The Lord as the Dentist: Niyata Karma - Obligatory Duties Reminder

In Bhagavad Geeta 3-9, Śrī Kṛṣṇa says:

नियतं कुरु कर्म त्वं कर्म ज्यायो ह्यकर्मणः।
शरीरयात्रापि च ते न प्रसिद्ध्येदकर्मणः।।3.8।।

niyata.n kuru karma tvaM karma jyaayo hyakarmaNaH .
shariirayaatraapi cha te na prasid.hdhyedakarmaNaH .. 3-8..

You perform (your) bounden duty; for, action is superior to inaction. Even the maintenance of the body would not be possible for you by inaction. 3-8

This came to me when I was at the dentist yesterday. The gist of the shloka is very clear and specially relevant in a dentist's chair. Putting off obligatory actions NEVER helps, only hurts me.

Dentists expect us to brush at least twice a day, floss every night and otherwise take good care of our teeth. If we don't, the problem signs are clear. First the teeth stain, then there is tartar and plaque build up, followed by cavities, gingivitis in no particular order. In the last 5 years, I have had fillings, crowns, root canal… the whole works. Thank God, I have not lost a tooth yet.

Yesterday's bill was SGD 210. Have I learnt my lesson? By God's grace, I hope I never get my Mahabharata moment where I have to battle Bhishma and Drona. Yet...Is that really Śrī Kṛṣṇa disguised as the dentist who is nudging me?

Hari Om and Namaskaar until the next post

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