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What is Compassion?
Compassion means a deep feeling of sympathy/pity for the suffering of others and a desire to help them. Compassion is a real human touch. Bhagavad-Gita refers to compassion as one of divine qualities of the sane persons. Without compassion there is no real peace. It has a soothing effect on us.

Lord Krishna was really very compassionate towards His devotees like the Pandavas, Drapaudi, Gopis, cowherd friends, others and future mankind. Other personalities like Lord Rama, Lord Buddha, Jesus Christ, Zoroaster, Lord Chaitanya, Guru Nanak are also filled with sympathy for the manking and lay down their principles for their followers.

Compassion to relieve people from the cycle of birth and death or to bring them closer to the Supreme Lord is spiritual whereas compassion to solve the physical and material problems of the persons without spiritual touch is material. The former pleases the Lord more whereas general people are more inclined towards the latter. Some people say that at present times there is progress in science and technology but there is decline in compassion. Of course, it is difficult to acquire compassion but by constant practice or the Lord's mercy, it is possible to get it.

My request to you is to develop a sense of compassion.

Kinds of Actions
Lord Krishna`s dear devotee Arjuna was confused about his action before the Mahabharata war began. The Lord explained to him about three kinds of action - karma, vikarma and akarma.
He says, " The intricacies of action are very diffiicult to understand. Therefore one should know properly karma, vikarma and akarma." (Bhagavad-Gita 4.17)

`Karma' means material action performed in regard to developing one's position or for future results which produce karmic reactions. Karma also means material action performed according to scriptural regulations. Through this karma one has to undergo birth and death in the material universe.

`Vikarma' means action which is performed against the injunctions of revealed scriptures and which produce uncomfortable reactions. Vikarma is dangerous because through it one has chance to sink into the hell after death and suffer horrible reactions.

`Akarma' means action which helps one gain freedom from material bondage and attain Godhead. In order words, akarma means no reaction to work. Shri Krishna says, "One who executes his duties according to My injunctions and who follows this teaching faithfully, without envy, becomes free from the bondage of fruitive bondage." (Bhagavad Gita 3.3). Of all actions akarma is the safest way for one because one is able of get released from karmic reactions experienced in this world, and to go back to the spiritual world from which he/she will not return to this material world. If one is determined to peform akarma, one is able to overcome the obstacles in akarma gradually. But it has to be performed under the guidance of spiritual authorities. One's peformance of akarma burns up all kinds of reaction to work.

After Arjuna's confusion was cleared, Arjuna converted karma into akarma by surrendering to Lord Krishna

Duty of Fighting
Lord Krishna drew the chariot between Pandavas and Kauravas to enable His devotee Arjuna to have a view of who sided with his enemies Kauravas though Kauravas were his cousins. He was so upset to see grandfather Bhishma, teacher Dronacharya and others who were prepared to attach him. Though being a warrior was his inborn duty, Arjuna told his charioteer Krishna that he wanted to give up the duty of fighting against the enemies. But Lord Krishna rebuked him for letting the enemies to overcome him and this was against dharma because his enemy Duryothana, the elder Kaurava brother who unfairly usurped the kingdom which was rightfully the elder Pandava brother Yudhishthira's had no respect for dharma laid down by Lord Krishna. So by His discourse He encouraged Arjuna to be a worthy fighter and defeat the enemies.

Arjuna thought his ahimsa (non-violence) which was the only way would please Krishna rejected his so-called ahimsa as a cowardly act for his enemies, not , Arjuna, committed violence against the Pandavas and he should resort to justifiable violence to defeat the aggressors.Bhagavad-Gita had inspired many Indian soldiers to sacrifice their lives and fight the Pakistani attackers during Kargil war.

Why did lord Krishna appeared in the world?
There are special three reasons. Firstly, atrocities committed by the demoniac people forced Lord Krishna to destroy them. Secondly, He established religious principles so that people both during His time and in the future could be in harmony with the principles. Thirdly, He had the pleasure of having His relationship with His devotees. In Bhagavad-Gita there is the mention of His appearance in the world. The great Vedic literature Srimad Bhagavatam gives wonderful descriptions of Krishna's pastimes and teachings.

It is said in Bhagavad-Gita whoever understands the appearance of Lord Krishna will go back to the spiritual world after death and will not return to this material world. Therefore one should not miss the golden opportunities to understand the importance of His appearance if he/she wishes to go back to Godhead. Otherwise it may be difficult to seize this opportunity in his life or an afterlife or even in many births. If one wishes to keep in touch with Lord Krishna, he/she should read Bhagavad-Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam regularly or listen about Krishna from His devotees.
 
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