Government's Influence and the Bhagavad-Gita
             Barbara Stoler Miller's translation of The Bhagavad-Gita reveals the teachings of Krishna to the Hindu people during a war in which individuals question the morality of their situation. One interesting aspect is how rulers play into the text and how the teachings of Krishna support and veer away from the leadership of the people. There are many characteristics of the Hindu people that make them agreeable to government rule; however, most of them have a downside as well.
             There are many ways in which these teachings assist the government. Krishna teaches that people must do their duty. It is stated, "Always perform with detachment any action you must do; performing action with detachment, one achieves supreme good." (Miller, 43) Through detaching themselves from their required duties and by seeing through what they are asked to do, including things asked to do by the government leaders such as fighting a war, they are gaining religiously in the end. This helps leaders because it gives them an extra boost when trying to control the people or make them do something they are not happy about. The people can be reminded of their duty and then will feel the need to conform with the government and will detach themselves from what must be done, but it will still be done. The downside of this is a question of do people perform as well if their heart is not in it? Are they as likely to win a war they are detached to as one they are passionate about? Perhaps this is not an issue, and the inspiration comes from not failing at your duty: "Look to your own duty; do not tremble before it.... If you fail to wage this war of sacred duty, you will abandon your own duty and fame only to gain evil." (34)
             The idea of classes also relates to governance. If the people are divided into groups and given social norms for their group, this can make the people as a whole easie...