Bhagavad Gita’s Radiance Through My Lens (Part-2)
Part-Two of my commentary on the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, where I share my reflections on the sacred text, connecting it to history, politics, and my personal life experiences.
For centuries, the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita has stood as a timeless beacon of wisdom, illuminating the paths of countless great personalities with its profound teachings on duty, righteousness, and the eternal quest for self-realization. My heart binds even closer to this sacred text for I hail from the state — Haryana — where the sacred verses of Gita were delivered by Lord Krishna. These verses of Srimad Bhagavad Gita have been stirring my spirit and showing me the right direction since days of my JEE Preparation. In this commentary, I attempt to weave a tapestry of thoughts, threading the most important verses of Gita, in my opinion, through the intricate looms of history, politics and my personal life experiences, seeking to unveil what we can learn from the sacred text.
Shloka 4.7 - 4.8
यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत |
अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम् ||
परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम् |
धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय सम्भवामि युगे युगे ||
Translation: Whenever there is a decline in righteousness and an increase in unrighteousness, O Arjun, at that time I manifest Myself on earth.
To protect the righteous, to annihilate the wicked, and to reestablish the principles of dharma I appear on this earth, age after age.
Commentary: This Shloka tells us how important it is to fight for Dharma, to protect our society and civilization. It says that Dharma is like a sacred flame of righteousness that must be protected, even during the darkest nights of Adharma. But to protect Dharma, we must first understand it — as explained by the prescribed actions in the Vedas, Upanishads, and other relevant sacred texts, Dharma guides us to grow spiritually while balancing with the material harmony.
This Shloka rings a clear call: Fight For Righteousness.
It helps us understand why Bhagat Singh gave up his life fighting against British injustice : It explains why Mahatma Gandhi wielded mass movements as a sword against the Britishers — Why Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose built the Azad Hind Fauj, uniting tens of thousands of soldiers under its banner to raise voice against the atrocities of Britishers.
It also explains why leaders like Jai Prakash Narayan, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and George Fernandes stood up against the iron chains of Indira Gandhi's Emergency. From Vajpayee’s efforts to make India a nuclear power, to Narendra Modi’s bold stand against a corrupt UPA Government between 2009 and 2014—each of these moments echoes Lord Krishna’s eternal pledge.
In this Shloka, Lord Krishna speaks about the eternal clash between righteous and the wicked throughout history. When the evil becomes stronger than the good and no one is left to protect the Dharma, Lord Krishna vows to descend to Earth to destroy evil and restore righteousness.
As was the case when Lord Rama came as an incarnation on Earth to serve the purpose of upholding righteousness and defeating evil, in the form of Ravana.
This Shloka gives us a dual message: one, inspiring us to fight for Dharma with unwavering Sankalp, and another, promising His intervention when humanity is not able to protect Dharma.
Shloka 6.17
युक्ताहारविहारस्य युक्तचेष्टस्य कर्मसु ।
युक्तस्वप्नावबोधस्य योगो भवति दुःखहा ॥
Translation: But those who are temperate in eating and recreation, balanced in work, and regulated in sleep, can mitigate all sorrows by practicing Yog.
Commentary: This Shloka highlights the deep connection between a disciplined lifestyle and a healthy body. Not just in spirit, but in how we treat our bodies — how much and what we eat, how much we sleep, are we striking the right balance between recreation and work, etc. It’s not about perfection but maintaining a balance, in which lies strength, health and peace.
When combined with the regular practice of Yoga — including Meditation, Pranayama, and physical exercise — it forms a shield that protects us from disease and sorrow. Apart from it, this also enables us to use the body as a sacred tool — to grow both materially and spiritually, and to contribute in a meaningful way to society.
Speaking from a personal perspective, this is not just a sacred verse to me — it's a profound source of transformation that has deeply impacted my life. Since childhood, I battled chronic pancreatitis — a stomach disease claimed to be incurable by modern medical science. The condition worsened during my JEE preparation and throughout my IIT life (2017–2023). Those years were shaped by persistent and severe stomach pain, with repeated hospital visits and the torment of stent insertions. Every six months, I had to undergo a stent replacement in my pancreas through the ERCP procedure, each time under anaesthesia — a cycle of pain that felt never-ending. Despite receiving treatment from top hospitals in Delhi, I was told there was no permanent cure by the top doctors of those hospitals. The experience was emotionally exhausting, financially challenging for my family, and physically unbearable.
But I found hope in the wisdom of this Shloka. Gradually, I embraced Yoga, adopted a balanced diet, and committed to a healthy and mindful living. Over time, my condition became more manageable. The pain reduced, my focus returned, and I was able to return to a normal and healthy life and work with renewed energy. This experience showed me the profound strength of Sanatan Dharma - Yoga, Ayurveda and following a life prescribed in the Dharma, in contrast to the Western Science, which has been glorified so much across the Western societies and dominant global narratives, in the past few centuries.
If we have a look at the most successful personalities in the world, we find one common trait- the remarkable strength and endurance of their body. Consider Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi - would he have achieved such success in politics if he lacked the strength and endurance to work tirelessly the whole day, especially at his age? Would Virat Kohli in Cricket, or Lebron James in the NBA have been so successful if they were injured after every 4th match? This truth applies across all professions.
In today’s competitive world, we often treat health as secondary to success — with the result being India becoming home to various health issues such as diabetes, heart diseases, obesity and cancer etc. We must remember that health is the soil in which the roots of our aspirations grow, and prioritize it in our lives.
This Shloka reminds us to recognise the inner strength of our body and mind, which can be our greatest ally or most dangerous enemy as well — while acting as a chariot for our soul — depending on our approach towards them in life.
Shloka 11.32
श्रीभगवानुवाच |
कालोऽस्मि लोकक्षयकृत्प्रवृद्धो, लोकान्समाहर्तुमिह प्रवृत्त: |
ऋतेऽपि त्वां न भविष्यन्ति सर्वे, येऽवस्थिता: प्रत्यनीकेषु योधा: ||
Translation: The Supreme Lord said: I am mighty Death, the source of destruction that comes forth to annihilate the worlds. Even without your participation, the warriors arrayed in the opposing army shall cease to exist.
Commentary: In this Shloka, Lord Krishna talks about the importance of destruction when Adharma doesn’t understand the language of peace. He states that the Sinful Asuras arrayed on the battlefield always get destroyed by one person or another as it is a part of the Almighty’s grand scheme for the world, thus suggesting that there is no sin in taking up arms to destroy the Adharmis.
This was the Shloka which inspired Dr J Robert Oppenheimer – “the father of the atomic bomb”, to find a way when he was grappling with moral dilemmas as he faced the reality of the atomic bomb’s destructive capability. The use of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 played a decisive role in ending World War II by compelling Axis powers to surrender, thus avoiding a prolonged and bloody conflict.
In 2019, I recall reading an editorial in a renowned Indian English newspaper, where the writer commented on possible India’s response to the Islamic terrorist attack on a convoy of security personnel, which resulted in the death of 40 CRPF jawans,. in Pulwama. The writer argued that India should refrain from retaliating against Pakistan, suggesting that a response would only escalate the tensions and that seeking revenge was not a solution.
We must rise above this mindset. Responding to such acts is neither about seeking personal revenge nor about taking pleasure in another’s suffering; it’s about upholding Dharma which tells us that Asuras must be confronted and defeated, not out of hatred, but out of duty. This principle has been practiced by every civilization, society, and nation in history that has lived peacefully. We also must follow it if we wish to preserve peace and justice, as Lord Krishna himself directs in this sacred verse.
To conclude, Lord Krishna conveys in this shloka that the destruction undertaken to end Adharma is neither motivated by anger nor by a desire for revenge, but by a profound sense of responsibility. It is not about destruction for its own sake — it is about protection and preservation. Lord Krishna conveys that sometimes, painful choices must be made for the greater good, just as a surgeon must wield a knife to save a life. There is no doubt that it is a challenging path, made even harder by opposition from others who may not understand the necessity of such action. Yet, it remains our duty — a duty to honor not only those who have fallen but also for those who live, and for those who are yet to come.
Conclusion
As emphasised by Swami Vivekananda, in his teachings and writings, the importance of drawing upon and reviving Bharat’s spiritual and cultural heritage—often described as the "roots" of its civilization—to achieve national progress and success. This belief should not be misunderstood as advocating for a nation which is favourable for certain religions over others, a misinterpretation used by some politicians for their political gains in the past.
Vivekananda believed that Bharat’s strength lay in its ancient spiritual traditions, which should be harmonized with modern knowledge to build a strong nation. At the heart of this spiritual knowledge lies the principles of Bhagavad Gita, which we should adopt in our life to enhance our personal lives as well as to contribute to our nation’s betterment.