Why does Krishna in Chapter 2 , text 33-36 tell Arjuna to fight otherwise he will lose his name, fame, reputation and honour ?
Doesnt these things relate to the body ? Are they not on the material platform ? So why should Arjuna care ?
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Hare Krsna
Doesnt these things relate to the body ? Are they not on the material platform ?
Yes they do, they are.
So why should Arjuna care ?
Krsna here is not telling Arjuna to care for reputation. Krsna already knows that Arjuna cares for his reputation. Arjuna is a kshatriya & hence like all kshatriyas Arjuna cares for reputation. Krsna is only reminding Arjuna about it in 2.34
Arjuna gives many reasons for not fighting. Most reasons were on material platform.
One of the reasons was - Victory is not sure. Victory means loss of superiors/ relatives & gain of kingdom tainted with their blood, which cannot be enjoyed. If victory is not achieved then it means losing their lives along with many others on both sides. (Bg 2.5 & 2.6)
So this is what Arjuna effectively tells - If there is war irrespective of result it is a lose-lose scenario. So solution is - NO WAR - I go live by begging, everybody lives. We'll retain blessings of superiors like drona Bhishma etc.
In BG 2.32-37 Krsna is countering the above arguments put forth by Arjuna. This is what Krsna effectively tells
Arjuna in your solution there is a HUGE problem. If you give up fighting and go begging door to door this is what will happen - People will ridicule you, people will call you a coward. people will make fun of you saying Arjuna ran away from battle field out of fear. How can you live after hearing these words ?
So the scenario given by Arjuna is not a feasible solution. Krsna is not suggesting Arjuna should care for reputation. Krsna is further exploring the scenario given by Arjuna and reminds that such a life of being called a coward is worse than death.
Which means death is better than life of coward. So Kshatriya are fortunate because the worst case scenario of a war they get a glorious death after which they attain heavenly planet & enjoy. Best case scenario they gain kingdom/opulence and perform their duties like sacrifices, administration etc.
So Krsna is saying if Arjuna's fights - It is a win-win scenario. And if he doesn't fight - Life of being called a begger that is worse than death.
Hope this clarifies
Hare Krsna
Absolutely these are.. But here remember that itsi not only abut arjunaa... It's abut establishment of dharma... Kanha is such a bhkt vatsal that even for arjuna he can kill whole army . So his bhkts reputation do matter to him too... So lord suggest him to fight for d sake of dhrma...nd also itsi lyk To teach d whole world.. This all was pre-planned..
Hare Krsna Prabhuji,
PAMHO.
Agreed, all 4 are related to the body. Krsna was trying to explain to Arjuna in every which way that he should fight.
OK, lets view it differently - what was Arjuna's objection to fighting the war? This was not his first battle. He never chickened out before. Then what was different this time? This time, he was going to fight his family members, friends, basically entire society that he knew. What is his connection to his family, friends, society? Bodily only na. Arjuna's objection to fighting the war were very much on the bodily platform, therefore Krsna begins His argument by saying dehinosmin yatha dehe..... you are not the body, you are soul that lives in the body. Then He goes on to say, that even on the bodily platform, you will not gain anything by giving up the fight. The very people for whom you will give up the fight will spoil your name, fame, reputation and honour. So the sacrifice is not worth it.
Haribol,
Your servant,
Radha Rasamayi DD
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