I wanted to create a strong portrait that gave out a message of self-evaluation. The paint layers with contrasting light and troubled pose could bring strong message for me.
तस्मादसक्तः सततं कार्यं कर्म समाचर।
असक्तो ह्याचरन्कर्म परमाप्नोति
Go on efficiently doing your duty at all times without attachment.
Doing work without attachment man attains the Supreme.
यज्ञार्थात्कर्मणोऽन्यत्र लोकोऽयं कर्मबन्धनः।
तदर्थं कर्म कौन्तेय मुक्तसङ्गः समाचर॥
Man is bound by his own action except when it is performed for the sake of sacrifice.
-Bhagwat Geeta
प्रकृतेः क्रियमाणानि गुणैः कर्माणि सर्वशः।
अहङ्कारविमूढात्मा कर्ताहमिति मन्यते॥
In fact all actions are being performed by the modes of Prakruti (Primordial Nature).
The fool, whose mind is deluded by egoism, thinks: “I am the doer.”
- Bhagwat Gita
नात्यन्तं सरलैर्भाव्यं गत्वा पश्य वनस्थलीम् ।
छिद्यन्ते सरलास्तत्र कुब्जास्तिष्ठन्ति पादपाः ॥
"Do not be very upright in your dealings, as you would see in forest, the straight trees are cut down while the crooked ones are left standing."
-Chanakyaniti
श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात्।
स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मो भयावहः॥
"One’s own duty, though devoid of merit, is preferable to the duty of another well performed.
Even death in the performance of one’s own duty brings blessedness; another’s duty is fraught with fear."
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- Bhagwat Gita
इन्द्रियाणि पराण्याहुरिन्द्रियेभ्यः परं मनः।
मनसस्तु परा बुद्धिर्यो बुद्धेः परतस्तु सः॥
"The senses are superior to the gross body, and superior to the senses is the mind.
Beyond the mind is the intellect, and even beyond the intellect is the soul."
-Bhagwat Gita