254. Consequences of Ahankaar

When we don't follow natural laws there are adverse consequences. For example, if someone jumps from a height ignoring gravity, the consequences are inevitable. Krishna cautions about the consequences of violating the principles of existence or natural laws as explained by Him in the Bhagavad Gita. He says, "Fixing your mind on Me you shall overcome all obstacles and difficulties by My grace. You will perish if you do not listen to My advice due to ahankaar" (18.58). Perishing is inevitable like falling from a height when we are driven by ahankaar (aham-karta).

Krishna says, "Because of ahankaar if you think 'I will not fight,' your resolution will be in vain. Your nature will compel you to fight" (18.59). Firstly, the war wouldn't have come to an end even if Arjun had left the battlefield. Secondly, Arjun wouldn't have sat idle when the battle was going on where his immediate family is facing danger. This verse indicates that Arjun would come back and would fight the battle as fighting is his swa-dharm (own nature).

Krishna further says, "That action which out of delusion you do not wish to do, you will be driven to do by your own inclination, born of your own swa-bhav (material nature)" (18.60). This is one of the common dilemmas faced by us. Many times we resolve to remain silent or don't say hurtful words to our loved ones when they do or say something which is not to our liking. But in that moment we do exactly the opposite of what we planned to execute. Though it looks simple from the outside but our swa-bhav takes over at that moment. This verse indicates that under delusion we are driven by swa-bhav rather than natural laws. As this delusion is caused by ahankaar, the essence is to shed ahankaar.