The Lord did not advise Arjuna to give up Panja 187

his profession in the name of the Lord alone. He never advises anything impossible. In this material world, man has to work for his sustenance. Human society is divided into four classes, namely, Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras, based on karma. The Brahmins, or the intellectual class, work in one way. The Kshatriyas, or the ruling class, work in another way; the merchants, or Shudras, perform their own special karma. Whether a person in human society is a Shudra, a merchant, a ruler, or a farmer, or a member of the highest class, a literary man, a scientist, or a theologian, he has to work for his sustenance. That is why Lord Krishna advised Arjuna that there is no need to give up his profession, but to remember Him (Mamanusmara) while engaged in his profession. If one does not practice Krishnasmarana while in the struggle of life, then Krishnasmarana will not be possible for him at the time of death. Lord Chaitanya also advised the same thing, saying, “Keertaniyah sada Harih.” That is, one should always practice chanting the name of the Lord. The name of the Lord and the Lord are one and the same. The advice given by Lord Krishna to Arjuna, “Therefore remember Me,” and the advice of Lord Chaitanya, “Always chant the name of Krishna,” are one and the same advice. There is no difference between them. Because Krishna and the name of Krishna are one and the same. In the perfect state, there is no difference between the application and the person being applied. Therefore, we should make it a habit to remember God twenty-four hours a day by chanting the names of God and by shaping our lives in a way that always remembers God.

How is this possible? The teachers have given the following analogy. It is believed that if a married woman is attracted to another man or if a man is attached to another woman than his wife, that attachment is very strong. A person with such attachment is always thinking about his beloved. A married woman who thinks only of her beloved is always thinking about meeting him even while doing household chores. In fact, she does household chores more carefully so that her husband does not have any doubts about her attachment. Similarly, we should constantly remember our beloved Lord Krishna, and at the same time, we should manage our material affairs well. A strong feeling of love is needed here. For God
we have strong love, we can remember Him while performing our duties. But we have to develop a love like this. For example, Arjuna always remembered Krishna, he was the eternal companion of Krishna. But at the same time he was a warrior. Krishna did not advise him to leave the war and go to the forest to meditate. When Lord Krishna explained the method of yoga, Arjuna said that he could not practice that method.

Arjuna Uvacha

Yogayam yogastvaya proktah samyena madhusudana | etasyaham na pasyamī chanchalatvat sthitam stiktam ॥

“Arjuna said: O Madhusudana! The method of yoga which you have summarized seems impossible and unbearable to me, because the mind is restless and unstable.” But the Lord said:

Yoginamapi sarveshaam maddatenantaratmana | Shraddhavan bhajate yo maam sa me yuktatamo matah |

“The yogi who is always devoted to Me, who remembers Me within himself, who renders me divine loving service, he is the most closely united with Me in yoga among all yogis. He is the highest of all. This is my opinion.” (Bhagavad Gita 6.47) Therefore, the one who always remembers the Lord is a great yogi, a supremely wise man, and at the same time a great devotee. The Lord told Arjuna that as a Kshatriya he could not give up fighting. But if Arjuna fought remembering Krishna, he would be able to remember Krishna even at the time of death. But for that, one must completely surrender to the Lord in divine loving service.

We actually work with our mind and intellect, not with our body. Therefore, if the intellect and mind are always fixed on the thought of God, then naturally the senses will also be fixed in the service of that God. At least externally, the sensory activities remain the same, but the consciousness changes. The Bhagavad Gita teaches how to unite the mind and intellect in God. Such concentration enables a person to reach the state of God. If the mind is fixed in the service of Krishna, the senses will effortlessly be fixed in His service.