World Lit. Divine vs Man
B. Rouse
March 20, 2012
World Literature I
Dr. Hankerson Divine vs. Man
In the poem The Bhagavad-Gita, man and the divine are somewhat compared. When approached by his enemies in a battle Arjuna realizes that they are his kinsmen. These people are fathers, grandfathers, teachers, brothers and friends. At the beginning when given order by Krishna, Arjuna sees no justice in killing these men. After Krishna explains to Arjuna what his sacred duty is and how man’s life cycle is, Arjuna comes to realize the relationship between the divine and man. At the beginning of the poem Arjuna rejects Krishna’s order to go to war with man because he sees them as his kinsmen. He questions Krishna as to what victory he will gain by killing these men. Krishna states “Be intent on action, not on fruits of action; avoid attraction to the fruits and attachment to inaction! Perform actions, firm in discipline, relinquishing attachment; be impartial to failure and success—this equanimity is called discipline.” (1019) Krishna declares that it is not the victory he should seek in killing these men but in doing so he will become warrior of the three worlds and will be divine as is he. Like man, warriors have tribulations in which they have the doors of heaven opened for them or the pitfalls of hell. This battle that is given to Arjuna would be his ticket through the doors of heaven if he succeeds.
He goes on to explain how men are somewhat immortal in that they fight for their lives. The joy and courage they have even when suffering yields them to immortality. Krishna tells Arjuna that man has to go through a cycle of life called karma. Karma is defined as the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. All action results in a reaction that ultimately determines ones quality of existence. It is mans’ duty to fight for the lives of himself as well as his family. If none of the warrior’s action
March 20, 2012
World Literature I
Dr. Hankerson Divine vs. Man
In the poem The Bhagavad-Gita, man and the divine are somewhat compared. When approached by his enemies in a battle Arjuna realizes that they are his kinsmen. These people are fathers, grandfathers, teachers, brothers and friends. At the beginning when given order by Krishna, Arjuna sees no justice in killing these men. After Krishna explains to Arjuna what his sacred duty is and how man’s life cycle is, Arjuna comes to realize the relationship between the divine and man. At the beginning of the poem Arjuna rejects Krishna’s order to go to war with man because he sees them as his kinsmen. He questions Krishna as to what victory he will gain by killing these men. Krishna states “Be intent on action, not on fruits of action; avoid attraction to the fruits and attachment to inaction! Perform actions, firm in discipline, relinquishing attachment; be impartial to failure and success—this equanimity is called discipline.” (1019) Krishna declares that it is not the victory he should seek in killing these men but in doing so he will become warrior of the three worlds and will be divine as is he. Like man, warriors have tribulations in which they have the doors of heaven opened for them or the pitfalls of hell. This battle that is given to Arjuna would be his ticket through the doors of heaven if he succeeds.
He goes on to explain how men are somewhat immortal in that they fight for their lives. The joy and courage they have even when suffering yields them to immortality. Krishna tells Arjuna that man has to go through a cycle of life called karma. Karma is defined as the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. All action results in a reaction that ultimately determines ones quality of existence. It is mans’ duty to fight for the lives of himself as well as his family. If none of the warrior’s action