Sacrificial Action

Category: Hinduism

Last Updated: 18 Apr 2023

Pages: 2 Views: 56

In Bhagavad Gita 4. 31, Krishna said to Arjuna, “Those who eat the nectar of immortality left over from a sacrificial action, they go to the eternal Brahman” (Phillips 80). This passage is taken from the Bhagavad Gita where Krishna, a divine being, and Arjuna, the third of the five brothers fighting for their land. With Arjuna having a dilemma of fighting his own kinsmen, Krishna explained to him why the right thing to do is to fight (Phillips 80). In chapter three of the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna explained to Arjuna the meaning of the sacrificial action.

It is said to be voluntary doing something or ‘sacrificing’ without thinking of the benefits you will earn after the work, will lead to the supreme good. This is called the yoga of action. Attaining this supreme good exempts you from the law of karma (action and reaction) and thus leads to nirvana (Phillips 81). In chapter four, Krishna pointed out how and why he took the form of a mortal being. According to him, he assumed a mortal personification in order to become a model for those people who would want to attain the supreme good.

He also states that he had already turned to a mortal being to be able to tell other people the things the he is now sharing with Arjuna (Phillips 81). The Bhagavad Gita 4. 31 passage is the fourth chapter’s main point. In this passage, Krishna told Arjuna how to be like him or to go to eternal Brahman. The ‘nectar’ he mentioned pertains to the example that he or a doer of sacrificial action makes. And the meaning of ‘eating the nectar’ entails following the examples of doing a sacrificial action, in order to attain supreme good or to be like Krishna (Phillips 82).

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