Stop Comparing, Start Acting: Krishna’s Advice to All of Us

Unpacking the timeless wisdom from the Bhagavad Gita to overcome the modern malaise of comparison.

In an age of social media highlight reels and relentless competition, the temptation to measure our lives against others is stronger than ever. This habit of comparison is a primary source of our anxiety, insecurity, and inaction. Centuries ago, on the sacred battlefield of Kurukshetra, Lord Krishna delivered a profound discourse to the warrior Arjuna, which remains a powerful antidote to this very human flaw. The Bhagavad Gita’s teachings are not just spiritual dogma; they are a practical manual for living a life of purpose, free from the shackles of envy and self-doubt.

The Peril of the "Other": Arjuna's Dilemma

Arjuna’s crisis at the beginning of the Gita is fundamentally a crisis of faulty comparison. He looks across the battlefield and sees his teachers, elders, and cousins. He immediately compares his proposed actions to their stature, their past kindness, and his perceived duty towards them. This comparison paralyzes him. He drops his bow, Gandiva, and succumbs to despair. His ego, tied to his identity as a noble warrior who respects his elders, cannot bear the thought of being labeled a sinner for killing them. He is more concerned with how his actions will appear to others than with his own righteous duty (dharma).

Krishna's Counsel: Your Dharma, Not Theirs

Krishna’s initial response is not to motivate Arjuna to fight, but to correct his vision. The core of his advice dismantles the foundation of comparison:

1. On Duty (Svadharma)

Krishna emphasizes Svadharma—one’s own inherent duty. He famously states that it is better to fail in your own dharma than to succeed in the dharma of another (Chapter 3, Verse 35). The message is clear: your journey is unique. Comparing your path, your skills, or your results to someone else’s is illogical and destructive. A fish comparing itself to a monkey climbing a tree will always feel like a failure, ignoring its own mastery of the water.

2. On the Equanimous Mind (Samatvam)

Krishna defines yoga as "samatvam"—evenness of mind (Chapter 2, Verse 48). He instructs Arjuna to be unmoved by success and failure, praise and criticism. A mind constantly comparing is the antithesis of samatvam; it is a pendulum swinging wildly between arrogance ("I am better than them") and inferiority ("They are better than me"). True peace and power come from relinquishing this dualistic view and remaining steady in your own endeavors.

3. On the Fruits of Action (Karma Phala)

The most famous verse of the Gita provides the ultimate tool to end comparison: "Karmanye Vadhikaraste Ma Phaleshu Kadachana" (You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions) (Chapter 2, Verse 47). When we compare, we are not comparing efforts; we are comparing results—the fruits. Krishna severs this attachment. Your job is to act with excellence, not to obsess over the outcome or how it stacks up against someone else’s outcome. This detachment liberates you to pour your entire energy into your work without the debilitating fear of not measuring up.

From Philosophy to Practice: How to "Start Acting"

Krishna’s wisdom is not passive. It’s a call to supremely focused action. Here’s how we can apply it:

• Focus on Your "Bow": Identify your unique skills and duties (your Svadharma). What is the right action for you in this moment, independent of what others are doing?
• Detach from the Highlight Reel: Consume social media and other triggers of comparison with conscious awareness. Remember that you are seeing others’ "fruits," not the entirety of their struggle or journey.
• Embrace Your Field: You are not on anyone else’s battlefield. Your challenges, assets, and purpose are your own. Compete only with your previous self.
• Act with Excellence: Pour your heart into your work for the sake of the work itself, not for external validation or to outdo a rival. The quality of your effort is your domain; the result is not.