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Why does Krishna say that the Kauravs are already dead? || Acharya Prashant, on Bhagavad Gita (2020)
Scriptures and Saints
1.4K views
1 year ago
Bhagavad Gita
Karma
Free Will
Truth
Choice
Destiny
Spirituality
Justice
Description

Acharya Prashant explains that Arjuna's fear upon seeing the divine form of Shri Krishna is a natural human reaction to a sudden and violent shock. Having known Shri Krishna as a close friend for decades, the revelation of a ferocious and unnerving form was a rude jolt rather than a moment for gratitude. Arjuna's request to see the pleasant four-armed form again reflects his deep disturbance at witnessing the destructive aspect of the divine. The speaker clarifies that the vision of the warriors entering Shri Krishna's mouth does not imply that the future is preordained or that Shri Krishna is merely predicting events. Instead, it is a reiteration of the principle of Karma: those who choose to oppose the Truth have already chosen their own destruction. Shri Krishna's statement that he has already slain the warriors means that by their own free will, they have aligned themselves against the Truth, thereby sealing their fate. Arjuna is told to be a mere instrument in delivering the consequences of the choices these warriors have already made. Acharya Prashant emphasizes that spirituality and justice involve allowing individuals to receive what they have chosen for themselves. He highlights that Shri Krishna respects human freedom so much that he does not force Arjuna to fight; instead, he patiently teaches and persuades him, waiting for Arjuna's own free will to align with the Truth. This demonstrates that Shri Krishna is the ultimate liberal who respects the inalienable right of choice. Finally, the speaker rejects the idea of fatalism or a prewritten script for life. He asserts that nothing is preordained and that every moment offers the liberty to make a fresh choice. While one's ultimate destiny is liberation, the path taken is determined by individual actions. Once a choice is made, the consequences are unavoidable, as the doer must bear the fruits of their actions. Acharya Prashant concludes that every decision, no matter how small, is essentially a choice between Truth and its opposite. Humans are constantly writing their own fate through their moment-to-moment choices, and one must remain highly alert to this process.