Acharya Prashant begins by explaining the context of the Bhagavad Gita. He states that it is already a battleground, and Shri Krishna himself has tried his utmost to avert the war. He had gone as a messenger to the court of Duryodhana and tried his best. Now, all that is behind. Before the war, the right action is to try to prevent it, as war means a lot of suffering. However, on the battlefield, one cannot act like a peacenik. Now, one has to be an eagle, not a dove. Now, one must fight. Responding to a seeker's question about a verse from the Gita concerning the withdrawal of senses, Acharya Prashant cautions that when something feels very appealing, one should be careful. He questions whether the seeker is using the verse as a justification to avoid engaging with the world. He explains that the mind typically likes what reinforces its existing tendencies and patterns. The mind can easily use a verse about withdrawal to escape from life's challenges. He points out that the seeker is using the verse to support his desire to withdraw from the world. Acharya Prashant contrasts this with the personality of Shri Krishna, who is not someone who has withdrawn from the world. Shri Krishna is a very practical and worldly-wise person, present in the midst of the battlefield. He is a victor in battle and in love (Raas). He can be as harsh as needed in war and as gentle as needed with his loved ones. He knows how to talk to both Shakuni and Kunti with equal skill. He is not a one-dimensional character; he is complete. The speaker humorously challenges the seeker to go to a nightclub to test his detachment, implying that true detachment is not about running away but about being comfortable and equanimous everywhere. The seeker admits to feeling uncomfortable in such places and even when talking to female colleagues. Acharya Prashant explains that this discomfort reveals attachment and that the Upanishads are becoming a safe house for the ego. He clarifies that the ego is malleable and takes the shape of its container. True spiritual maturity is when one can see the same natural processes everywhere and is not unsettled by any place. This is called 'Samata' (equanimity). He concludes by stating that one must first become comfortable with something before they can renounce it. Renouncing out of discomfort is not true renunciation; it is a form of attachment.
