today is Janmashtami - an auspicious day for Hindus, marking the birth of Lord Krishna. coincidentally also the launch of Astra - which translates in hindi to weapons. in the bhagvad gita, two vast armies face each other on the morning of a war. Arjuna, the finest warrior on one side, asks his charioteer Krishna to drive between the lines so he can see the men he must fight. he sees teachers, elders, cousins, friends and he breaks down. his bow falls. he sits down in the chariot and says he will not fight. better to lose everything than to win by killing his own people. Krishna tells Arjuna that he is a warrior, that is his dharma (duty). refusing to act is not virtue; it is escape. So Krishna says this: "You have a right to the work that is yours. You have no right to how it turns out. Do not act for the prize. Do not refuse to act because you fear the prize." कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन। मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि॥ तुम्हारा अधिकार केवल कर्म करने में है, फल पर नहीं। pick up your astra and fulfill your duty