Fighting the Right War: Krishna’s Call to Arjuna and to Us All

Acceptance & Duty

When storms arise and battles roar,

And fear comes knocking at the door,

Hold firm, O heart, be calm, be wise,

Let silent courage in you rise.

Acceptance first — a river deep,

That holds no grudge, that does not weep,

It sees the world, yet makes no claim,

It flows untouched by praise or blame.

Yet duty calls with trumpet sound,

Where right and wrong are sharply found,

Not born of want, nor pride, nor greed,

But rising pure — a sacred deed.

The fool divides the two apart,

But wisdom binds them at the heart;

For true acceptance clears the way,

That duty’s hand may not delay.

So act, yet cling not to the fight,

Stand tall, yet vanish from the sight;

Thus Dharma walks, serene and free —

In silent, fearless harmony.

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In the second chapter of the Bhagavad Geeta, Krishna continues to counsel Arjuna, urging him not to abandon his duty. Through a sequence of powerful arguments, We saw those in the last session. He clarifies why Arjuna must rise to the occasion, drawing a larger lesson that applies to every human being facing an inner or outer battle.

Finally, he tells Arjuna about Dharma. Let us reflect on a few important verses:

स्वधर्ममपि चावेक्ष्य न विकम्पितुमर्हसि।

धर्म्याद्धि युद्धाच्छ्रेयोऽन्यत्क्षत्रियस्य न विद्यते॥ (2.31)

Here, Krishna reminds Arjuna to consider his Swadharma—his own highest duty. For a Kshatriya, a righteous war (Dharmayuddha) is not a matter of ambition or personal gain. It is a calling, a privilege granted by the unfolding of events themselves. To step away from such a battle, motivated by fear, sorrow, or confusion, would be a betrayal of one’s own nature.

यदृच्छया चोपपन्नं स्वर्गद्वारमपावृतम्।

सुखिन: क्षत्रिया: पार्थ लभन्ते युद्धमीदृशम्॥ (2.32)

Krishna explains that this war has come to Arjuna not by desire but by circumstance (yadrichhaya). It is not a war that he has sought; it is a war that has sought him. Such is the nature of true battles in life. They knock on our door without invitation, without announcement, offering a rare chance to transcend one’s ordinary existence.

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Victory Either Way

हतो वा प्राप्स्यसि स्वर्गं जित्वा वा भोक्ष्यसे महीम्।

तस्मादुत्तिष्ठ कौन्तेय युद्धाय कृतनिश्चय:॥ (2.37)

Krishna provides the ultimate reassurance: whether Arjuna falls in battle or triumphs, he is victorious either way. If he dies fighting righteously, he ascends to higher realms; if he wins, he enjoys the fruits of a justly earned kingdom. In this view, action based on duty transcends ordinary concepts of success and failure.

सुखदु:खे समे कृत्वा लाभालाभौ जयाजयौ।

ततो युद्धाय युज्यस्व नैवं पापमवाप्स्यसि॥ (2.38)

Krishna’s counsel reaches its philosophical peak here: act with evenness toward joy and sorrow, gain and loss, victory and defeat. If one can maintain this inner equilibrium, then action becomes pure. It is no longer an act of ambition or fear but an act of Dharma—and such action does not create bondage.

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The True Spirit of Dharmayuddha

A crucial point we need to understand here, is that Krishna did not promote war for its own sake. The Bhagavad Geeta is not a call for war. Krishna’s long and patient attempts at peace — through diplomacy, negotiation, and compromise — must never be forgotten. War was the last resort, not the first impulse.

This is critical. A Dharmayuddha is not something one initiates out of ambition, passion or anger; it is a situation thrust upon you by Life itself. It is Nature’s invitation to act with purity and courage.

Thus, the Geeta is does not teach war. It is a guide on how to stand for Dharma when life demands it—with a calm mind, with detachment, and without hatred. 

At the same time, we must note that although Krishna did everything to avoid the war, He was always preparing for the war — which He knew was inevitable. He did not confuse duty with acceptance. Both continued without disturbing the other.

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Duty v/s Acceptance

Not all of us are warriors on a physical battlefield. Yet, in our own lives, we face countless battles: against internal weaknesses, or external oppression.

Krishna’s message teaches us that:

• First, we must practice acceptance.
• Second, we must be deeply aware of our inner landscape.
• Third, we must be consistent in this war that Nature has enforced on us. 
• And of course, we must learn to distinguish between true acceptance and confusion disguised as tolerance.

The confusion arises because we often think that acceptance and duty are opposite directions. In truth, they are parallel streams. One part of our being must accept what is; another part must act in accordance with Dharma. This duty may change the situation or enforce it — that should not impact our focus in working on our duty.

When our actions are driven by the ego’s desire to ‘change the world,’ they bind us, even if the change appears noble. When our actions arise naturally from an inner sense of duty, understanding that the situation itself has called us forth — they free us.

If our inaction arises from laziness, fear, or confusion, it is not acceptance — it is bondage. If our action arises from ambition, restlessness, or a desire to dominate, it is also bondage. But when action arises from a clear sense of duty, free from any thought about the outcomes, when it feels like a natural movement of life itself — then we are truly aligned with Dharma.

In such action, we are neither resisting life nor manipulating it. We are simply fulfilling the role assigned to us by the grand play of existence.

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Final Thought

The battlefield that Krishna refers to is not just the dusty field of Kurukshetra; it is the battlefield within our own hearts.

Every day, life places before us new situations — opportunities disguised as challenges. Sometimes, it demands patience; sometimes, it demands courage. If we listen carefully, with deep awareness and humility, we will always know the right response.

When acceptance and action flow from a silent, witnessing consciousness, we become instruments of Dharma.

And then, whether we "win" or "lose" in worldly terms — in truth, we always win.