Samkhya Yoga - Part 8 - Good Karma

Chapter 2 part 8
Good Karma: The Bhagavad Gita

In the viewpoint of a common man, there may be a chance of misunderstanding that why Sree Krishna compels Arjuna for the battle. Why he is telling that killing enemies, even though they are relatives, is a good karma or justifiable. Here is answer for these confusions.

"What is Good Karma? A karma or act which is performed in a virtuous way, can be called as good karma or dharma."

 

Krishna tells Arjuna that consider this battle as swa-dharma (own good karma). What is dharma(good karma) and swadharma? A karma or act which is performed as righteous, can be called as dharma(good karma). Swadharma is one's own dharma. How swadharma is formed? It is based on the mixing of natural qualities (satwa, rajas, thamo). No one can alter the natural qualities, all of a sudden. No one can change natural karma. But by gradual observance of virtuousness one can gradually become free from his own natural qualities and become liberated. So, whatever might be one's own present, natural karma, if he turns it towards good or virtuous path, then it will become righteous karma(good karma) or dharma. It is his swadharma.

No one can leave karma and go for sanyasa
Krishna discloses that Arjuna cannot leave from the battle field because, battling is his swadharma(own good karma). He cannot refrain from doing his own karma or duty. Only what he can do is, do the battle as a virtuous war. Means, this battle is not for selfish goals, rather it is a dharma yudh (righteous war). This battle is for establishing dharma (righteousness) in the country. Finally what Krishna means is that if he do this battle as swadharma, he can alter his rajo guna (natural quality as a soldier) and gain satwa guna (virtuous or good quality). This will help him to attain salvation latter through athma jnana.

Krishna asks Arjuna to consider this war as a chance given by God's grace and is a door to heaven.Why this war is mentioned as a door to heaven? As stated above, if he does his karma(battle) as dharma (virtuous karma or good karma), he will get a lucky chance to change his rajo guna (natural quality as soldier). By repeated good actions(good karma) he can gradually shift to satwa guna (virtuous quality). Then he can attain self realization through proper learning of athma jnana.

But this may not be attainable in one life. If so, by death, one goes to heaven and enjoys the results of his virtuous acts (good karma) and comes back to continue his spiritual path. This is the reason Krishna says that this virtuous war is a door to heaven.