Earthly Pleasure

The author of the Gita care most about distancing oneself from earthly pleasures in order to find peace. In the first teaching, Sanjaya quotes Arjuna as saying “I seek no victory, or kingship or pleasures. What use to us are kingships, delights, or life itself?” (27). Arjuna is distancing himself from the earthly pleasures winning the battle would give him, showing that the authors also believe you should stay away from earthly pleasures, which results in peace. Arjuna could not find peace if he won the war and a lot of people died in the process, so he is giving up on earthly goods and pleasures altogether. Another example of this comes in the second teaching. Lord Krishna says “Be intent on action, not the fruits of action…” (38). By saying this Lord Krishna is advising Arjuna to stay away from the earthly goods and instead to focus on deeds, and eventually he will find peace. Lord Krishna also says “When he renounces all desires and acts without craving, possessiveness, or individuality, he finds peace.” (42). This shows that the authors care about relinquishing earthly goods to find peace. The advice that Lord Krishna gives Arjuna is really advice that the author of the Gita is giving to the reader. The author believes that once all earthly goods are given up peace will be found. Arjuna gives up the opportunity for earthly goods by refusing to fight and kill, which will give him peace of mind; and Lord Krishna consistently gives advice that amounts to relinquishing the hold earthly goods and pleasures have on us. Only once we have nothing can true peace be achieved.