Tuesday, February 5, 2008

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)

4 comments:

fruitu said...

Well said Swahilya,

Ramana Maharishi Says Thoughts distract us, confuse us, initially an effort is needed to remind yourself of it, but later on it becomes natural and continuous. The work will go on of its own accord, and peace will remain undisturbed.

All these things seems very easy swahilya while reading, to be honest, how to connect these things with our own self.

Swahilya Shambhavi said...

Hmm....fruitu! Actually not difficult at all. Try sitting down for just five minutes, eyes closed. When thoughts come, take a notebook and write it down.
Or in this particular context of Arjuna Vishada Yoga, at the end of a stressful moment when thoughts come crowding, drop everything and sit down. Breathe in deeply and out. In a few breaths, you can touch clarity! The difficulty comes only when you think of the long time-consuming process. When you just connect it to the present moment, now and here - it is simple.

Merging Point said...

True, confusion can eventually lead to clarity when perception changes.
also here, may be the emotional bondage aspect too is being indicated

Swahilya Shambhavi said...

Yes Merging Point. The confusion here is throughly because of the emotional ties that come in the way of decisive action.