Continuing, the Lord, in effect, says: “I am asking you to fight, not because I have no personal sympathies for you, but because that is the only course left for you. You have no other choice. Though you now insist that you “WILL NOT FIGHT,” it is merely an illusion. You will have to fight, because, your nature will assert itself.”
The actions, we do, are propelled by our own vaasanaas and they shackle our personality. Arjuna is essentially of the Rajoguna type, and therefore, he must fight. The Pandava Prince cannot, all of a sudden, pose to have the beauties of the Sattwic nature of heart and retire to a solitary place to live a serene life of steady contemplation and come to experience the consequent self-unfoldment.
Because of wrong thinking and miscalculations, Arjuna feels that he does not like war, and therefore, he is not ready to face it. But in spite of his determination, he will be compelled to fight by his own nature, ordered by the existing vasanas in him. This is the irrevocable law of life.
He who has no control over his mind becomes a victim of circumstances. He gets thrown up and down by the whim and fancy of things around him. But he who gains inner mastery over the mind and stands firmly rooted and unshaken by the circumstances is the one who will revel (Rati) in the Pure Light (Bhaa) of wisdom; and the country that recognises this culture has acquired its immortal name ‘Bhaarata.’In the previous two or three stanzas, we are told by Krishna, “REMEMBER ME CONSTANTLY.” What does this mean? How should we remember? Does it mean meditating upon the Lord? What should be our relationship with Him? Are we to remember Him as a historical event, or remember Him as intimately connected with us as a ‘Presence’ expressing Itself at all times in and through us?
ALL THESE QUESTIONS ARE APT TO RISE UP IN THE MIND OF ANY SERIOUS STUDENT. THEY ARE ANSWERED IN THE FOLLOWING:
