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Swami Mitranandaji - Same Action, Same Situation, Different Dharma: Duryodhana vs Arjuna

June 18, 2013


Pujya Swami Mitranandaji was in the Chinmaya Seva Centre recently and answered questions raised by study group members. The session got off to a fantastic start with this question.

Question: Can we understand the complexity of dharma?


Swami Mitranandaji: Dharma can be expressed as a formula: Right Intention + Right Action = Dharma.
Right intention, wrong action is adharma and so is wrong intention, right action. Of course, wrong intention and wrong action is adharma.

Suppose, Duryodhana had approached Śrī Kṛṣṇa and said, "What is the meaning of this battle? Why fight? I want to wander around like a mendicant", Śrī Kṛṣṇa would probably have said, "You are right. Do it." That is Dharma for Duryodhana. Yet, when Arjuna said the same thing, Śrī Kṛṣṇa taught him the Bhagavad Geeta because for Arjuna that was adharma. So, on the face of it, we have the same situation, same Kŗşņa, yet a different answer. Therefore, it is right that dharma is a complex topic. So, how do we understand its complexity?

In the Taittiriya-Upanishad, the Guru addresses his students in a convocation address. Keep in mind that these students have already been with the teacher for twelve years studying the scriptures and learning all the complexity of dharma. Yet, in his convocation, the Guru reminds them of all the general rules of dharma i.e. Satyam vada (सत्यं वद or "Speak the truth"), etc. After elaborating on all these general principles, he cautions them that if you are to get stuck and be confused about what is dharma in a particular situation, then approach a wise person in your village or town and consult with him. Remember that the Mahabharata is full of examples of accomplished individuals who emphasized one aspect of dharma but ignored the rest.

So who is a wise person? The Vedic scriptures make it very clear that a wise man is one who is selfless, well versed in Shastra (the scripture), and must have directly experienced the Truth that this entire Universe of objects and beings is none other than Brahman. If this is the recommendation for someone who has studied the shastra for 12 years, indeed, this applies to all of us. That is why the search for a wise man is so important.

Note: The above answer is based on my notes and any errors are entirely mine.

Hari Om and Namaskaar until the next post

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