Bhagwad Gita shloka VIII-7 (Commentary)

In Bhagwad Gita shloka VIII.7 (Bhagwad Gita shloka VIII-7) Lord Krishna exhorts King Arjuna to fight the war of Dharma with their cousins King Duryodhana. He emphasizes upon the fact that it is not a fighting between relatives or human beings but it is a fight between truthfulness and Adharma.

As per Bhagwad Gita shloka VIII-7 King Duryodhana was not following the settled rules of the society there was no other way than to fight him. King Arjuna could not accept this statement of Lord Krishna and retorts that it would be totally unbecoming of him to be the cause of murder of his innocent relatives. As King Duryodhana was totally not agreeable to what was being said by Lord Krishna ... Lord Krishna again emphasizes upon King Arjuna that it is not he who would be fighting the war but it would just be the garb of his own atman (the self within) that would carry out its duties in the times of war. As a King one has to fight the war to save the kingdom ... the interest of his subjects came first and then come relatives and friends. As long as we continue to think of our physical self as the real self ... we are far away from truth.

As stated in Bhagwad Gita shloka VIII-7 Lord Krishna also emphasizes that having developed full faith in the existence of God ... one must leave matters in the hands of the Almighty God ... this does not mean that we do not complete our daily chores but we must continue doing everything as the fruits of our karma shall be a property of our atman (the soul within). Once we are devoid of I of the senses and the mind ... then only we shall be able to perform Nishkama karma ... that means performing karma with an unattached attitude. Once there is no binding with the karma we are performing ... there is nothing left but for God to accept our prayers.

The war of Dharma (the requisite of the day) can only be performed by Nishkama karma. Having taken control of the senses and subsequently the mind ... can we hope for attaining the stage of Nirvikalpa samadhi! This is very essential on the path of spirituality as nothing worthy can be accomplished without performing Nishkama karma. Lord Krishna knew the moment this concept of Nishkama karma and the war of Dharma is clear to King Arjuna ... there shall remain no element of doubt in performing the war. Lord Krishna again and again pokes King Arjuna for declaring the war she in the name of God, the Almighty Creator of the Cosmos.

As stated in Bhagwad Gita shloka VIII-7 Lord Krishna also exhorts that every human being must submit one day or the other to God, the Almighty Creator ... by doing this no ill can ever befall the kingdom. It was a must to succeed in life and also the war field. In the name of Dharma Lord Krishna calls upon King Arjuna to start the war of Dharma. By doing this is he emphasized that peace will prevail all over the kingdom and all uncertainties would come to an end.