178. Hatred is Misery



Krishna says, “This form of mine has not been seen before by anyone else than you (11.47). Neither by study of the Vedas, nor by yajnas, nor by gifts, nor by rituals, nor by severe austerities can I be seen in such a form (11.48). Be free from fear and with a cheerful heart, behold Me once again in My personal form” (11.49).

Krishna comes to his original form (11.50) and Arjuna resorts to his nature (11.51). Krishna says, “Very hard to see this form of mine and even gods ever long to behold this form (11.52). Neither by the study of the Vedas, nor by penance, charity, or fire sacrifices can I be seen like this” (11.53).

Our general belief is that charity gives us punya (virtue). But Krishna says charity can’t help us see his Vishwaroop. When our charity is driven by ahankaar, it then becomes a transaction of giving something of ours to get something like punya (virtue). This barter can’t take us to Paramatma as He can’t be bought.

Immediately, Krishna offers a positive path and says, “But by a single pointed devotion I may be seen like this (11.54) and he who performs actions for Me, with Me as Supreme is devoted to Me, free from attachment, without enmity towards any being -he reaches Me” (11.55).

Being free from attachment doesn’t mean detachment. It is neither aversion nor craving. Krishna advises us to drop hatred and enmity. The key is dropping enmity towards any being. Hatred is like ahankaar and both have many shapes, faces, forms and manifestations making it difficult for us to identify. Hatred is like a poison we carry that would ultimately hurt and damage us. In other words, to move from a state of misery to the state of joy (moksha) we need to drop hatred.

Krishna describes forgiveness as a quality that arises from Him (10.4) and as one of the treasures of a divinely inclined person (16.3). Forgiveness is the most effective antidote to hatred. It requires courage, awareness, and compassion to forgive another person. Forgiveness dissolves hatred and brings peace.


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