The following was extracted from the Bhagavad Gita, the brave Pandava warrior, refuses to fight against his cousins and teachers, the loved Kauravas. But Arjuna's charioteer is an incarnation of God, the Lord Krishna. Hearing Arjuna's words, Krishna advises the warrior:

You grieve for those you should not
And yet you talk about wisdom.
The truly taught do not mourn
For the dead or the living.

For to him that is born, death is sure
And for him who has died, birth is certain.
This cannot be changed. Therefore,
You should not sorrow.

And if you think just of your own place
You should not recoil.
For a warrior there is no better thing
Than to fight out of duty.

Here chance is offering you
A door open to heaven.
O Partha, those warriors are lucky
Who are granted such a fight.

But is you turn away from this battle
Which your own duty requires
Then, giving up duty and glory,
You will only get trouble.

People will talk of your shame
Now and in years to come.
And for one who has been honored
Disgrace is worse than death.

Those in the great chariots will be sure
That you hang back from the battle through fear
And they who once thought well of you
Will come to hold you lightly.

Those who wish you ill will talk of you
And say what had best not be said.
They will revile all that you are.
What could be worse than that?

Either killed, you should gain heaven
Or conquering, you will enjoy the earth.
Therefore, stand up, son of Kunti
And set your mind upon battle.

Holding pleasure and pain alike
Gain and loss, victory and defeat
Prepare yourself for the fight
Only thus will you not reap evil.

Better do your own work imperfectly
Than do another's well.
Better die in your own duty.
Another's task brings peril.

. . .

You have a right to work alone
But never to its fruits.
Let not the fruits be your motive. . .

Steadfast in the Way, without attachment,
Do your work, Victorious One.
The same in success and misfortune.
This evenness - that is discipline.

. . .

The wise, whose minds are controlled,
Leaving the rewards of action,
Are released from the bounds of rebirth.

What do each of the following quotes mean?

1. . . .if you turn away from this battle which your own duty requires. . .
2. Holding pleasure and pain alike, gain and loss, victory and defeat, Prepare yourself for the fight...
3. Better to do your own work imperfectly, than do another's well. . .

Adapted from Hazel Greenberg, ed., A South Asia Curriculum: Teaching about India. (NY: The American Forum for Global Education, 1994) p.71.

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