The Bhagwat Gita is often cited as the philosophical cornerstone of Hinduism or Sanatana Dharma. Moreover, it is repeatedly quoted by many to hypnotize the Sanatani Hindus to embrace ignorant ‘Ahimsa’. It is silently used as a subconscious compass that invites Sanatanis to be docile and subservient.
While the text is a guide into the intricacies of Dharmic life, duty, and morality; it never preaches the ‘Path of Ahimsa’. Contrarily, the Gita’s stance on violence is very clear. Lord Krishna as the guide and charioteer of Arjuna invites him to take up arms in the name of Dharma. Let’s talk about how Bhagwat Gita Gyan is filled with adherents of dharmic or righteous violence.
Gita Gyan on Dharmic Violence: Shloka 2-33
अथ चेतत्त्वमिमं धर्म्यं संग्रामं न करिष्यसि |
तत: स्वधर्मं कीर्तिं च हित्वा पापमवाप्स्यसि || 33||
Meaning: Thus, if a Sanatani refuses to fight in a Dharma Sangram, he shall be inviting ‘paap’ to his name, fame, and honor.
Bhagwat Gita Gyan
A Sanatani should walk the path of Dharma in every way. In times of peace and prosperity, he should follow the path of ahimsa and karma. In times of war in the name of Dharma, he should take up arms without a thought. The true might of Sanatana Dharma is the ability to identify the need for violence. Needless violence is a ‘paap’. However, ignoring the call of a Dharmic Violence is also a ‘paap’.
Gita Gyan on Dharmic Violence: Shloka 4-7&8
यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत |अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम् || 7||
परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम् |धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय सम्भवामि युगे युगे || 8||
Meaning: Whenever Dharma falls under the shadow of Adharma, (Lord Vishnu) I take human form to take up arms and fight! To protect Dharma and to destroy Adharma, (Lord Vishnu) I take birth to restore Sanatana Dharma!!
Bhagwat Gita Gyan
These shlokas prove that Gods themselves believe in the path of Dharmic Violence against Adharma. To re-establish Dharma in the lives of Sanatanis and the world, every yuga cycle is blessed by the birth of Lord Vishnu’s avatar. Thus, taking up arms to fight Adharma is the true essence of Gita!!!
Lesson for The Modern Sanatani
Preaching the ‘Ahimsa Parmo Dharma’ shloka is misrepresenting the Bhagwat Gita to the common man. Bhagwat Gita Gyan never supports absolute non-violence. This half-truth is a diluted modern understanding of the Gita’s teachings. The holy Gita came into being when Arjuna could not bring himself to fight his Adharmic Kaurava relatives. Thus, it is clear that the Bhagwat Gita advocates Dharmic Violence as a righteous act to protect Sanatan Dharma. Lord Vishnu himself states that he takes birth as various avatars to fight Adharma and reinstate Dharma in the world.
Every Sanatani must fight in a Dharmic Sangram. The refusal to do so is a severe neglect of Dharma. However, the Dharmic fight can be in many forms in today’s modern world. Thus, a Dharmic warrior may be one with a gun on the border, a keyboard warrior fact-checking misinformation, a scientist in a lab, a reader who arms himself with knowledge, or a writer with a pen in hand.
Bhagavad Gita Gyan is filled with shlokas and verses that urge individuals to discern the nuances of dharma and righteous action. Therefore, blind adherence to non-violence without the context of dharma is a poison that is repeatedly fed into Sanatani society. Let Dharma prevail on earth! May Sanatanis awaken to recognize the reality of Dharmic action and war! Hopefully, the Sleeping Sanatanis of Bharat will arise with the essence of Bhagwat Gita which prefers harmony but advocates war in the name of Dharma.