What do you see in the world? Happiness or sorrow?
Some are happy, while others are sad.
Some laugh, while at the same time, others cry.
One cries at another’s laughter,
While one laughs at another’s tears.

Look at yourself too.
Sometimes happy, sometimes sad.
Sometimes you laugh, sometimes you cry.
Someone is born, and someone dies.
Some are healthy, and some are sick.

Not only do these states exist, but they also change from one to another.
A child is born in a family, and everyone is happy.
When someone passes away, everyone grieves.

Nowadays, the situation has narrowed further.
There are families who feel unhappy when a child is born,
Especially if it is a daughter. This wasn’t the case before.
There are also families today who feel happy when someone passes away,
Thinking the troublemaker is gone and the suffering has ended.

Essentially, two opposing states can be seen everywhere,
Even in the same place at the same time.
The same was true in Kurukshetra.

If it is called a Dharmakshetra (field of righteousness), it brings joy,
Because the purpose of dharma is ultimate happiness.
No one practices dharma to experience sorrow.
If you think you are practicing dharma but feel sorrowful, then you have misunderstood dharma.

Dharma brings joy while practicing it and also in the future.
This is not true for all actions.
For example, someone smoking a cigarette may feel joy at the moment,
But later it leads to the sorrow of cancer.

Saving money in a bank while staying hungry may bring comfort in old age,
But for now, it is only the sorrow of hunger.

Dharma is not like that.
It feels good while practicing it and also later.

If it is called a Kurukshetra (field of action), it leads to sorrow.
Why? Because kuru-kuru means 'do, do'.
Actions driven by desire, anger, greed, attachment, and arrogance.
These lead only to ultimate sorrow.

Dharmakshetra aligns with the soul and eternal joy.
Kurukshetra aligns with wealth, land, and temporary pleasures,
Which can vanish in an instant.

The word kshetra arises from two roots: kṣa (destruction) and tra (protection).
If you act with dharma, sorrow is destroyed, and happiness is protected.
If you act under desires, happiness is destroyed, and sorrow is preserved.

The place is the same.
The vessel is the same.
What you fill it with - honey or poison - is up to you.

If someone thinks dharma is limited to one hour in the morning,
And the rest of the time is for work or other tasks,
For them, this life will be filled with sorrow.

Those who integrate both dharma and work in their lives are truly happy.

If someone sees their job as time sold to make the boss rich,
Believing the time from 9 to 5 is not their own,
But only the remaining time is theirs,
They will never find happiness.

Dharma is not something to be practiced only during personal time.
It should guide your work and actions as well.
Those who separate dharma and karma (work) live a sorrowful life.

Wisdom comes from scriptures and teachings, not from actions alone.
Those who think otherwise are often unhappy.

That is why, at the very beginning of the Gita,
Dharmakshetra is described as a qualifier of Karmakshetra,
And Karmakshetra is described as a qualifier of Dharmakshetra.

This reveals the message of the Gita:
Not a single moment in this life should be wasted.
This life is yours and yours alone.
Make the most of every moment.
Attain wisdom through action,
And act according to wisdom.
Live intelligently.

This is the message of the Gita.

The Pandavas believed dharma was everything.
The Kauravas believed strength, wealth, and land were everything.

We need both.
We cannot abandon work;
Otherwise, the world would fall into famine.

At the same time, we must guide the soul towards its ultimate goal.
The Gita shows us how to do both.
This is the purpose of the Gita.

Knowledge Bank

Agnishvatta (अग्निष्वात्ताः)

There are seven kinds of Pitrus - Agnishvatta, Vairaja, Garhapatya, Somapa, Ekashringa, Chaturveda, and Kala. Someone who performs all the rituals mentioned in the Smritis such as aupasana, sthaleepka but does not perform the Shrauta Yajnas would attain the Loka of Agnishvatta Pitrus.

How do the bhkatas stay focused on Bhagavan?

By- 1. Listening to his greatness. 2. Telling his greatness to others. 3.Singing his glories. 4. Chanting his divine names. 5. Meditating upon his form. 6. Worshiping his idol.