Indian education teaches us that a man should never be unmanly, faint hearted, cowardly and negligent of his duty, not in the least bit, rather, he should remain enthusiastic and dutiful in all circumstances. In the twenty sixth verse of the eighteenth chapter while mentioning the marks of the good (Sattvika) agent, the Lord mentions six points – to renounce attachment and egoistic notion, to possess firmness and vigour, and to remain unswayed in success and failure. Out of these six points, firmness and vigour are important. A man should be firm in whatsoever duty he is entrusted with and he should perform it with vigour and promptness.
Like a mountain a soldier should remain immovable in performing his duty. He should not in the least deviate from his path even in the most unfavourable circumstances. The reason is that the body is decaying every moment. and he himself is immortal (2/23-25). So a soldier should never be afraid of death. Secondly death while performing one’s duty leads to salvation. The Lord declares “Even death in the performance of one’s duty brings blessedness” (3/35). But deviation from one’s own duty conduces him to fear i.e.. he who deviates from his duty is slighted and insulted here and meets with an evil destiny here after ( 3/35). Therefore a soldier should fight very enthusiastically in an unsolicited war. There is nothing more welcome to a member of the warrior class than righteous war. Therefore those soldiers who get such an unsolicited opportunity for war, are indeed very lucky (2/31- 32).
A person should perform his duty very enthusiastically without caring whether he achieves success or meets with failure. The fact is that both success and failure result in success for the person who performs his duty enthusiastically. The reason is that for such a person success and failure are immaterial, and mundane success or failure is indeed failure only. When Khudi Ram Bose was going to be hanged, he gained in weight because he was thinking of performing his duty rather than of success or failure.
The Indian soldiers fought so enthusiastically on the war front that they went on killing the enemies even when they were beheaded. Injuries, wounds and pain can’t discourage brave soldiers. They are rather encouraged because they derive happiness through the performance of their duty. Enthusiasm of such brave soldiers leaves an impression on other soldiers and even cowardly soldiers are inspired and encouraged by them.
Narayana ! Narayana ! Narayana !
From “Gita Darpan” in English by Swami Ramsukhdasji Maharaj.
www.swamiramsukhdasji.net
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