yadṛichchhayā chopapannaṁ swarga-dvāram apāvṛitam
sukhinaḥ kṣhatriyāḥ pārtha labhante yuddham īdṛiśham
yadṛichchhayā — unsought;
cha — and;
upapannam — come;
swarga — celestial abodes;
dvāram — door;
apāvṛitam — wide open;
sukhinaḥ — happy;
kṣhatriyāḥ — warriors;
pārtha — Arjun, the son of Pritha;
labhante — obtain;
yuddham — war;
īdṛiśham — such
In this verse, Lord Krishna tells Arjuna, calling him 'Partha' (which means son of Pritha), that kshatriyas (warriors) should be happy when they face chances to fight, especially in a righteous battle. This is because such battles can lead them to heaven. Let's break down what this means and why it's important for Arjuna, a warrior, to understand this.
Arjuna was feeling very troubled about fighting his own relatives and teachers in battle. He expressed his fears and concerns to Krishna, thinking that participating in the fight would only bring him sorrow and potentially condemn him to suffering. He believed that avoiding violence was a sign of virtue. However, Krishna points out that this thinking shows ignorance about his duty as a kshatriya, a class that is trained to protect and fight for justice.
Krishna emphasizes that being a kshatriya means standing up for what is right, even if it involves battle. For a warrior, not engaging in battle when it’s necessary is seen as foolish and cowardly.
Krishna mentions that if Arjuna fights and wins, he will gain the kingdom (which is a great material success), and if he fights and dies, he will go to heaven, which is a great spiritual reward. Either way, whether he wins or loses, he would emerge victorious in a greater sense. This fight is not just about the physical struggle but about fulfilling his duties, and in doing so, he opens up paths to spiritual rewards, like heavenly realms.
Additionally, this is a reminder that in life, we should not avoid our responsibilities out of fear or uncertainty. Embracing our duties, especially when they are aligned with righteousness, ultimately leads to growth and fulfillment. Thus, Krishna's words encourage Arjuna to recognize the value in the battle he faces and to pursue his duty without hesitation.