GITA 3.21

GITA 3.21

Alwar was ready to conclude his life in this world and the Lord also appeared before him to take him along. Just then Alwar had a doubt. Till the previous day he was not taken to Vaikuntam. Even in the previous births he was not offered. Then why should he go now? It is like the story of a person feeling thirsty. He was offered tender coconut to drink. Just as he was to drink, he wanted to know how water entered the coconut shell. If he were adamant to know this and said that he would drink only after knowing how the water had entered the coconut. Others would laugh at him and ridicule that instead of grabbing the opportunity to quench his thirst he was wasting his time. Similarly, the Alwar was also told that trying to find why he was not offered Moksham earlier would waste more time.
Sri Krishna cited the example of Janaka who was capable of practicing Gyana yoga for atmansakshatkaram, yet followed Karma yoga. We will now see the second part of sloka 20 and sloka 21:

loka-sangraham evapis
ampasyan kartum arhasi

Therefore, just for the sake of educating the people in general, you should perform your work.

yad yad acarati sresthas
tat tad evetaro janah
sa yat pramanam kurute
lokas tad anuvartate

Whatever action is performed by a great man, common men follow in his footsteps. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues.

Now Sri Krishna coins a new word loka sangraham. One might be capable of doing so many things. If that one happens to be a great person, then many would follow what that one does. If that one does things which others could copy, it is good. But if the one does actions, which others can not practice, one's followers will copy in vain, and fail. This is loka sangraham. Arjuna was not capable of practicing Gyana yoga, but even for an argument it was assumed that he was capable of doing Gyana yoga, since he was a king, his subjects would copy him and try to follow Gyana yoga directly. They will then fail in their pursuit. Here two errors take place. One, incapable persons pursue and fail. The second is, such persons are misguided by the leader. Whereas, if Arjuna even with his capability to practice Gyana yoga, followed Karma yoga, then his followers would also adopt Karma yoga and succeed, and Arjuna also would be praised for leading them to atman sakshatkaram. So, we should adopt that which our followers could emulate and get benefit. This is called Loka sangraham. In the 21st sloka He explains this further. Sreshta = very great persons,who have learned all and practicing,and who are regarded as great persons by all, yad yad acarati = what all they perform or follow, tad tad evetaro jana= those followed by people, tad = those actions of great persons,anuvartate= followed. Arjuna thought whether he was a great person? Sri Krishna replies in the affirmative, because Arjuna was the cousin of the Lord, he was direct disciple to hear Gita, he was the sishya of Drona and he had conquered his senses. So there were followers to him and so he had a responsibility to guide them rightly knowing their capabilities.
                                                                                (continued)