Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 2 - Verses 9 & 10

Disciple

Sanjaya Uvacha:

Evam Uktwa Hrishikesham Gudakeshah Parantapa

Nayotsya Iti Govindam Uktwa Tushnim Babhoova Ha

Tamuvacha Hrishikeshaha Prahasanniva Bharatha

Senayorubhayor Madhye Visheedanthamidam Vachaha

*****

Sanjaya, who was watching the discussion told Dhritarashtra, "Arjuna, the conqueror of sleep and the scorcher of his enemies, told Sri Krishna, who has overcome his senses, that he will not fight and sat down in silence.

Sri Krishna addressed Arjuna, who sat sorrowfully between both the armies, with a tone of ridicule in his words."

The disciple here with all his positive qualities of strength and valour, is down on his knees, sorrowing and defeatist in attitude.

The Master's ridicule is always there to push the disciple to discriminate between the permanent and the impermanent. This posture of Arjuna sets the tone for the essence of the Bhagavad Gita, to follow in the verses of this chapter that describe the qualities of an enlightened being.

- Swahilya Shambhavi. (Picture: Lemont Temple of Greater Chicago.)

(Maha Shivaratri, Patanjali Yoga Sutra, Vignana Bhairava Tantra, Himalayas, Satsang in Chicago, swahilya.soulmate@gmail.com)

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2: Verses 6-8

The Master

Nachaitadvidmah Kataranno gareeyaha Yadvajayema Yadivanojayeyuhu
Yanevahatwa Najijeevishamah Tevasthithah Pramukhe Dhartharashtraha

Karpanyadoshopahataswabhavaha Prucchamith Twam Dharmasam Moodha Chetaha
Yacchreyassyan Nischitham Broohitanme Shishyastheham Shadhimam Twam Prapannam

Nahiprapashyami Mamapanudhyath Yacchokamucchoshanamindriyanam
Avapya Bhumavasapathnamriddham Rajyam Suranamapi Chadhipathyam

*****
Arjuna asks as to which alternative will be better - whether to kill them or be killed by them. The nature of the people on the side of Dhritarashtra is such that one would not wish to live after killing them, he says.

"My nature is overwhelmed by a sense of pity and my mind is in an utter confusion regarding my sense of duty. Myself, your disciple, plead to you to tell me clearly what is the correct path of good. I have surrendered unto you. Please instruct.
This grief numbs my senses and I cannot find anything that can quieten the feeling. This cannot be quelled even if I am given lordship over kingdoms, nor even becoming the Lord of the divine beings," he asks.
Arjuna's mind reveals the conflicts that goes on in the mind of a sensitive warrior who goes deeply into analysis of his profession. He is confused about issues such as professional ethics and seeks the wise counsel of Sri Krishna to educate him on what is the right path to take, as he has himself lost the sense of discretion - overcome as he is by pity.
It is important to learn here through the doubts and fears expressed by Arjuna that no great achievement in the world can solve the disturbance of a mind that does not know the way to the truth.
(Vignana Bhairava Tantra, Patanjali Yoga Sutra, Himalayas, swahilya.soulmate@gmail.com) - Swahilya Shambhavi.

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 2 - Verses 4 & 5

Nine times up and ten times down!

Arjuna Uvacha:
Katham Bhishmam Aham Sankhye Dronam Cha Madhusudana
Ishubhih Pratiyotsyami Pujarhavarisudana

Gurunahathwahi Mahanubhavan
Shreyobhokthum Bhaikshyamapiha Loke
Hatwartha Kamamstu Gurunihaiva
Bhunjiyabhogan Rudhirapradigdhan
*****
The mind of Arjuna that surrendered just a while ago, again rose up with some more strength from its self pity, fears and doubts. "How shall I attack Bhishma and Drona with arrows in battle, the two who are worthy of worship, oh Madhusudana, the destroyer of enemies?"
Arjuna's mind is now foggy with moral codes of conduct he has imbibed. He says it is better to live in the world on a beggar's bowl, than prosper by killing one's revered teachers. Guruhathi or killing one's Guru or teacher is a sin and the pleasures and power he may attain after killing them in war will also be stained with blood, he says.
The mind has an inexhaustible trove of doubts, worries and anxieties, which keeps throwing up one after another. There can be no end to such lamentation, unless the mind wakes up to the truth of consciousness.
(Patanjali Yoga Sutra, Vignana Bhairava Tantra, Himalayas, swahilya.soulmate@gmail.com) - Swahilya Shambhavi.

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2: Verses 1 - 3

Enough is Enough!

Sanjaya Uvacha

Tam Tatha Kripaya Vishtam Ashrupurna Kulekshanam

Vishidantam Idam Vakyam Uvacha Madhusudhana

Sri Bhagavan Uvacha

Kutastwa Kashmalamidam Vishame Samupasthitham

Anaryam Ajushtam Aswargyam Akeerthikaram Arjuna

Klaibyam Ma Smagamah Partha Naithathvaiyupapadhyathe

Kshudhram Hridayadaurbalyam Tyakthwothishta Paranthapa!

*****

The Bhagavad Gita is ultimately a Yoga Shastra, a treatise on different aspects of Yoga. The first part was Vishada Yoga, or the Yoga of Confusion. The next is Sankhya Yoga or the Yoga of Knowledge that everything in this Universe springs from one primary force.

After Arjuna drops down at the feet of Krishna by the weight of his own confusion, grief, pity and many depressing thoughts of doom, he is in a pitiable condition.

Sanjaya plays the role of the audience witnessing a show here. He reports again to Dhritarashtra that Krishna was addressing an Arjuna who was overcome by pity, with eyes full of tears and seemed clueless what to do.

Sri Krishna speaks firmly here, whipping Arjuna with words. He calls his behaviour as highly ordinary, ignoble and an impediment to reach heaven, as bringing disrepute. He questions Arjuna as from where such unbecoming behaviour came from a dreaded warrior, particularly at this time when he did not think of all these reasons before consenting to fight.

He tells Arjuna to not become a victim of such unmanly, impotent behaviour. "It does not befit you. It is base, such weakness of heart. Leave it aside and get up," says Krishna.

When the mind is torn by doubt, it touches the lowest ebb of thoughts which are filled with despondency, depression, grief, pity, sorrow and confusion. A person in such a state can not only not think clearly, but their actions will be in no way noble or noteworthy. Actions performed in such a state of mental distress can even bring disrepute and shame. - Swahilya Shambhavi.

(Picture: Akshardham - Swaminarayan Mandir, Chicago.)

(Patanjali Yoga Sutra, Vignana Bhairava Tantra, swahilya.soulmate@gmail.com)

Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 1: Verses 45 - 47 (End)

Letting go and surrender

Ahobata Mahatpapam Kartum Vyavasita Vayam
Yadrajya Sukhalobhena Hantum Swajana Mudyataha

Yadi Mamapratikaram Ashastram Shastrapanayaha
Dhartharashtra Rane Hanyuhu Tanme Kshematharam Bhaveth.

Sanjaya Uvacha:
Evamuktwarjuna's Sankye Rathopastha Upavishath
Visrujya Sasharam Chapam Shoka Samvigna Manasaha.

(Iti Srimad Bhagavadgitasu Upanishadsu Brahma Vidyayam Yogashastre
Sri Krishnarjuna Samvade Arjuna Vishada Yogo Nama Prathamodhyayaha).
*****
Alas! What a big sin we have decided to commit when we have gathered here to destroy our own friends, family and relatives, just out of greed for the pleasures of a kingdom.
It would be far better if the sons of Dhritarashtra, armed with weapons, killed me in battle, myself unarmed and not showing any resistance.
Sanjaya concludes, "Weighed down by a mind filled with grief, Arjuna set aside his bow and arrows and sat down on his chariot overwhelmed."
In these concluding verses of the first chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, we see Arjuna touching an emotional nadir, mixing up the reasons for not fighting the war. The cause for the war is far from any greed on the side of the Pandavas. It is indeed a final recourse to avenge the humiliation perpetrated on them and on their wife Draupadi by the Kauravas.
Greed is a new quality he has discovered, thinking through his spaghetti mind, projecting new ideas each time in his search for an excuse to not fight.
And finally with Krishna listening in smiling silence, to all his ranting, the warrior gives a very unlikely suggestion out of sheer frustration, that it is better to die unresisting and unarmed!
In many a sorrowful moment, one is able to do nothing more but simply express as shaking tears and sit down feeling weak and thoroughly exhausted and debilitated.
But at the end of the expulsion of tears, which are nothing but all the clouding thoughts, precipitating as salty rain, there is a radiant peace and clarity after all the confusing thought clouds have cleared.
In the song of the divine - the Bhagavad Gita, an Upanishad - a text that takes one close to the supreme truth, Brahma Vidya - the one that gives the knowledge of the Brahman - the biggest ultimate experience, this chapter is called the Yoga of Arjuna's Confusion.
This is also a Yoga Sastra - a text on Yoga which teaches the method of uniting the individual consciousness with the cosmic consciousness.
The underlying theme of this chapter is that one has to do his duty and face the consequences squarely, with unflinching grace. So if there is confusion in the process, it is perfectly fine, because it is followed by clarity. When there is a confusion of thoughts, the mind acquires more gravity. The thoughts fall with their own weight and the clarity of consciousness shines brightly in its place. Hence the confusion which finally leads to unity with the one consciousness here is called Vishada Yoga - the Yoga of Confusion! - Swahilya Shambhavi. Patanjali Yoga Sutra, Vignana Bhairava Tantra. (swahilya.soulmate@gmail.com)