Sri Krishna says to Arjuna, “In life, only the karma that each person has to perform is relevant, and that karma is performed according to his destiny. If you think that you can control another person’s karma, you are wrong. If each person has to live his destiny, each one has to follow his karma, too. Therefore, karma is not to be negated in life; instead the performance of every karma has to be accepted as a duty and obligation.”
Soldiers, doctors, engineers and parents have to perform their karma as duty. As long as their karma is performed as a duty with proper consideration, awareness, wisdom and clarity there is no sin in anything. However, if karmas are performed guided by ambitions and desires, the negative colouring comes into their fold. The tamasic and rajasic colourings dissipate mental clarity. With dissipation of mental clarity people fall into depression and deep dejection. Therefore, they should keep the mind balanced, do their karma realizing it to be a duty, and in keeping mental balance they will attain the state of yoga.
Dharma is the responsibility inherent in every interaction, the inherent commitment that an individual feels when relating to everything outside. This creative expression of dharma makes one free from mental and emotional strife.
One has to observe the reactions, responses, interactions and communications and be aware of each and every word that one says before it is spoken. One has to cultivate this awareness, realize one’s interaction with the world, other people and society, and regulate this behaviour. Regulating one’s behaviour is following dharma. Irregular, eccentric behaviour is not dharma. When the expressions are regulated, whether through the senses, mind, emotions or intellect, they bring peace, and do not distract or divert the attention into many areas.