We never fail to insist on our rights, but when it comes to the performance of duties, we are careless. But there can be no rights without duties, and even our spiritual texts talk of three types of duties: nitya, naimithika and kamya karmas, Gomatam Sampathkumarachariar said.
Nitya karmas are those that have to be performed every day, so these are called daily duties. The naimithika karmas are those that we are called upon to perform occasionally. The kamya karmas are optional, as for example, the performance of a putrakamesti yaga for having progeny. While the very definition ‘optional' implies that one need not necessarily perform kamya karmas, there is no exemption to the performance of the other two categories.
We all have different roles to play in life: the role of father, mother, son, daughter, and so on. Each has its own responsibilities and duties. We also have duties that result from our occupation in life. It is important that we perform these duties too, to the best of our ability. There is no profession that should be looked down upon. Diligence and sincerity in whatever we undertake is important. Lord Krishna was the incarnation of the Supreme One, yet He took on the role of charioteer to Arjuna. In this role, He did all that any charioteer would have done. He would bathe the horses and brush them down. He would feed them lovingly. What was the need for Him to do this? He could as well have deputed someone else to do it. But the Lord demonstrated His adherence to duty by caring for the horses Himself. He thus showed us that we too must happily perform our duties in life.
The Lord is merciful to those who sin against Him in the course of their duty. Chanura and Mushtika were wrestlers to whom Kamsa assigned the task of killing Lord Krishna. It was a distasteful duty, but they knew they had no alternative. If they objected, Kamsa would kill them. But they had the blessing of dying at the Lord's hands.
Along with duty goes the quality of obedience. Lord Rama was a dutiful son. When his father Dasaratha asked Him to go to the forest, He did not question his wisdom in making such an unkind request, but set forth willingly.
