This is in continuation of the article Hindu Sanatana Dharma “Toolkit For World Peace”. Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 were published on March 13, 2021, March 18 2021, and March 21 2021respectively.

In my last article, I mentioned that how Shree Krishna on the battlefield of Mahabharata started preaching baffled Arjuna on his Dharma as a Kshatriya when Arjuna had refused to fight against his own family and friends.

Shree Krishna taught that the biggest dharma that the soul can engage in is devotion to God. That is what God strengthens by taking an Avatār. When God descends in the world, he reveals his divine forms, names, virtues, pastimes, abodes, and associates. This provides the souls with an easy basis for devotion. Since the mind needs a form to focus upon and to connect with, the formless aspect of God is very difficult to worship. On the other hand, devotion to the personal form of God is easy for people to comprehend, simple to perform, and sweet to engage in.

Shree Krishna with his disciple Arjuna on Battlefield of Kurukshetra

In Chapter 5 of Bhagavad Geeta, Shree Krishna mentioned to his dearest devotee Arjuna that the ascetic sādhanā can lead to ātma jñāna (knowledge of the self). But Brahma jñāna (knowledge of God) requires the grace of God, which comes through devotion.  Krishna clearly mentioned in the below verse that the Dharma (Righteousness) is the first duty of every Sanatanis person. The words Sarva Loka Maheśhwaram mean “Sovereign Lord of all the Worlds,” and suhṛidaṁ Sarva-Bhūtānāṁ means “Benevolent Well-Wisher of All Living Beings.”

भोक्तारं यज्ञतपसां सर्वलोकमहेश्वरम् |
सुहृदं सर्वभूतानां ज्ञात्वा मां शान्तिमृच्छति ||5.29||

bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ sarva-loka-maheśhvaram
suhṛidaṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ jñātvā māṁ śhāntim ṛichchhati

Having realized Me as the enjoyer of all sacrifices and austerities, the Supreme Lord of all the worlds, and the selfless Friend of all living beings, my devotee attains peace.

In Chapter 6 of Shree Bhagavad Geeta, Shree Krishna addressed Arjuna as the son of a Kshatriya mother and advised him to stand up and perform his dharma of what a Kshatriya son will do.

श्रीभगवानुवाच |
असंशयं महाबाहो मनो दुर्निग्रहं चलम् |
अभ्यासेन तु कौन्तेय वैराग्येण च गृह्यते || 6.35||

śhrī bhagavān uvācha
asanśhayaṁ mahā-bāho mano durnigrahaṁ chalam
abhyāsena tu kaunteya vairāgyeṇa cha gṛihyate

Lord Krishna said: O mighty-armed son of Kunti, what you say is correct; the mind is indeed very difficult to restrain. But by practice and detachment, it can be controlled.

Shree Krishna preaches Arjuna how he can stop worrying of the thoughts going in his mind as these thoughts have no place for Kshatriya like Arjuna.

योगिनामपि सर्वेषां मद्गतेनान्तरात्मना |
श्रद्धावान्भजते यो मां स मे युक्ततमो मत: || 6.47||

yoginām api sarveṣhāṁ mad-gatenāntar-ātmanā
śhraddhāvān bhajate yo māṁ sa me yuktatamo mataḥ

Of all yogis, those whose minds are always absorbed in me, and who engage in devotion to me with great faith, to those yogis, I consider to be the highest of all.

In conversation at the battlefield of Mahabharata of chapter 7 of Bhagavad Geeta, Shree Krishna also told Arjuna who are the ones in the world who take refuge in Him.

Shree Krishna asking Arjuna to stand up and fight for Dharma

चतुर्विधा भजन्ते मां जना: सुकृतिनोऽर्जुन |
आर्तो जिज्ञासुरर्थार्थी ज्ञानी च भरतर्षभ || 7.16||

chatur-vidhā bhajante māṁ janāḥ sukṛitino ’rjuna
ārto jijñāsur arthārthī jñānī cha bharatarṣhabha

O best amongst the Bharatas, four kinds of pious people engage in my devotion—the distressed, the seekers after knowledge, the seekers of worldly possessions, and those who are situated in knowledge.

Continuing his preaching on Dharma, Lord Krishna in chapter 11 of Bhagavad Geeta has explained: “this dharma” (Asya Dharmasya), which leads to His eternal abode.

त्वमक्षरं परमं वेदितव्यं त्वमस्य विश्वस्य परं निधानम् |
त्वमव्यय: शाश्वतधर्मगोप्ता सनातनस्त्वं पुरुषो मतो मे ||11.18||

tvam akṣharaṁ paramaṁ veditavyaṁ tvam asya viśhvasya paraṁ nidhānam
tvam avyayaḥ śhāśhvata-dharma-goptā sanātanas tvaṁ puruṣho mato me

I recognize you as the supreme imperishable being, the ultimate truth to be known by the scriptures. You are the support of all creation; you are the eternal protector of Sanātan Dharma (the eternal religion), and you are the everlasting Supreme Divine Personality.

Baffled Arjuna requesting Shree Krishna to shown his the path of Dharma

In the last verse of the 12 chapter of Bhagavad Geeta, Lord Krishna indicates that there is a truly eternal Sanatana Dharma

ये तु धर्म्यामृतमिदं यथोक्तं पर्युपासते |
श्रद्दधाना मत्परमा भक्तास्तेऽतीव मे प्रिया: ||12.20||

ye tu dharmyāmṛitam idaṁ yathoktaṁ paryupāsate
śhraddadhānā mat-paramā bhaktās te ’tīva me priyāḥ

Those who fully honor this immortal nectar of Dharma (Righteousness) as it has been spoken [by Me], having faith, taking Me as supreme—those devotees are exceedingly dear to Me.

Lord Krishna later declares in the 14 chapter about Brahman and Sanatana Dharma

ब्रह्मणो हि प्रतिष्ठाहममृतस्याव्ययस्य च |
शाश्वतस्य च धर्मस्य सुखस्यैकान्तिकस्य च ||14.27||

brahmaṇo hi pratiṣhṭhāham amṛitasyāvyayasya cha
śhāśhvatasya cha dharmasya sukhasyaikāntikasya cha

Indeed, I am (Krishna) is the foundation of Brahman[spirit], and of unending immortality, and of everlasting Dharma (Righteousness), and of the ultimate happiness.

Shree Krishna’s teaching on Dharma to be continued in the next article…Till then keep on reciting …

 Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare.

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