The Bhagavad Gita For Millennials

by Bibek Debroy

The meaning of dharma depends on the context and the word is therefore impossible to translate. In that sense, it is a bit like yoga or karma. Independent of context, these words can’t really be translated. Artha is not wealth alone, but prosperity in general. Most of us are subject to the wheel of existence, from birth to death, known as samsara, or worldly existence. Moksha or mukti is liberation from samsara, from birth or death. Literally, nirvana means a state of being extinguished. In effect, this is the same as mukti or moksha. But, as I said, liberation is for a limited few. The rest of us are bound in this cycle of existence. Therefore, we will pursue dharma, artha and kama. As the shlokas I have just quoted indicate, the Bhagavad Gita isn’t against this pursuit, far from it. But all the texts talk about a balance between the three objectives and warn about any of these objectives being pursued in excess. The Bhagavad Gita also warns about being attached to any of these objectives. It is the addiction that is condemned. Sometimes, we don’t realize the difference, which is an important one. Let us take an example. Many of us have heard the expression, ‘Money is the root of all evil.’ We have heard it and we often quote it. The original is from the Bible. The correct quote, in an English language translation is, ‘The love of money is the root of all evil.’ The entire meaning changes.