Thursday, February 14, 2008

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.

6 comments:

Merging Point said...

wonderful post explaining the the trap. Its vital to play the role of responsibility but never to imagine that as the real Self.

Swahilya Shambhavi said...

welcome merging point. the real self in Arjuna, Krishna, Duryodhana, you and me is the same witnessing consciousness.

fruitu said...

nice post!!!!!!.
everybody talks about mind game, thayumanavar says that MIND is like a big monkey, after getting a sting from a scorpion. He says monkey by nature itself is a restless creature and imagine its state after getting a sting. once the mind is still rest of the things settle on its own.

Swahilya Shambhavi said...

Welcome fruitu: Mind is invisible, subtler than the physical body. It cannot be seen, but it plays a major role. The mind is more like air within a balloon. The lesser the density, the lighter the balloon is and the higher it soars.

kitchenette soul said...

Fruitu..thanks for sharing
"Mind is like a big monkey after getting a sting from a scorpion"....awesome example and perfect.

Watch Arjuna drifting! He moves so far into the future of having to kill his teachers when the war has not begun yet! Not only does he speak of killing and goes even further away from the present moment by thinking of the consequences!!

Swahilya Shambhavi said...

Yes Kichenette. You have made an interesting observation too. Arjuna has assumed already that he is going to kill his gurus! Assumptions and presumptions also take one far away from the present moment.