How many times we all have felt worried and anxious for situations not under our control? Imagine a night before exam for a student. A day before result announcement. We all will agree that often times this anxiety and uncertainty brings forth a painful mental condition which we are not able to endure. And when this dilemma ends we feel greatly calm and relaxed.

But why are we getting anxious and restless on a regular day to day basis? The reason is that we are too much attached towards the results. We want things to go our way and people to react as we wish them to. But this is not always possible. We assume ourselves to be the master of all situations and are almost certain that it’s only “Me” who can decide and control things and people around us.

In the opening verse in Bhagwad Gita (1.1), we find a similar situation. Just when the battle of Kurukshetra was about to begin, Dhrtrashtra anxiously enquires from his servant cum secretary Sanjay, about what was happening on the battlefield? Sanjay having got a benediction from Vyasdeva to see all the events at the war, in reality, was in a position to update Dhrtrashtra on all the ongoing events. He was worried for his “own “sons, the Kauravas and did not wanted them  to make any compromise with Pandavas.

Not only blind materially, Dhrtarashtra was equally blind in spiritual matters and he did not object to Duryodhana’s atrocities and injustices against Pandavas. This was because of his excessive attachment to his hundred sons, primarily Duryodhana. As such, when everyone was assembled at the battlefield, Dhrtrashtra got worried, anxious and doubtful about the result of the great upcoming war, because of his excessive attachment to his sons and his dislike towards step sons, the Pandavas.

Till we are excessively attached to our possessions, rest assured, anxieties, lamentation and worry will never leave us. Being dutiful and responsible is one thing and falsely believing that all that I possess is “mine” is sheer ignorance. Doing our duties without attachment can only ensure that we are not left pained when these are inevitably taken away. That’s what is called yuktavairagya in our scriptures- dutiful detachment without shrugging away our responsibilities or being callous

Rather than getting entangled in material temporary attachments, let’s try to develop, cultivate and nourish our eternal bonds with Krishna who alone can satisfy all our heartfelt longings

Seed verse 1.1:

dhṛtarāṣṭrauvāca
dharma-kṣetrekuru-kṣetre
samavetāyuyutsavaḥ
māmakāḥpāṇḍavāścaiva
kimakurvatasañjaya