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To Lead a Happy & Peaceful Life Having a Clear Conscience is the First Step

गुरूनहत्वा हि महानुभावान्
श्रेयो भोक्तुं भैक्ष्यमपीह लोके |
हत्वार्थकामांस्तु गुरूनिहैव
भुञ्जीय भोगान् रुधिरप्रदिग्धान् || 5||

gurūnahatvā hi mahānubhāvān
śhreyo bhoktuṁ bhaikṣhyamapīha loke
hatvārtha-kāmāṁstu gurūnihaiva
bhuñjīya bhogān rudhira-pradigdhān|| 5||

Shloka Translation
BG – Ch. 2- Ver. 5:

I will not kill my renowned teachers because, in this life, I would rather eat food obtained via charity than engage in the blood-stained worldly pleasures earned through killing my teachers.

Explanation

It may be argued that Arjun had no choice but to fight and gain the kingdom in order to survive. Arjuna, on the other hand, disproves such theory. He claims that begging is a better way to survive than committing this awful crime. He also believes that if he engages in this awful act of carrying on the war and kills his elders and family, his conscience will prevent him from enjoying any of the world’s rewards, such as wealth and power.

Verse & What we can learn

One may have all the riches and comforts of the world at his feet but if his conscience is not clean, it will not allow him to lead a peaceful life.

If you want to counsel someone whose mind is off balance and is in an emotional state, first you have to allow him to talk and express himself fully and when he calms down we can start counsel.

In the next verse, Arjuna continues to express his confused thoughts to Lord Krishna.

Let’s learn to live with “The Gita” via Meditation Affinity…