Dharma: the imperative of caste law Human beings, being intrinsically selfish, need motivation to be able to work. For some, this motivation may stem from the desire for material things or the gathering of power. Sometimes, people have trouble engaging in their work. These concepts have traveled in time for centuries and in the interval between 300 BC and 300 AD a concept of commitment required for one's work was recorded in the Bhagavad Gita, or Song of the Blessed Lord, part of the Upanishadic texts. The Bhagavad Gita is highly connected to Brahminical Hinduism as it prescribes devotion to one's caste duty, also known as dharma, in order to achieve detachment from the soul's cycle of rebirth. (Andrea 71) Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Within the Gita, a discussion between Lord Krishna, a physical manifestation of the Vedic and Hindu god Vishnu, and Arjuna, a warrior hero is recounted. Arjuna was born to a human mother and a god called Indra, who was a great warrior. Through a caste system, people are forced to do the same jobs as their ancestors, causing conflict for Arjuna. Being a warrior, he is upset at being forced to wage war on his relatives. (Andrew 72) Lord Krishna explains that it is not only right for Arjuna to fight against his relatives, but it is obligatory. He explains that adhering to the concept of caste duty is essential to being freed from the cycle of rebirth and suffering in life, or moksha. The war against the family is justified for Arjuna with the profound statement: “There is no existence for what is unreal; there is no non-existence for what is real.” Lord Krishna describes that by killing in war, nothing is truly lost. The souls of those who are killed are infinite, without beginning or end, and will simply become one with Brahman or be reborn. Since his actions would not be capable of killing something that has no end, Arjuna is strongly encouraged to perform his duties as a warrior as prescribed by his caste, lest he never succeed in becoming one with Brahman himself. Through the phrase: "It's your business" is just action; absolutely not with fruit. Do not let the fruit of action be your motive for acting,” Lord Krishna explains to Arjuna that not only must he conform to what is required of him by his warrior caste, but he must do so without the desire for any reward. Furthermore, Arjuna is told that "one's duty, though imperfect, is better than another's duty well performed", indicating that he, due to his birth into a warrior caste, cannot change his responsibilities to fight Lord Krishna tells Arjuna that if he refuses to fight, he will have sinned by rejecting his caste duty. Fighting in war is Arjuna's duty and responsibility, even if it involves evil is described by Krishna as part of life involved in all actions, “for all actions are shrouded in evil, like fire in smoke.” Keep in mind: This is just an example Get a Custom Paper Now from Our Expert Writers . Get a Custom EssayConclusion Lord Krishna's words to Arjuna revolve around a single common point, namely that he must do his job to the best of his ability. While waging war has an evil component and people are killed, the concept of dharma views him as harmless for his actions during war, as nothing is truly lost. Even if people are killed in war, their souls remain unharmed, which means that Arjuna is not destroying anything of value. His caste duty is a requirement, not..