Understanding ‘Dharma’- The 1st Word of the Bhagavad Gita

Understanding ‘Dharma’- The 1^st Word of the Bhagavad Gita

‘Dharma’ is the essence of the Bhagavad Gita. The mesmerizing Song of God starts with this beautiful word only. The beautiful Sanskrit word is often taken to mean ‘duty’ or ‘religion’ in the English language but these meanings are simply imperfect.

In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna details the word in a far deeper way. It completely transforms its meaning turning it into a way to achieve personal as well as spiritual growth.

Dharma, the Quintessence of the Gita

In life, everyone encounters external & internal conflicts. The Divine Scripture helps people make wise decisions while dealing with these conflicts with the help of adherence to Dharma. When the concept of Dharma is clear, it leads to further clarity of thought. It happens with Arjun on the battlefield.

Earlier Arjun thinks, this war is unfair and it’s not Dharma to kill own relatives just to win back a kingdom. But Lord Krishna teaches him that the supreme Dharma is God, who, for His own rationalities, seeks this battle to happen and make Dharma victorious over injustice and apathy.

So, Lord Krishna discards Arjun’s understanding of Dharma as ‘weakness of heart’ and ‘powerlessness’. He asks Arjun to fight anyway. Then Arjun admits his confusion over the concept of Dharma. He gives up his efforts and surrenders to Lord Krishna as his spiritual teacher.

Now God made him understand the teachings of the Bhagavad-Gita making him realize his real Dharma.

Teachings of Lord Krishna

God first reveals the eternal nature of the soul and then unfolds various layers of Dharma. He tells Arjun that he is ignoring his Dharma by refusing to fight. He concludes the reference to Dharma by saying, “Now if you do not fight this battle, then having neglecting personal Dharma and repute, you shall incur sin.’ (Bhagavad Gita 2.33).

This makes Arjun realize his real Dharma rather than neglecting it in the name of Dharma only.

Further, in the 4^th chapter, God reveals that He appears in this world to protect the principles of Dharma only and restrict the destructive influence of Adharma.

He speaks of Dharma in other chapters as well. While largely they are metaphysical explanations of the word a common man must understand it in simpler words and try to apply it in life.

Understanding the Meaning of Dharma  

Understand that your originality is your Dharma only.  Dharma is a profound entity due to which the whole existence of something can be proved. So, everybody has his own individuality, Dharma, personality and soul. When a person exists in his original individuality, then only, he remains happy here.

Once a person separates from his individuality, wants to become something else, turbulence arises in the mind.

Such deviations bring restlessness to life because we are not doing what we ought to do and which is according to our nature.

For example, the nature of fire is to produce heat, and it does that without any trouble. It can’t produce chilliness.

Likewise, you should always perform your Karma according to your nature because when you get away from your inherent nature and try to become something else, you fail.

Adhere to your Dharma and live happily

A person is a painter, but his parents force him to start taking interest in business, giving examples of other successful businessmen. But when a person of an artistic bend of mind starts any business, it cannot flourish; it is bound to fail because his mind revolves around art and painting only.

The one who loves playing with colours cannot perform tasks related to business and so he cannot get success in the endeavor.

Further, a person takes interest in the business but his parents want him to play a musical instrument.  Making music and playing the instrument would become a reason for unrest for him. He can never be happy.

So, God wants everyone to understand that adhering to Dharma is important. How much success you’ll attain while choosing that path is altogether a different matter, yet moving on the path is always rewarding.

Moreover, while adhering to Dharma, it’s alright to die, have distractions, or even fail. But it’s not alright to choose some other Dharma, start behaving like other people and try to be like them.

It would be like suicide. Here you are killing yourself.

So, to summarize the concept of Dharma, figure out what you were put on this earth to accomplish. Put all of your hard work into achieving it and let go of the good or bad results.

This is the ultimate meaning of ‘Dharma’ and this is the essence of the Bhagavad Gita.

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