Gita 3.24

Sadhak: "Krishna says the worlds would fall into ruin and chaos. Isn't this a bit dramatic? Surely one person's inaction can't cause cosmic destruction?"

Guru: "Krishna speaks on two levels. Cosmically, he literally sustains existence—if divine action ceased, the universe would dissolve. But the teaching applies to humans too: each person's dharma is a thread in the fabric of society. When one thread is pulled, the fabric weakens. When many threads are pulled, it tears. Your individual inaction contributes to collective dysfunction. It's not that you alone cause cosmic destruction, but that you participate in the pattern that either sustains or degrades the world."

Sadhak: "What is this 'saṅkara'—confusion—that he mentions?"

Guru: "Saṅkara is the mixing of what should remain distinct. When roles blur, when right and wrong become indistinguishable, when no one knows what they're supposed to do—that is saṅkara. A teacher who doesn't teach, a protector who doesn't protect, a healer who doesn't heal—each creates confusion about what these roles mean. Eventually, the concepts themselves lose meaning. Society needs clear examples of lived dharma. Without them, people don't know what to aspire to or what to avoid. Modern confusion—the sense that everything is relative and nothing really matters—is saṅkara in action."

Sadhak: "But sometimes withdrawal feels like the most responsible choice. If I'm not sure what's right, shouldn't I step back rather than act wrongly?"

Guru: "Temporary pause for clarity is wise. But permanent withdrawal out of uncertainty is its own form of wrong action—the action of not acting. Arjuna's dilemma is real: fighting causes harm. But his withdrawal would also cause harm—different harm, but harm nonetheless. In most situations, there is no option that causes zero harm. The mature person chooses the action whose harm is least and whose benefit is greatest, then takes responsibility for the outcome. Refusing to choose doesn't absolve you; it just transfers the consequences to others."

Sadhak: "Krishna says he would become the cause of destruction. Does God really hold himself to the same standards he sets for us?"

Guru: "This is the stunning ethical teaching of the Gita. Divine authority doesn't mean divine exemption. Krishna doesn't say 'I could rest if I wanted but you can't.' He says 'I am bound by the same responsibilities I ask of you.' This is the deepest form of leadership—not commanding from above but participating from within. If even God considers himself accountable to cosmic order, what excuse could any human have for claiming exemption? The standard is the same for all: act according to your nature and station, take responsibility for consequences, contribute to order rather than chaos."