What are Krishna’s views on how to live life?

श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुण: परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् |
स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेय: परधर्मो भयावह: || 35||

BG 3.35: It is far better to perform one’s natural prescribed duty, though tinged with faults, than to perform another’s prescribed duty, though perfectly. It is preferable to die in the discharge of one’s duty than to follow the path of another, which is fraught with danger.

Krishna says – ” Do your Dharma right.” – Karmyog.

What is Dharma?

Dharma is fulfilling your righteous duties – nothing more and nothing less.

Even if you don’t go through gyanyog – the path of knowledge, or Bhakti yoga ( path of devotion ), doing your Dharma will be easier to follow, as it will come naturally to you, as it is given to you by nature.

If nature has made you a male, which you cannot change the rest of your life, you have to be the best son, best brother, the best husband, best father, and on top of that, whatever profession you choose – be the best in it. ( vice versa for females ).

These are the five dharmas you never let go of in life.

Whenever you doubt yourself, remember your dharma, analyze yourself honestly, and that will bring you to the center.

Dharma word comes from aadhar ( support ), one you can always lean on in difficult times.

And doing all these, never stop remembering your ultimate goal – to find and merge into the consciousness – spiritual path.

Life does not ask for anything more than this.

( mind is another issue ).

But if you remain stuck to your Dharma ( righteous duties ), your mind will stay steady and quiet.

E.g. A father lives an unhealthy lifestyle – like eating the wrong foods, drinking, smoking, etc, and if he gets into many medical problems and dies, he missed his Dharma towards his wife and children.

And this will only bring misery not only to his own life, but also to their lives.

And vice versa, by sticking to his dharma, not only would he benefit, but his wife and children also will benefit from his dharma.

And same applies in the case of his dharma as a son, as a brother, and also. his dharma in case of whatever profession he has chosen in life – e.g, a doctor, or engineer, etc – which he has to do most ethically and sincerely.

That’s what Krishna told Arjun – do your Dharma. You are the best archer in the world. You cannot back off from the war.

On your opposite side are your cousins, your guru, but even then, your dharma comes first as an archer because you have the strength to win the war, defeat the Kauravas, and bring peace to the lives of your citizens.

If you do not fulfill your dharma, not only they will suffer, but even you will suffer for the rest of your life because you will always regret about your actions, that I could have won the war, and I didn’t fight.

Being an archer is in your blood. It has become your second nature. You can’t walk away from your nature.

So, this is Krishna’s advice – ” Do Your Dharma.”