There is a dramatic scene in the Hindu classic known as the Bhagavad Gita. In the moments before a great battle, the noblest warrior of the Pandavas and archer extraordinaire Arjuna has serious questions about the morality of war. He considers the carnage that is about to take place. He knows that in the opposing army of the Kauravas mare his cousins, teachers, and friends. If he engages the battle, many will die, perhaps killed by his arrows. Considering the consequences and outcomes that are likely, Arjuna does not wish to fight.
However, his charioteer Krishna (an incarnation of the god Vishnu) explains that Arjuna’s moral obligation lies in the performance of duty (dharma). As a member of the warrior class, his duty is to fight. His choice is to do the right thing, to act without regard to consequences, and so he fights.
Do you agree with Krishna’s advice and Arjuna’s decision? Why or why not? Would you kill for the sake of duty? Or must consequences be considered?