Does Gita promote fight ??
In our sessions, we are often asked that while in our Sanatana Dharma, ahimsa or non-violence is called 'Parmo Dharma' the ultimate duty.
Then Why does Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Gita which has often been described as the supreme knowledge promote fight ??
So let's analyse whether Gita really promotes fighting or not.
As we all know that on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Arjuna was overwhelmed by seeing his own family members, friends, and gurus on the other side and was thus refusing to fight but the supreme lord Krishna reprimanded him, gave him the knowledge of Gita and prepared him to fight.
So at first hand, it may seem that indeed the knowledge of Gita promotes fight. However that's not the actual case, Gita rather promotes work in relation with God.
In the case of Arjuna, his constitutional position was that of a Kshatriya (warrior), and thus after hearing the instructions of Gita, he prepared to fight the battle for the cause of Lord's.
Similarly, if someone is a student or a software developer, or a doctor, after reading Gita he won't pick up weapons but rather would do his occupational duty for the cause of the Lord.
Thus the lord in Verse 7 of Chapter 8 of Bhagavad Gita says :
तस्मात्सर्वेषु कालेषु मामनुस्मर युध्य च ।
मय्यर्पितमनोबुद्धिर्मामेवैष्यस्यसंशय: ॥ ७ ॥
Therefore, Arjuna, you should always think of Me in the form of Kṛṣṇa and at the same time carry out your prescribed duty of fighting.
With your activities dedicated to Me and your mind and intelligence fixed on Me, you will attain Me without a doubt.
So Gita not at all promotes fight rather it promotes carrying on our 'prescribed' work in remembrance of God.
Now naturally another question may pop up in your mind whether Mahabharata promotes fighting too??, but worry not as we have already answered this question in our other blog.
