25. Rose can never become a Lotus
K rishna explains about swa-dharma (one’s own nature or paradigm) (2.31-2.37) and advises Arjuna that being a kshatriya he should not hesitate to fight as it is his swa-dharma (2.31). Dharma or reality is One and is viraat (immeasurable). Our limited senses find it difficult to comprehend it. We perceive it in different ways like how the proverbial blind men perceive the same elephant differently through their touch. If one perceives it as a tusk, then that becomes their reality or swa-dharma . In the contemporary context, it is called paradigm or frame of reference. Following swa-dharma implies remaining true to one’s own perception of truth, like one who sees it as a tusk, rather than embracing the attractive interpretation of another ( para-dharma ) who perceives it as a leg or a tail. Being a warrior is Arjuna’s swa-dharma , and in a moment, he cannot become anything else. Kshatriya is the combination of ‘ kshat ’ meaning ‘hurt’ and ‘ tra ’ meaning...