The Bhagavad-Gita records a conversation between a young man and God (in the form of Krishna). The young warrior Arjuna, from the royal Pandava family, is in a state of panic on the morning of a battle. The ‘enemies’ he is expected to fight are cousins whom he knows well.
In this desperate predicament, Arjuna turns to his charioteer Krishna for help. The answers he gets are not exactly what he wants to hear, but it is Krishna’s opportunity to tell a mortal about how the universe operates and the best approach to life.
The beauty of this work is that it operates on various levels – poetry, scripture, philosophy, self-help guide – and here we will focus on the last of these.
The meaning of Arjuna’s predicament
Arjuna does not want to fight and why would he? The reader cannot but agree that it is madness to wage war against one’s own relatives. The story is allegorical, however; it is about action and non-action, and introduces us to the concepts of karma and dharma.
Arjuna wonders why he should bother to do anything good, or to do anything at all, in a world that is so bad.
However, The Bhagavad-Gita teaches that what exists does so for some reason, even if that reason is for you to fight it. It would be nice to withdraw from life but you can’t. Because we are alive, we can’t avoid action or its effects, this is karma. But if we must throw ourselves into life, what should be our guide? There is action motivated by desire, and action undertaken out of a sense of purpose.
The first type seems easier, because it allows you to live without questioning and requires little self-knowledge. In fact it goes against the grain of universal law, usually leading to the departure of spirit from our lives. Purposeful action seems more complicated but is in fact the most natural way; it is the salvation of our existence and even the source of joy. The word for this is dharma.
Reason
The Bhagavad-Gita is a great book because it embodies the reasoning mind, capable of choosing the way of purpose over the automaticity of a life led by desire. If Arjuna simply follows his desire not to fight, he learns nothing. Instead, Krishna tells him to ‘fight the good fight’, this is his duty, his purpose, his dharma.
Freed from indecision, Arjuna is subsequently told that his opponents ‘have it coming to them’ anyway; Arjuna is merely the instrument of divine karma.
The reader should not dwell too long on why God is recommending war. The point of the story is that the young warrior, in questioning his own action and existence, displays reason.
Reason is the process by which we discover our place in the larger scheme of things, specifically the work or actions by which our existence is justified and fulfilled. It is what makes us human beings.
Work
The Bhagavad-Gita draws attention to the three ‘constituents of nature,’ Tamas (darkness), Rajas (fire), and Sattva (light). A Rajas style of life is full of action and endless business, with fingers in too many pies, hunger for more, lack of rest, and lust for things and people. It is about gaining and attaining, a life focused on ‘what is mine and what is not yet mine’.
Sound familiar? This is living according to ‘outcome’, and while it may be of a higher order than Tamas (inertia, dullness, lack of care, ignorance), it is still one of mediocrity. And the life of light, Sattva? You will know you are living it when your intentions are noble and you feel peace in your actions. Your work is your sanctuary and you would do it even for no reward at all.
This book’s key point about work is that unless you are doing the work you love, you are darkening your soul. If this seems impossible, love what you are doing. Freedom, from fear and worry over ‘results’, will follow.
The steady self
You may be relaxing in front of the TV when a report comes on about the year’s Academy Awards, telling of the glitter and glory of the Oscars and exclusive post-ceremony parties. Someone remarks: ‘This is where the rest of the world would like to be.’ And a nagging voice in your head begins: ‘What have I done with my life that I am not on the list for that party? Am I really going back to my job on Monday morning?’
To counter these feelings of inadequacy that are based on focusing on others and seeking their approval, The Gita teaches that you can achieve a state where you don’t need any external commendation to make you feel right; you know you are of real worth. In this way the book is a brilliant antidote to the feelings of smallness and insignificance that can swamp even the most confident in modern life.
Final comments
This is a perfect self-help book because it is not scholarly or complicated but remains a source of profound wisdom, offering a path to steadiness of mind and joy in one’s work that could not be more relevant amid the speed and pressure of life in the 21st century.
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Sanatan Dharma
SanataDharma (Devanagari: सनातन धर्म, meaning "eternal dharma", "eternal order") is an endonym used by Hindus to refer to Hinduism[1] and a term denoting the list of "'eternal' or absolute set of duties or religiously ordained practices incumbent upon all Hindus".[1][2] It refers to the “eternal” truth and teachings of Hinduism. It can also be translated as “the natural and eternal way to live". The term is used in Indian languages alongside the more common Hindu Dharma for Hinduism.[3][4] Followers of Sanātana Dharma in general refer to themselves as Sanatani.
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King Arthur – The Once and Future King
In the mist-covered hills of ancient Britain, when the land was divided by warring kings and haunted by uncertainty, a prophecy was whispered across the kingdoms: a child would be born who would unite the realm and bring peace. That child was Arthur. Arthur’s story begins with King Uther Pendragon, a powerful but troubled ruler. Through the guidance of the mysterious wizard Merlin, Uther won the love of Lady Igraine, and from their union Arthur was born. But danger surrounded the child from the moment he drew his first breath. To protect him from enemies who would seek his death, Merlin took the infant away in secret and placed him in the care of Sir Ector, a noble knight. Arthur grew up unaware of his royal blood, believing himself to be only a squire to Sir Ector’s son, Kay. Years passed, and Britain fell into chaos after King Uther’s death. Without a clear heir, rival lords fought bitterly for control. Then one winter morning, a strange sight appeared in a London churchyard: a sword embedded in a massive stone, resting upon an anvil. Written upon it were the words: Whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone and anvil is rightwise king born of all England. Many knights tried to pull the sword free. They strained, sweated, and cursed—but none could move it. The sword remained firm, as if the stone itself refused their claim. One day, young Arthur accompanied his brother Kay to a tournament. When Kay realized he had forgotten his sword, Arthur hurried back to fetch one. Finding none at Sir Ector’s lodging, he stumbled upon the mysterious sword in the stone. Without knowing its significance, he grasped the hilt and pulled. To his surprise, it slid out effortlessly. When the truth was revealed, the great lords demanded he repeat the act. Again and again, Arthur drew the sword while others failed. At last, they bowed to him. A boy who had believed himself ordinary was crowned king. Arthur’s early reign was not easy. Many kings refused to accept him. Battles raged across the countryside, and Arthur proved himself not only worthy but courageous. With the guidance of Merlin and the loyalty of brave knights, he slowly united the fractured land. Among his greatest achievements was the creation of the Round Table at Camelot. Unlike ordinary tables, where the head seat showed rank and power, the Round Table symbolized equality. Knights sat side by side, bound by a code of honor, courage, and justice. They pledged to protect the weak, speak truth, and uphold righteousness. The knights of the Round Table became legendary. Sir Lancelot, the bravest of them all; Sir Gawain, noble and steadfast; Sir Percival, pure of heart; and many others whose names would echo through centuries. Together they undertook quests that tested their strength and virtue. One of the most sacred quests was the search for the Holy Grail—the cup said to have been used at the Last Supper and believed to hold divine power. Only the purest knight could find it. Many tried; few succeeded. The quest revealed both the greatness and the flaws of Arthur’s fellowship. Arthur himself was not without human weakness. Though he was a noble king, his life was shadowed by tragedy. He married Queen Guinevere, whose beauty and grace were admired throughout the kingdom. Yet her heart grew close to Sir Lancelot. Their forbidden love would one day shatter Camelot’s unity. Meanwhile, in the shadows, Arthur’s half-sister Morgan le Fay plotted against him. Skilled in magic and consumed by jealousy, she sought to undermine his reign. Through cunning and dark enchantments, she worked to weaken him whenever she could. As years passed, Camelot shone as a beacon of hope. Under Arthur’s rule, justice flourished. The poor were protected, and law replaced chaos. Songs were sung of golden halls, brave knights, and a king who believed that might should serve right. But no kingdom, however glorious, is free from fate. The betrayal of Lancelot and Guinevere tore the Round Table apart. When their secret was revealed, Arthur was forced to confront his closest friend. Torn between his duty as king and his love for his knight, Arthur chose justice. Lancelot fled, and civil war erupted among the knights. Brotherhood turned into bitterness. Amid this turmoil, Mordred rose. In some tales, Mordred was Arthur’s illegitimate son, born of deception and hidden from him. In others, he was merely a traitorous nephew. But in every version, he became the instrument of Arthur’s downfall. While Arthur fought abroad, Mordred seized the throne and attempted to claim Guinevere as his queen. Arthur returned to Britain, heart heavy but determined to reclaim his kingdom. The final battle took place at Camlann, beneath a sky darkened by storm clouds. The clash was fierce and devastating. Knights who had once feasted together now fought to the death. One by one, they fell until only Arthur and Mordred remained. In a final, desperate charge, Arthur struck Mordred with his spear. But even as Mordred fell, he dealt Arthur a mortal wound. Bleeding and weakened, Arthur knew his time was ending. He asked his loyal knight, Sir Bedivere, to return his sword—Excalibur—to the Lady of the Lake. Reluctantly, Bedivere cast the sword into the water. From the lake, a mysterious hand rose, caught the blade, and drew it beneath the surface. Soon after, a barge appeared upon the water, carrying mystical queens dressed in black. They bore Arthur away to the Isle of Avalon, where he would be healed—or so the legends say. Though Arthur was gone, the hope he represented endured. The people believed he was not truly dead, but sleeping, waiting for the moment Britain would need him again. Thus he became known as the “Once and Future King.” King Arthur’s story is not merely one of swords and battles. It is a tale of ideals—of striving for justice in a flawed world, of unity among differences, and of the fragile nature of greatness. Camelot stands in memory as a symbol of what humanity can achieve when guided by honor and courage. Even today, centuries later, the legend lives on. In books, songs, and whispered stories, Arthur rides again across the green hills of imagination. His sword gleams in the light of hope, and the Round Table remains a symbol of equality and fellowship. For legends never truly die. They wait—like a king in Avalon—until the world remembers them once more.
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