How Can I Act Wisely?

1. Arjuna understood that the soul is eternal. But a difficult choice still stood before him. How could he act wisely?
2. Krishna explained: we should carry out our duty with care, but we cannot command the result. And we should not give up the right action.
3. A little flower grew beside the chariot wheel. In its glow, it became another story—about a girl who wanted to grow a flower for Krishna.
4. One day, the girl saw beautiful flowers on the altar. “I will grow a flower too and give it to Krishna!” she decided.
5. Grandmother gave her a tiny seed. It looked very ordinary, but a future life was already hidden inside.
6. The girl loosened the soil, removed the little stones, and prepared a good place for the seed.
7. She made a small hole, placed the seed inside, and gently covered it with soil.
8. Then the girl watered the soil—not too much and not too little. She had done everything she could do that day.
9. In the morning, the girl ran to the pot. But nothing had appeared above the soil.
10. She wanted to pour in all the water at once. “Grow faster!” But too much water could harm the seed.
11. Grandmother gently stopped her. Care helps a plant, but impatience cannot force it to grow in one day.
12. Many things depended on the girl: watering, loosening the soil, protecting the sprout, and remembering to care for it.
13. But she could not command the sun to shine, the rain to fall, or the seed to wake up at once. Growing needs other helpers too.
14. A green sprout had already appeared in the neighboring yard. “Why is there still nothing in my pot?” the girl wondered sadly.
15. She felt like getting angry and throwing the pot away. But a feeling is not a command. We can pause and choose what to do.
16. By the pond, she saw a turtle. When needed, the turtle calmly draws its legs and head inside its shell.
17. The girl paused too. She put down the watering jug, took a deep breath, and let her heart become calm.
18. She remembered that the flower was not meant to make her first. She wanted to make a loving gift for Krishna.
19. The next morning, a tiny sprout appeared above the soil. The girl was delighted and continued caring for it.
20. Wind and hot weather came. The girl added a support, gave the plant shade, and watered it at the right time.
21. A little neighbor’s fence broke. The girl helped him, even though her own flower had not opened yet.
22. One morning, a bud appeared on the stem. The girl did not pull it open with her hands. She waited patiently.
23. The flower opened by itself. The girl placed it before Krishna and felt joy—not because she had won, but because she could offer her loving care.
24. Arjuna understood that wisdom does not mean doing nothing. We should make a sincere effort for Krishna and remain calm in success and failure.

Authoritative sources

• Bhaktivedanta Vedabase
• Bhaktivedanta Vedabase
• Bhaktivedanta Vedabase
• Bhaktivedanta Vedabase
• Bhaktivedanta Vedabase
• Bhaktivedanta Vedabase