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).
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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)