The world is a battlefield, and every day we have to fight one battle or another. We can't fight every battle. There is an ongoing fight inside our bodies where the immune system is constantly battling against the microbes that continually attack us. The heart constantly fights against the force of gravity to pump blood to different parts of the body so that the organs can function well. The army on the border is consistently defending against the enemy to keep us safe. Our parents continually fight battles to ensure we receive a steady supply of resources to survive. We also choose our own battles every day: some consciously and some unconsciously.
In cold weather, getting up from the bed is the first battle. We choose whether we want to invest time in our hobbies and health or prefer the comfort of a blanket and our bed. As the day begins, there is a battle of priorities. We have office meetings, invitations from friends, and social obligations to attend, and we must prioritize. There is a struggle within our minds. As we get into the car or bus, another battle unfolds on the roads. Someone is honking from behind for unnecessary reasons, and another person has parked their car the wrong way, causing traffic. We feel like getting out of the car to manage the city's traffic situation, but then we prioritize our work and stay in the car. When we reach the office, we encounter different types of people: some like cunning wolves, some like domesticated dogs, some like mighty lions, some like weak mice, some with strong wings like eagles, and some like little birds. There are constant conflicts and battles in the office, some of which we choose to fight and others we let go. Then we return home, where we face another battle of cravings. The tired brain seeks a quick energy boost, creating a fight between taste and health once again.
Krishna faced many battles in his lifetime. As a child, numerous challenges were imposed on him. Kansa sent many demons to kill him. When he matured, he chose to confront Kansa and ultimately killed him. After becoming the king of Mathura, he faced constant attacks from Jarasandha. He fought a few battles and then decided to relocate his capital to Dwarka. That is why he is referred to as Ranchod, the one who withdrew from the battlefield. As he grew older, he decided to take center stage in the biggest battle of that time, the battle of Kurukshetra. He chose his battles wisely. We too must choose our battles wisely. But what do we mean by "choosing battles wisely?"
I believe that any choice made with a narrow understanding of life limits us, while any choice made with an awareness of life's vastness helps us grow. Had Krishna's awareness of life been limited, he would have chosen to keep playing with his friends and Gopis in Brij, opting not to go to Mathura to confront Kansa. He would have selected "comfort" over the "risk" of losing his life. Had his worldview been narrow, he would have continued to fight against Jarasandha, fearing the label of cowardice. He would have prioritized "social validation" over "intelligent strategy." Had he not been so complete within, he would have insisted on fighting the battle of Kurukshetra himself rather than empowering Arjuna to fight. He chose "enablement and capacity building for spiritual aspirants" over the "fame of being a hero." He imparted "true knowledge" in the form of the Bhagavad Gita, ensuring that spiritual aspirants in future ages can receive definitive guidance.
Choices will always be available to us. Viktor Frankl developed the best psychological skills and created "logotherapy" based on his experiences in the Nazi concentration camp. Anita Moorjani's cancer and her sufferings helped her break free from the frame of "life and death." Circumstances do not matter. I believe that what truly matters is our life purpose. If we choose to grow, every life experience will contribute to our growth. Conversely, if we opt to "remain confined to our present frame," we will attempt to avoid battles, stay wrapped in our blankets, make excuses for the cold outside, continue being exploited to dodge risks, blindly follow illogical traditions and rituals to garner "social validation," and evade "criticism," or choose the wrong battles by "fighting for community pride," "fighting to prove our intelligence," or "fighting to protect our turf." These decisions to fight or avoid fights will stem from our limited perspective. The more battles we engage in, the more insecure we will feel, as we would have refused to grow. Krishna's decisions were always driven by a broader understanding of life, and that is his most significant message in the Gita for Arjuna and for all of us.
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