions but never can claim to OWN the results

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 2 Verse 47

Introduction

Bhagavad Gita is a conversation between Krishna and Arjun. This dialogue begins just before the war of Mahabharata is about to begin. On seeing his family in opposition, Arjun is gripped with fear and confusion and wants to run away, but Krishna convinces him to fight and tells Arjun why he today raise his weapons to kill his brothers and relatives in this war.

The core message of the Bhagavad Gita is considered very powerful for it can fundamentally transform the way you live your life. Bhagavad Gita is also called a summary of Vendantic Knowledge or simply ancient Knowledge.

Bhagavad Gita is 700 verses long, spread across 18 chapters. Here we will understand Verse 47 of Chapter 2 of the Bhagavad Gita.

Krishna giving the Knowlegde of Bhagavad Gita to Arjun

The words Krishna tells Arjun in this verse are nothing but the philosophy of Karma Yoga. Krishna is not taking the name of the term “Karma Yoga” as he is yet to reveal that to Arjun in detail in later chapters. But this sentence in completeness reflects the essence of Karma Yoga.

Thus, this is one of the most important verses of the Bhagavad Gita.

Till this point, Arjun is in a dilemma, as he is gripped with fear and is unable to decide what to do. So Krishna is trying to tell Arjun, how should he decide to take action.

Let’s analyze this verse from the perspective of Arjun.

Ajrun’s Dilemma- Why and How to Act?

Krishna is telling Arjun that a man must act to fulfill his Dharma. We, by now, know that “Dharma” means one’s natural duty. Arjun is a warrior and thus his duty is to fight this war. This means that he needs to pick up his bow and arrows and shoot down the enemy. This answers one question for Arjun i.e. “Why and How should he act?”

The other question which Arjun has in his mind is “If he fights, then he shall become the killer of his own family”. Krishna is thus telling Arjun that he must not think of himself as the Killer, as he has no right to claim the fruits of his actions. And the reason he can’t do so is because he can’t consider his actions as the sole cause of the result.

This means that Arjun can shoot the arrow and claim that it was he who shot that arrow, but at the same time, he can’t claim that the person his arrow hit, died because he shot the arrow. According to Krishna, there were many factors that contributed to the death of that person, and if that person was destined to die, then he would have died anyways, even if Arjun’s arrow wouldn’t have hit him.

Let’s understand this with an example:

If a building is being constructed, there are many people who are involved in the work. Each construction worker has his task defined. Some carry bricks, some prepare the concrete mortar paste, some carry the sand, some work on iron rods, some work on laying the brinks on plaster, some ensure water supply, some work on the electricals, some work on the plumbing- the list is very long. Then there are others who do more skillful jobs like the architect who designed the building, the contractor who is managing the finances, the site-in-charge who is ensuring the day-to-day operations, the procurement manager who is actually purchasing the raw materials- again the list is very long.

So in essence everyone in the company is contributing towards the construction of this building in their own ways. Now on the day when the building is complete, a brick handler can’t come forward and claim that he was the one who built this building. Well, he can always claim that he was the one who laid the bricks, and in his mind, his claim is right because he thinks if he didn’t lay the bricks, the building would never have been completed.

But can he claim 100% ownership of the construction of the building?

Well, it is obvious, he can’t, for there were so many people involved in this project and everyone contributed in their own ways.

So the brick handler can only claim that he put a few bricks on plaster, and that is it. Nothing more, and nothing less! Because the truth is that there are so many inputs happening in this construction project, and no one man can claim that he is the one due to whom the building is constructed. No one has the right to claim ownership of 100% of the result. But at the same time, everyone has the right to ownership of their own actions.

Now, in this example, it is evident that no one man can claim ownership of the result. But the architect might say that if he didn’t make the design, then the building wouldn’t be complete. He can say that his job was so critical, that without his input, the final result would never have been achieved.

But is he right?

Well, if he refused to make the design, then some other architect would have done the job. In fact, every worker who contributed to this project could be replaced. So even if one claims that his job was super critical, and thus becomes the cause of the result, then he is mistaken.

The reality is that the CEO of the company, wanted the project to be completed, and he will ensure that every skill is included in the team.

But even the CEO’s input is not the sole input. He can also be replaced. And even behind his management of this project, there are other forces that are contributing in a massive manner but seem invisible.

For example:

The construction project needs permission from the local government. It needs permission from various government offices. The project is dependent on so many external inputs like electricity, water, raw material, money, political will etc that even the project team can’t claim 100% ownership of the result. Even externalities like weather play a crucial role.

Even in this example, if one were to think deeply, and make a long list of all the necessary inputs, he would never be able to complete the list, as many inputs are unforeseen and can’t be even visualized.

Therefore Krishna says that Arjun can only claim that he shot his arrow at the target. Rest everything else which happened, happened because of infinite factors, all contributing towards the results. So the person who died, died as he was destined to die. Arjun’s arrow hitting him, in reality, was of no significance. For if that man was destined to die, he would have died by someone else's arrow in that mega war, where arrows were flying in all directions.

Thus Arjun is only the shooter, he can never be the Killer and thus he can never claim the right to be the killer.

Krishna says that Arjun shouldn’t lament the fact that he will be a killer, for his assumption of him being the killer comes from his ignorance, from his incomplete knowledge.

After listening to Krishna, one more question comes to Arjun. He asks Krishna that “If he is not responsible for any result which happens due to his actions, then what is the point of taking any action at all? Why should he act?”

Krishna understands Arjun and appreciates the fact that his question is logical and very important. Krishna then tells Arjun that a man can choose “In-Action” or “A-Karma” and not do anything at all, it is possible for it is a choice and a man is free to make his choices for he has the right to choose and own his actions. Thus “In-Action” or “A-karma” is also an action as it stems from a conscious choice.

However, Krishna warns Arjun that choosing “In-Action” will only bring him sorrow. He will not feel happy.

This happens because every person has a Dharma or “his natural duty”, and every Duty demands Action or Karma to fulfill it. Therefore while in-action could be a strategic call, in-action can’t be the answer to all duties.

Therefore when one chooses “A-Karma” or “In-Action” he a basically refusing to act to fulfill his Dharma, and when a person doesn’t act to fulfill his Dharma, he is indulging in “A-Dharma” and this will create friction in his life. It will cause his mind to feel stress and anxiety. His mind will not be at peace, and when there is no Peace, how can there be Sukh (~lasting Happiness).

This happens as the person is going against his nature and the laws of nature. If you look at nature closely, everything is a result of the action. Karma is engrained in the DNA of the Universe. Thus not acting or In-Action is not a natural choice. When a man goes against his nature, he is bound to be in-complete and distressed. For this reason alone, total inaction is never a good choice to make.

Yet people make this choice, due to laziness or ignorance, and they end up suffering.

Thus Krishna says that the best way to live life is to do “Action” or “Karma” to discharge one’s duty or “Dharma” and give your best to attain the desired result, but at the same time do not consider your actions or your self as the reason for the attainment of the result.

In the language of Engineers, this would mean, giving your input, for the desired output, but don’t consider yourself as the reason for the output you have attained.

This is nothing but Karma Yoga spelled out, but indirectly.

Krishna is saying, to work for the result, but in a detached manner. Work for the sake of your duty, do what is supposed to be done, but at the same time, don’t crave for the result. The result will come on its own accord.

Therefore, the lesson is

Chapter 2 to be continued..

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Cheers

My Year With Words

You can OWN your Actions but never can claim to OWN the results

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 2 Verse 47

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