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The world is an agitation, the wise one subsides it || Acharya Prashant, on Bhagavad Gita (2020)
Scriptures and Saints
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2 years ago
Righteousness
Peace
Agitation
Srimad Bhagavad Gita
Shri Krishna
Shri Ram
Truth
War
Description

Acharya Prashant explains that greatness and truth are naturally latent and do not seek exhibition. Truth is described as a sleepy thing that remains relaxed and tucked away from the public eye, only manifesting during great exigencies. Shri Krishna clarifies that he assumes a form to protect the virtuous and punish the wicked only when righteousness experiences a decline or fall. Therefore, the appearance of figures like Shri Ram or Shri Krishna was a response to the pre-existing agitation and cruelty caused by rulers like Ravan, Kansa, and Duryodhan. Their purpose was not to create agitation but to cause the existing turmoil to subside, leaving the world more peaceful than they found it. The speaker notes that while most human beings are conditioned to contribute to the world's agitation throughout their lives, a person dear to the Divine is one who neither agitates the world nor is agitated by it. Such an individual is not excitable, cannot be tempted or threatened, and remains firm in their own place. While events like the battle in Lanka or the Kurukshetra war might appear violent in the short term, they must be viewed in the context of the bigger picture. Just as a surgeon must cause visible blood loss to stop a hidden, internal hemorrhage, these conflicts were necessary to prevent far greater suffering and to establish righteousness. Acharya Prashant emphasizes that Shri Krishna attempted to avoid the war by offering a peaceful settlement for just five villages, but the refusal of the opposition made the conflict inevitable. Although the ultimate destination of the mind is peace, reaching that peace sometimes requires passing through significant turbulence. One must be prepared to face such challenges manfully rather than giving up. Fighting for peace is sometimes necessary when the intention is sincerely to defend righteousness, as the net result of such actions is the reduction of overall tension and agitation in the world.