Sankara Bhashya–Part 13

07.05.26 08:16 PM - By CIF Admin

Don't swerve from Swadharma

Verse 2.31:

स्वधर्ममपि चावेक्ष्य न विकम्पितुमर्हसि।
धर्म्याद्धि युद्धाच्छ्रेयोऽन्यत्क्षत्रियस्य न विद्यते॥

sva-dharmam api chāvekṣya na vikampitum arhasi |
dharmyād dhi yuddhāch chhreyo ’nyat kṣatriyasya na vidyate ||

In the light of your own duty as a Kshatriya which is fighting in the battlefield, it doesn't befit you to shake or get mauled and slip out of your natural quality of action that has come with you from birth. This is the opinion.
That war by means of conquering the earth for the sake of righteousness and to protect the people is not contrary to righteousness and is the supreme goodness. Therefore, more than this righteous war, there is nothing greater that is known to happen for a kshatriya indeed on account of that.
From where does this war has to be fought? It is said:

Verse 2.32:

यदृच्छया चोपपन्नं स्वर्गद्वारमपावृतम्।सुखिनः क्षत्रियाः पार्थ लभन्ते युद्धमीदृशम्॥
yadṛchchhayā chopapannaṁ svarga-dvāram apāvṛtam|
sukhinaḥ kṣatriyāḥ pārtha labhante yuddham īdṛśam|| 

It has come without your asking for it, by itself it has come. Such a kind of war opens all the gateways to heaven for a Kshatriya. O Partha! Aren't they blissful on account of this? Even when you have the opportunity to discharge this responsibility..

- Brahmacharini Sharanya Chaitanya.

CIF Admin