Dharmaká¹£etra; Kuruká¹£etra; Karmaṇighora. Dharma field; Kuru field; Violent, gory combat. Reading the BhagavadgÄ«tÄ in its MahÄbhÄratan combat context as a sacred source for understanding and preparing for the impact of nonphysical postcombat trauma
Rita Brock and Gabriella Lettini ask in Soul Repair: Recovering from Moral Injury after War, “Is there an adequate psychological and spiritual preparation for the consequences of killing?†I use their question to bridge emerging combat trauma literature (ECTL) with the ancient Hindu sacred sources, the BhagavadgÄ«tÄ (Bg) in the MahÄbhÄrata (Mbha). In this thesis, I make two general contributions. First, I read the Bg in its epic Mhbn combat context seeking ancient insight into nonphysical combat trauma. Secondly, I provide a clear ontological, epistemological, and phenomenological voice to read ECTL critically. Thus, to borrow Anthony Thiselton’s metaphor, I “bridge the horizons†of both disciplines with the following hypothesis: In the Bg, Krṣṇa prepared Arjuna for killing by correcting (re-ordered) Arjuna from a state of guṇa-karma epistemological disorder to a state of combat readiness. Yet, Kṛṣṇa’s Å›Ädhi (“correctionâ€) did not insulate Arjuna from the negative impact of “violent, gory combat†(karmaṇighora). Thus, the post-GÄ«tÄ Arjuna struggled to remain combat ready and effective, true to his declaration, “I stand as one who no longer doubts. I will accomplish your command†(Bg 18.73). In Part 1, I critically read ECTL and the symbolic and political commentators of the Bg. In Part 2, I categorize the nonphysical combat trauma of karmaṇighora at Kuruksetra. Then, I examine the terms describing Arjuna’s dharma crisis. Next, I examine Kṛṣṇa’s restorative response in the following imperatives “see†(paÅ›ya), “patiently endure†(titiká¹£asva), “know†(viddhi), and √sthÄ (uttiá¹£á¹ha, “stand up,â€), highlighting the revelation of SthÄnu advancing before him in battle. Finally, I provide accounts of how karmaṇighora impacted Arjuna and other ká¹£atriyas over the 18-day war. I conclude by reflecting on two emerging inquiries: Does Kṛṣṇa’s Å›Ädhi adequately prepare Arjuna for killing at Kuruká¹£etra? Is there such a thing as a soul wound in the Bg in its Mhbn combat context?