Chapter 18: Moksha-sannyasa-yoga: / Verse 78

An enviable acme to the great, holy dialogue! It comes from Sanjaya, who was no party to the dialogue, only a unique witness to it. His pronouncement carries its special relevance, revealing what the dialogue means to the world, even today.

The exposure, no doubt, benefited Arjuna. And he instantly got transformed from the retreating spirit to a full resolve to fight. Was this not the immediate object of the dialogue?

The war was over in 18 days. It was 5100 odd years ago. But the dialogue has lived with renewed relevance decade after decade, for centuries and millennia. What has made it survive so?

Sanjaya has a full answer. The world is ever a baffling complex. Often it poses as an enigma, paradox and quagmire! Not many can meet and outlive these. So, weakness, doubt and indecision always result. But we cannot disregard life. What is the redress then? Sanjaya holds a perpetual answer:

Krishna, the Yogeshvara, with full ethical and spiritual knowledge and insight to resolve the distress, must be there. Nothing will be insurmountable then. But Krishna, as he had vowed, will not physically take up weapons and act or interfere.

So, an Arjuna, to act diligently should be there to complement. He should not turn meek or retreat. He must hold his bow up with buoyant resolve. Heeding Krishna’s exhortation and guidance, he must act without any apprehension or fear.

Human society is an assortment. Its majority will be meek, and some will also be like Duryodhana, sticking to unrighteous selfish aims, indulgence and self-aggrandizement. They will not heed elders’ advice or correction. Such people have to be confronted in their own style and resolve, as Krishna made Arjuna do.

The active field, karma-kshetra, has to be handled with stern action, but backed by the insight and guidance of jnana. A close bond between rational intelligence and emotional mind must be there. To make this prevail is the real spiritual mission! This alone will bring prosperity, welfare, progress and fulfilment to the society, nation as well as the globe.

What a beautiful finale. Selfishness has no place in Bhagavad Gita; selflessness, societal outlook, national and global welfare alone have! Sarva-bhuta-hite ratāh is the watchword for the wise and the illumined. Yes, the wise have to be constantly interested in the welfare of all beings, not of humans alone!

Humans constitute a very small, negligible, percentage of earth’s beings. They should not claim precedence over others. Their food, nourishment, attire, dwelling comforts – these come from various other sources. Indebtedness to them is indispensable. No neglect can and should be shown in this. Then alone peace and contentment can be preserved.

All laws are meant to enforce this co-existence and harmony with the earth, water, air and other elements as well as the beings these host so kindly. Human life, if at all, should only add to the solidarity and benevolence of Nature in all its aspects, not to its disharmony in any manner.

To make sure that this reigns, the society has to be enlightened and guided ceaselessly. For, enlightenment is the greatest persuasion for humans in any field of life and activity. In Sanjaya’s statement, all these factors shine distinctly.

Devout study and assimilation of Bhagavad Gita is bound to make one spiritual and also an ascetic, a renounced person given to loka-sangraha. Loka-sangraha is the great mission of bringing back the drifting minds to their auspicious moorings and retaining the desired societal balance and harmony, which build national and global prosperity and welfare!