Field of battle or action. (Glossary for the Vahinis)
Battlefield where the Pandavas and Kauravas fought. (Glossary for the Vahinis)
Historically, it was also the place where the wicked offsprings of Kuru, the dynastic family of the Kauravas had played: and therefore, it is also called Kurukshetra. (DBG, p. 100)
In the very opening verse of the Gita, we find Dhritarashtra asking Sanjay: ‘Sanjaya, what are my people doing, and what are the Pandavas doing on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, which is a Dharmakshetra?’ It is a place where sacrifices are performed. The children of ‘Kuru’ used to play on that very field. Therefore it is called Kurukshetra. Sacred and auspicious acts had been done on that very spot. So it is Dharmakshetra, as well.
Our body itself may be called a Dharmakshetra. For, when a child is born, it is pure and without blemish. It is not a victim yet of any of the six ‘enemies of man’-anger, greed, lust, egotism, pride and jealousy. It is always happy. It cries only when hungry. Whoever fondles, king or commoner, saint or thief, child is happy. The child’s body is not affected by any of the three gunas (innate qualities) and is a Dharmakshetra. As the body grows, it begins collecting qualities such as jealousy, hatred and attachment. When these evil tendencies develop the body becomes a ‘Kurukshetra.’ (SSS Vol.17, pp. 119-120)
Dharmaja once asked Krishna: ‘Krishna! Why did you bring about this disastrous war for the sake of this contemptible ruler ship over a kingdom? Forty lakhs of warriors died in this battle. Only the Pandavas have survived. Is there any justice in sacrificing the lives of forty lakhs of men for the sake of the five Pandavas?’
Krishna replied: ‘Dharmaja! You are looking at the numbers involved. I am looking at the principles at issue. Can any crores of insects equal a lion? ‘Kurukshetra is comparable to the body. Kuru means work. The body is the instrument of action. Because it is the field in which action takes place, it is called Kshetra (field). Supposing in the back of the body, there is gangrene. If it is allowed to grow, it will spread throughout the body. If the gangrene is on the arm or the leg, you can remove it by the amputation of the limb concerned. But when it is in the back, how do you deal with it? A major operation will be necessary. Likewise, the evil qualities in the Kauravas were like cancer in the body politic. If they had been ignored, the entire nation would have got infected. Hence, acting as a surgeon, I carried out the operation of the Mahabharata war, with Arjuna as my assistant. In the process, forty lakhs of ‘microbes’ died. For the sake of saving these microbes should we let the patients die? To save the individual you have to eliminate the cancerous microbes. Likewise, persons with evil qualities are like cancer cells. I saved the nation by destroying these bacteria. There is no sin in this,’ declared Krishna.
If for doing a good deed, you have to cause a little harm, even that should be regarded as a help. But, in all such cases, there should be absolutely no element of self-interest. Whatever help is rendered with a selfish motive behind it is no help at all. Because the Divine is totally free from self-interest, whatever He does is utterly blameless and is solely for the welfare of the world. It is foolish to question the propriety of God’s actions. There is nothing beyond His powers. He is the creator, the protector and the destroyer. When He protects, no one asks why He protects. But when He does not protect questions are asked about His inaction. When the Lord punishes, the question is asked: ‘Why does God inflict punishment? Is it not wrong on His part to do so?’ Such questions are motivated by selfishness and self-interest. God is totally free from any taint of self-interest. To indulge in controversies over the Divine actions is supreme folly. There is a valid reason behind every action of the Divine. Therefore, your duty is to pray to God and secure His grace. (SSS Vol.21, pp. 61-62)