A person who is disturbed cannot be happy. For inner happiness, one needs to get detached from desires and expectations. Persistent attachment to even one of the senses can be responsible for all unhappiness.

Lord Krishna first took Arjuna to his near and dear ones (Dronacharya and Bhishma Pitamaha) and not Duryodhana. He first developed attachment (moha) in Arjuna and then taught him how to detach by narrating Bhagavad Gita.

Happiness also depends on your interpretations of your choices. Every action is due to your chosen actions based on your past experiences or your present choice to experiment. Only 10% of the actions are dependent on the circumstances where you cannot have control. If you have yourself chosen some actions, then why worry about their results.

References

Bhagavad Gita 2.66

nasti buddhir ayuktasya

na cayuktasya bhavana

na cabhavayatah santir

asantasya kutah sukham

na asti—there cannot be; buddhih—intelligence; ayuktasya—for one who is not connected na—neither; ca—and; ayuktasya—for one devoid of; bhavana—mind fixed in the present na—neither; ca—and; abhavayatah—the one who is not fixed; santih—peace; asantasya—for the unpeaceful; kutah—where is; sukham—happiness.

Meaning: One who is not in fixed in the present can have neither a controlled mind nor steady intelligence, without which there is no possibility of peace. And how can there be any happiness without peace?

Comments: If your mind is in the present, you lose track of time and remain connected with your chitta (intelligence) and the soul. The moment you are disconnected, you get attached to the five senses or the mind and ego. Attachment and not getting detached leads to desires and expectations and resultant nonfulfillment leads to misery.

2.67: indriyanam hi caratamyan mano nuvidhiyatetad asya harati prajnamvayur navam ivambhasi

indriyanam—of the senses; hi—certainly; caratam—while herding over

yat—that; manah—mind; anuvidhiyate—becomes constantly engaged

tat—that; asya—his; harati—takes away; prajnam—intelligence

vayuh—wind; navam—a boat; iva—like; ambhasi—on the water.

Meaning: As a boat on the water is swept away by a strong wind, even one of the senses on which the mind focuses can carry away a mans intelligence.

Comments: Any of the ten senses (motor or sensory) can distract your mind to the extent that you get disconnected with the present.

2.70: apuryamanam acala-pratisthamsamudram apah pravisanti yadvattadvat kama yam pravisanti sarvesa santim apnoti na kama-kami

apuryamanam—always filled; acala-pratistham—steadily situated

samudram—the ocean; apah—water; pravisanti—enter; yadvat—as

tadvat—so; kamah—desires; yam—unto one; pravisanti—enter; sarve—all

sah—that person; santim—peace; apnoti—achieves; na—not; kama-kami—one who desires to fulfill desires.

Meaning: A person who is not disturbed by the flow of desires—that enter like rivers into the ocean which is ever being filled but is always still—can alone achieve peace, and not the man who strives to satisfy such desires.

Comments: One should learn to control the desires.

Dr KK Aggarwal

Padma Shri Awardee

President Confederation of Medical Associations in Asia and Oceania (CMAAO)

Group Editor-in-Chief IJCP Publications

President Heart Care Foundation of India

Past National President IMA