The Kuru Field of Justice
Gandhi:
"I see them here assembled, ready to fight, seeking to please the King’s sinful son by waging war." And thus addressed by Arjuna, Krishna brought that splendid chariot to a halt between the two armies. In front of Bhisma and Drona and all the rulers of the world, he said, "Behold Arjuna, these kinsmen assembled here." And the Prince marked on each hand relatives and friends in both armies. Seeing them, all his kinsmen, thus arrayed, Arjuna was filled with deep compassion and turned to Krishna.
Arjuna:
My very being is oppressed with compassion’s harmful taint. With mind perplexed concerning right and wrong I ask you which is the better course? Tell me and let your words be definite and clear, I am your pupil and put all my trust in you. So teach me.
Krishna:
Be wise in matters of death and duty. See in this war presented by pure chance a door to paradise. For sure is death to all that’s born, sure is birth to all that dies and for this, you have no cause to grieve. Likewise, recognize this war as prescribed by duty. Hold pleasure and pain, profit and loss, victory and defeat to be the same: then brace yourself ready for the fight. So will you bring no evil on yourself.
Chorus:
To him thus in compassion plunged, to him desponding, Krishna spoke these words: "Whence comes this faintness on you now at this crisis hour? This ill beseems a noble, wins a heavenly state, but brings dishonour, Arjuna. Give up this vile faint heartedness. Stand up, chastiser of your foes!"
Gandhi:
Hold pleasure and pain, profit and loss, victory and defeat to be the same: then brace yourself ready for the fight. So will you bring no evil on yourself.
Labels: Philip Glass, Satyagraha
