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PHRASES IN THE GITA - 71
बलं बलवताम् चाहम् कामराग विवर्जितम् । (अध्याय ७ - श्लोक ११)
பலம் பலவதாம் சாஹம் காம ராக விவர்ஜிதம் ... (அத்யாயம் 7 - ஶ்லோகம் 11)
Balam Balavataam Chaaham Kaama Raaga Vivarjitham ... (Chapter 7 - Shloka 11)
The physical strength , without lust and desire , is Me .
I am the strength , says Shri Krishna . Strength . Yes . But , 'strength without desire and lust' He adds . Not the strength of demons . Not the strength of Ravanas . Not the strength of world's strongman 'Mike Tyson' . Not the strength of the street rowdy or gang of goons behind the political leader who forcefully collect 'haptaah' (extortionist) from street vendors and regular businessmen . Not the strength of guns and bombs in the hands of Islamic terrorists . Not the strength of senior students in Medical and Engineering colleges and subject freshers to humiliating violence in the name of 'ragging' . Not the strength of males who molest and rape women . Not the strength of Kamsa who terrorized common folks to contribute to his exchequer . Not the strength of dictatorial rulers who subject people to miseries for personal glory and extravagance .
It is possible that we take the first half of this phrase and misunderstand and misquote Him . What if we misunderstand Him ? We may become unconcerned about a despotic ruler . "The ruler may be Ravana or Ram , sinner or a Saint . How does that matter ?" Such an attitude may rule our minds . Effects of such an attitude ? In 1857 , the Hindus could not anoint a Hindu King as a leader and fight the British under his leadership . We chose to fight under Zafar Shah , the last Mughal and a heir to brutality that was Mughal rule . Such an attitude idolized the Chambal decoits and sandal wood theif Veerappan , saying , 'they too worshipped Mother Kali and helped the poor' . Such an attitude sang in praise of dictatorial emergency era of Indira FerozKhan and hailed the same as an era of 'discipline and order'.
In a the tenth chapter of the Gita , Shri Krishna declares , "I am the King among humans" . We subjects should definitely follow the rules laid by the king . But , the selfish Dictator , though a king should be opposed and finished . Ravana might have been a Brahmin , a Vedik scolar and an exponent of Divine Music . Nevertheless , he deserves to be 'fumed'. His is strength soaked in lust .
Shri Krishna gives a purpose for strength through this phrase in the Gita . He gives a direction to seekers of strength . Seek strength . Gain strength . Worship strength . But , with a purpose . to protect Dharma , to protect the weak , the protect the Noble , to fight Adharma , to annihilate the brute . Strength without Character , strength with selfishness , strength with lust and desire is Rakshasee or demoniac . Strength with character , strength that protects Dharma , strength that protects the weak , strength that protects Nobility (The prime duty of a king , according to Hindu tradition , is Go - Brahmana Paripalanam i.e: Protection of the Cow and the Brahman) , strength that vanquishes Adharma is Deified Paramaatman .
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