Page 27 - All India Magazine Oct-2025

ceeded for a moment in possessing itself of human life during the
historic cycle of our progress, because morally, socially, spiritually
the race was not prepared and the poise of Nature in its evolution
would not admit of its being immediately prepared for any such
transcendence. Even now we have not actually progressed beyond
the feasibility of a system of accommodation between conflicting
interests which may minimise the recurrence of the worst forms of
strife. And towards this consummation the method, the approach
which humanity has been forced by its own nature to adopt, is
a monstrous mutual massacre unparalleled in history; a universal
war, full of bitterness and irreconcilable hatred, is the straight way
and the triumphant means modern man has found for the estab-
lishment of universal peace! That consummation, too, founded
not upon any fundamental change in human nature, but upon in-
tellectual notions, economic convenience, vital and sentimental
shrinkings from the loss of life, discomfort and horror of war, ef-
fected by nothing better than political adjustments, gives no very
certain promise of firm foundation and long duration. A day may
come, must surely come, we will say, when humanity will be ready
spiritually, morally, socially for the reign of universal peace; mean-
while the aspect of battle and the nature and function of man as
a fighter have to be accepted and accounted for by any practical
philosophy and religion. The Gita, taking life as it is and not only
as it may be in some distant future, puts the question how this
aspect and function of life, which is really an aspect and function
of human activity in general, can be harmonised with the spiritual
existence. CWSA 19: 48-49

The warrior soul
The Gita is therefore addressed to a fighter, a man of action,
one whose duty in life is that of war and protection, war as a part
of government for the protection of those who are excused from
that duty, debarred from protecting themselves and therefore at

All India Magazine, October 2025 27