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Killing is bad, but a ksatriya's business is to kill. Without killing, one cannot become perfect ksatriya

Expressions researched:
"Killing is bad, but a ksatriya's business is to kill. Without killing, one cannot become perfect ksatriya"

Lectures

Srimad-Bhagavatam Lectures

So it is all explained in the Bhagavad-gītā, sa doṣam api na tyajet (BG 18.48). Killing is bad, but a Kṣatriya's business is to kill. Without killing, one cannot become perfect Kṣatriya.

So in this way there was fierce fighting between Arjuna and Bhīṣma. And Arjuna's chariot became broken into pieces, and he fell down, and when Kṛṣṇa saw that, "Now Arjuna is going to be killed," He broke His own promise. He broke His own promise and took one wheel of the chariot and reached before Bhīṣma that, "Now I shall kill you." Bhīṣma immediately gave up his weapon. So, "That was my promise, that I wanted that either You have to break Your promise or Your friend will be killed. So now You have broken Your promise. So I am giving up. Because it is not expected that I shall fight with You." (laughter) So Kṛṣṇa said that "Yes, I have kept your promise, but I have broken My promise. You decided, you promised . . ."

So this is Kṛṣṇa's business, to . . . Bhīṣma was a devotee, great devotee of Kṛṣṇa. So he promised that either Kṛṣṇa would break His promise, otherwise His friend will be dead. So He broke His promise. So sometimes Kṛṣṇa breaks His promise, own promise, for the sake of His devotee. Nobody is expected to break his promise, but Kṛṣṇa is so kind, for protection of His devotee He can do anything. He can break His promise also. This is Kṛṣṇa's position. So such Bhīṣma was so affectionate to the Pāṇḍavas. So Kṛṣṇa wanted . . . Bhīṣma was lying on the bed of arrows, preparing for his death. So Kṛṣṇa wanted that these Pāṇḍavas should go to Bhīṣma and hear his instruction.

Therefore, despite His advice to Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira that, "There was no wrong on your part. You are thinking that you have killed, or for your sake so many men have been killed. That is not . . . you are not responsible for that. You are not sinful." For a Kṣatriya, killing is not sinful. For a Brāhmin, sacrificing an animal in the arena, that is not sinful. So it is all explained in the Bhagavad-gītā, sa doṣam api na tyajet (BG 18.48). Killing is bad, but a Kṣatriya's business is to kill. Without killing, one cannot become perfect Kṣatriya. Because he has to give protection, and there are so many demons, rascals. So if the king becomes nonviolent, how other citizens will be given protection? No.

Page Title:Killing is bad, but a ksatriya's business is to kill. Without killing, one cannot become perfect ksatriya
Compiler:Anurag
Created:2022-09-23, 17:00:51
Totals by Section:BG=0, SB=0, CC=0, OB=0, Lec=1, Con=0, Let=0
No. of Quotes:1