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SWADHARMA
duty, though destitute of merits, than the wellexecuted duty of another. He who doeth the duty laid down by his own nature incurreth not sin. Congenital duty, O son of Kunti, though defective, ought not to be abandoned. All undertakings, indeed, are clouded by defects as fire by smoke” Ch. XVIII47, 48.
Then again Lord Krishna says: Sarvadharman parityajya mamekam saranam vraja, Abam twa sarvapapebhyo mokshayishyamı
ma sucha "Abandoning all duties, come to Me alone for shelter: sorrow not, I will liberate thee from all sins." Ch. XVIII-66.
In the previous two Slokas He asks Arjuna to abandon all duties. Is this contradiction? Is the Lord blowing hot and cold with the same breath? No. This is not contradiction. Arjuna says to the Lord: "My heart is weighed down with the voice of faintness, my mind is confused as to duty. I ask Thee which may be better--that tell me decisively. I am Thy disciple, suppliant to Thee; teach me." Ch. II-7. Lord Krishna gives the reply in Sloka 66 of Ch. XVIII.
What is the right significance of the words 'Sarva Dharmam-all duties? Some people say: "Give up the Dharmas of the Indriyas.” How could this be? Even a Jivanmukta sees, eats, walks, answers the
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