Shrimad Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 18: Mokṣha Sanyasa Yogam Verse 60:
(Image Courtesy Mahanidhiswami)
We Have Little Control Over How Our Fundamental Tendencies Affect Us However, There Is No Prospect For Liberation If There Is No Way Out Of This
स्वभावजेन कौन्तेय निबद्ध: स्वेन कर्मणा |
कर्तुं नेच्छसि यन्मोहात्करिष्यस्यवशोऽपि तत् || 18.60||
swbhāva-jena kaunteya nibaddhaḥ svena karmaṇā
kartuṁ nechchhasi yan mohāt kariṣhyasy avaśho ’pi tat|| 18.60||
Shloka Translation
BG – Ch. 18- Ver. 60:
O Kaunteya, you will be forced to perform something you don’t want to do because of delusion since you are obligated by your own responsibility that comes from your nature.
Explanation
Shree Krishna continues his caution by going into further detail about the prior subject. You have a Kshatriya nature because of your sanskaras from previous lifetimes, he claims. Your innate sense of bravery, gallantry, and patriotism will drive you to battle.
Both in this incarnation and in previous ones, you have received training to uphold your warrior duty. Can you possibly remain passive when you witness injustice being done to others right in front of your eyes? Your character and tendencies lead you to passionately fight evil wherever you encounter it. In order to fight effectively, you should follow my directions rather than being forced by nature to do the same.
Verse & what we can learn
A seed placed in fertile soil cannot fail to germinate, and a river’s westward current cannot travel eastward. Arjuna is being persuaded by Shri Krishna to reconsider his choice to end the fight. With all the characteristics outlined previously in the chapter, Arjuna is the ideal of a kshatriya, or warrior.
His fighter impulse would have been momentarily suppressed if he had quit the conflict, but only momentarily. He would eventually have been driven to fight the conflict he had escaped by the force of his vaasanaas and the force of his mental impressions. Even worse, if his warrior tendencies had been suppressed through duress, he would have gone insane.
Since it was obvious that he could not refuse to fulfil his duty and that he could not forcibly suppress his innate warrior tendencies, Arjuna would have likely been persuaded of the necessity to participate in the conflict. If we follow this line of reasoning to its logical conclusion, it implies that we are powerless against the effect of our innate tendencies. But if there is no escape from this, there is no chance for liberty.
To acquire knowledge and to implement that knowledge in life one needs to be mentally and physically active and healthy and for that daily meditation is a great tool.
There are various types of meditation like Buddhist meditation, heartfulness meditation, mindfulness meditation, meditation for stress, and each meditation benefits are countless. There is also numerous meditation techniques for beginners which help in practicing daily meditation so go ahead and start your journey towards a peaceful and balanced life.
In the next shloka In the next shloka, Shri Krishna provides an illustration to address this scepticism.
Let’s learn to live with “The Gita” via Meditation Affinity…