Bhagavad Gita 3.34 · Krishna
Likes and dislikes on the road
इन्द्रियस्येन्द्रियस्यार्थे रागद्वेषौ व्यवस्थितौ।
तयोर्न वशमागच्छेत्तौ ह्यस्य परिपन्थिनौ॥
indriyasyendriyasyārthe rāgadveṣau vyavasthitautayorna vaśamāgacchettau hyasya paripanthinau
Attraction and aversion sit in every sense, waiting for their objects. Don't fall under their power. They are robbers on the road.
What it means
Krishna points to two forces built into every sense. Raga, attraction, pulls us towards things. Dvesha, aversion, pushes us away. They're natural. But if they rule us, they block our path like robbers lying in wait. Noticing them is the first freedom.
The story
Arjuna's aversion to fighting his family is powerful and understandable. Krishna isn't dismissing it. He's asking Arjuna to check whether his choice is coming from clarity, or simply from what feels unbearable.
In your life
Picture someone skipping every hard conversation at work because they dislike conflict. Their aversion is steering their career. Notice one choice today driven only by like or dislike. Choose again, on purpose.
Don't let likes and dislikes drive.