The Bhagavad Geeta reminds us that dharma is not inherited; it is discovered through one’s own journey. True growth does not arise from comfort or privilege, but from tapasya—the inner fire of effort, discipline, and self-awareness. When parents act with strong attachment to outcomes and impose their unfulfilled dreams on their children, they unknowingly weaken the child’s inner strength and independence.
Most parents wish that their son or daughter follow their professional footsteps. A businessman wants the child to carry forward the business, a doctor or lawyer hopes their child will inherit the same profession, while a middle-class parent struggling for livelihood dreams of their child studying well and securing a respectable job. But does life always follow these expectations?
Often, a businessman’s child fails to become a strong businessman because of excessive comfort and spoon-feeding. When everything is readily available, the value of struggle, risk, and fear of loss is never truly understood. Ironically, parents themselves dilute their expectations by shielding their children from hardship and responsibility.
On the other hand, children who grow up witnessing struggle often develop a powerful inner drive. Even if they are expected to study and enter a conventional profession, many of them rise and shine in business or leadership roles. Having seen hardship closely, they cultivate resilience, clarity, and a strong desire to stand out from the crowd. Their success is driven by the fire within, not by inheritance.
As Krishna teaches in the Geeta, greatness arises when one follows their own swadharma. By choosing sincere action over convenience, performing one’s duty with effort and humility, and remaining detached from results, an individual discovers their true potential. This is the timeless lesson the Geeta offers to today’s youth: your path is shaped not by privilege, but by the quality of your actions.
Karmaseeker 