demigods and magicians chapter 5 summary

Krishna therefore tells Arjuna to fight, but with knowledge and detachment (3.29-30), without falling victim to his own attractions and aversions. Krishna also instructs Arjuna to fight to set the proper example of duty. Krishna explains that Arjuna should fight, for avoiding sinful reactions though devotional work is better than attempting to escape reactions though renouncing work. Krishna then explains ‘karma-yoga’, reaction-free devotional work, and clears up Arjuna’s mistaken idea that all work is fruitive and leads to bondage. Arjuna therefore opens Chapter Three asking Krishna why He is encouraging fighting if intelligence is better than fruitive work. Krishna thus encourages Arjuna to remain fixed in His service – fight – and ignore his mind’s desires.Īs Krishna’s explanations why Arjuna should fight were only a summary, and since Krishna glorifies both ‘buddhi-yoga’, intelligence used in spiritual advancement of knowledge (2.45, 2.49-50), and ‘karma’, work (2.47-48, 2.50), Arjuna becomes confused and wishes to use Krishna’s instruction to perform ‘buddhi-yoga’ as an excuse to retire the battlefield for a life of contemplation. Krishna also explains the Vedas’ purpose as to gradually elevate souls to Krishna consciousness.

First, Krishna analytically explains that fighting in His service is transcendental and will bring no sinful reaction. But after Arjuna surrenders to Lord Krishna and requests the Lord to instruct him, the Lord begins countering Arjuna’s objections. Basically, he fears the sinful reactions of killing. In Chapter One and in the beginning of Chapter Two, Arjuna presents his arguments for refusing to fight. He throws down his bow and arrows and decides not to fight. There in the midst of both armies, Arjuna’s mind reels as he foresees the imminent death of his teacher, relatives, and friends. As Arjuna takes up his bow and prepares to fight, he sees the sons of Dhritarashtra drawn in military array and requests infallible Krishna to draw his chariot between the two fighting forces. Lord Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, out of affection for His devotee, the Pandava prince Arjuna, has agreed to drive his chariot. The Bhagavad-gita opens with blind King Dhritarashtra requesting his secretary, Sanjaya, to narrate the battle between his sons, the Kauravas, and their cousins, the Pandavas.

Demigods and magicians chapter 5 summary