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Introduction- Geeta, by which the Arjuna a dejected and
bewildered person’s morale gets restored and
becomes ready for war, is an unparallel book (Grantha) in Indian
culture and philosophy. Labeling it as religious Grantha, is limiting its all
pervasive usefulness. Sages and thinkers alike have written many commentaries
on it. It has been also described as Psychological book (Better than Carl
Jung’s) or a unique mental treatment process itself. In fact out of ignorance, in
young age we feel it can be read in old age and in old age we feel had we
read it in young age life would have been different and better.
So here like part I, an attempt has been made to use it as model for class
room interaction (useful for young ones). However, now the knowledge revealed
gets progressively more and more abstract and confidential then hitherto. Being
in very condensed form, continuity has been sacrificed and so while reading
meaning of content may be ignored; concentration be made on process of
teaching and learning. (Uniting with Parmatama =Uniting the individual
consciousness with the Ultimate Consciousness)
Arjuna Said: O Krishna, as you
described Your Ultimate Self, this is so. O greatest of all personalities I
wish to see Your omnipotent majestic form. (3/11).( Out of curiosity).
Krishna said: O Arjuna, behold at
once the whole universe of moving and stationary being situated in only one
part of this body of Mine and whatever else you wish to see. (5/11) But with
these present eyes of yours you will not be able to see Me; I grant you
divine sight; behold the omnipotent majesty of My Ultimate transcendental
power. (8/11)(Krishna not only agrees
to request but helps him to see, not accepting it might have put doubt in
Arjuna’s mind; And having seen universal angered form, and out of fear)
Arjuna said: Please reveal who You
are of such fearsome form. I offer obeisance unto you. O Lord of all be
merciful to me. I wish clearly know you, the Primeval Being because I cannot
fathom your intention. (31/11).
Lord Krishna said: I am terrible
time the destroyer of all beings in all worlds, engaged to destroy all beings
in this world; of those heroic soldiers presently situated in the opposing
army, even without you none will be spared.(32/11) Therefore arise for
battle, O Arjuna. You will gain fame by conquering the enemy and enjoy a
flourishing kingdom. All these warriors have been slain by Me due to previous
design you are merely the instrument.(33/11) Slay Dronacharya and Bhishmdeva
and Jaydratah and Karna also; all the other warriors bent on fighting are
already slain by Me, do not be distressed, just fight and you will surely
conquer your enemies in the battle.(34/11) ( Here again Krishna reminds Arjuna that he is not doer but only
instrumental and declare his victory is sure; now Arjuna describe and praise Krishna’s
power and Request forgiveness for earlier friendly behavior)
Arjuna said: It is justly so O
Krishna, the entire universe is exalted by singing Your glories becoming
attracted; all the demons out of fear are fleeting in the four
directions(36/11) and The whatever has been spoken presumptuously by me
thinking of You as a friend due to delusion or due to affection thus : O
Krishna, O Yadav, O Dear friend without knowing Your glories and universal
form; O infallible one whatever disrespect may have occurred in jest at times
of sporting, resting, sitting and eating; alone are also among companions,
all these things I am beseeching You to please forgive.(41,42/11) (and
request Krishna to become ordinary human being; Krishna did so and )
Krishna said: O Arjuna, one who
engages in action for Me, considering Me the Supreme goal, engaging in
devotional service for Me, freed from the contamination of fruitive
activities and mental speculation, devoid of enmity toward any living entity;
such a person attains Me.(55/11) ( In
this eleventh chapter Arjun have seen God in Person (Sagun) and before this had
known the God as impersonal absolute devoid of perceptible form( Nirgun), so
he asks).
Arjuna said: Those devotees who
thus are always engaged in exclusive worship of You ( Sagun) and then again those who betake the impersonal absolute
devoid of perceptible form( Nirgun)
and attributes; between them who is most perfect in knowledge of the science
of uniting with Parmatama. (1/12).
Lord Krishna said: Of those who
are endowed with firm faith of a special kind beyond material conceptions;
fixing the minds on Me (sagun), always engaged exclusively worshipping Me.
They are considered by me the most superior of all. (2/12) ( Further
gives many choices of devotion having less and less effort; these are)
Concentrate the Mind upon Me, apply spiritual intelligence for Me; verily you
will reside with Me after this existence without doubt (8/12)Arjuna , if
therefore you are unable to completely establish the mind steadfastly in Me;
then try to obtain Me by practicing the science of uniting individual
consciousness with the Ultimate Consciousness by remembering Me(9/12). And if
in the practice of remembering Me, you are also unfit then be dedicated in
the performance of duties for Me and in performing activities for My
satisfaction you will achieve perfection.(10/12) And if also this you are
unable to perform then taking shelter of Me by the science of uniting with
Parmatama, controlling the mind perform all activities renouncing the
results. (11/12)( Now Arjuna raises following
questions based on earlier verse, a few of which were not understood by him)
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Arjuna said: O Krishna, I wish to understand this material
energy (Maya), the individual consciousness, the field of activity, the
knower of the field of activity, knowledge and the goal knowledge. (1/13)
Lord Krishna Said: O Arjuna, the material body is known as
the field of activity; those who know this describe those who know this as knower
of the field of activity (2/13). O Arjuna, certainly knowing Me as well
within all bodies as the knower of the field of activity such knowledge of
the field of activity and the knower of the field is actual knowledge in My
opinion. My devotee understanding this field of activity, knowledge and what
is to be known thus described in summery becomes qualified for My divine
nature.(19/13) Anyone who perceives in this way those activities in all
respects is being performed only by the material energy (by Maya/GUNA, not by self); such a one perceives perfectly the
embodied self as non-doer.(30/13) ( Further) Lord Krishna said: The supreme
wisdom I shall reveal again, the best of all knowledge; which knowing all the
great sages attained perfection in the material energy. ( Maya/GUNA) (1/14). O Mighty armed one, the qualities of
goodness, passion and ignorance (Satvik, Rajas and Tamas Guna) thus produced
by the material energy enslaves the immutable, consciousness of the self
within the body. When through the perceptual senses of the body illuminating
knowledge manifests; know that certainly the mode of goodness predominates
(11/14)( Satvik) O Arjuna, when
greed, restless exertion, agitation of the senses, incessant desire for
sensual indulgence; when all arise the mode of passion predominates.(12/14)(Rajas).O Arjuna, nescience,
neglectfulness and also illusion; when these arise the mode of ignorance
predominates (13/14) (Tamas). The
result of virtuous activities in the mode of goodness is declared purity, the
result in the mode of passion is misery and the result in the mode of
ignorance is nescience. (16/14). Transcending the three modes of material
nature, which are the cause of the material body; being freed from birth,
death, old age and misery; the embodied being, enjoys ambrosial nectar. ( Now Arjun ask )
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Arjuna said: O Lord, by which symptoms is known
transcendence of these three modes of material nature, what is the behavior
and how to transcend these three modes of material nature? (21/14). (Lord Krishna again replies and answer is
mostly on the line of equipoised person. Now again on its own in chapter
fifteen Lord Krishna reveals the virtues, the glories and transcendental
characteristics of God being omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent. Also He
explains the purpose and value of knowing about God. In chapter sixteen Lord Krishna describes in detail the divine
properties, conduct and actions which are righteous in nature and conducive
to divinity. Also he delineates the evil propensities and ill conducts which
are unrighteous in nature and which
are antagonistic to divinity.)
Krishna Said: There are only two types of created beings
in the material worlds; the divine and demoniac. The divine has been
described extensively; now hear from Me O Arjuna, of demoniac. (6/16) Overwhelmed
with a life full of unlimited fears and anxieties; the demoniac consider that
the gratification of the senses as the highest goal of life; being bound by
the entanglement of hundreds of schemes, overcome by lust and anger striving
to accumulate wealth illicitly for the purpose of gratifying their senses.(12/16)
Afflicted with innumerable fears and anxieties, enveloped in a net of
illusions, engrossed in gratification of the senses they glide down into
abominable hells.(16/16) The three kinds of doorways to hell are lust, anger
and greed; therefore these three are so destructive to the embodied self must
be abandoned.(21/16) Therefore the injunctions of the Vedic scripture in
ascertaining what should be done and what should not be done are your
authority; knowing the ordinances of the Vedic scripture, you should perform
actions in this world as a matter of duty.(24/16). (But now Arjuna asks what if someone could not follow Vedic
scripture).
Arjuna said: O Krishna what of those who transgress the
injunctions of Vedic Scripture; but perform sacrifices possessing faith)? Is
the conviction of those to be in goodness, passion or ignorance? (1/17) ( Krishna explains three type of faith or
shrad dha and says)
Krishna said: O Arjuna, offering oblations, enacting
charity, austerities and anything else performed without faith is declared as
counterproductive; not in this world nor in the next.(28/17)
Arjuna said: I wish to understand the factual distinction
of renunciation and the renouncing of the fruit of action. (1/18). (So far, Arjuna was not able to clarify (3/3)
wherein these two, were told and so now ask).
Lord Krishna, the possessor of all opulences said: The
learned know that abandonmenting of activities inspired by fruitive desire is
renunciation and the experienced say relinquishing the results of all actions
is renunciation. Some in wisdom say to renounce action, due to defects of
being a desire and others say that actions based on performance of
sacrifices, charity should not be renounced.(2,3/18) (First gives opinion of others ;Now gives own opinion) O Arjuna,
hear from Me, the factual understanding regarding renunciation; verily
renunciation is described as threefold, O tiger among men.(4/18) Actions
based on performance of sacrifices, charity and austerity should never be
renounced; they certainly must be enacted; performance of sacrifice, charity
and austerities are purifying for those in wisdom.(5/18) Moreover these
activities should be performed as duty, renouncing attachment to fruitive
results; this is My top most, definitive conclusion, O Arjuna.(6/18)
(Now conclusion with repetition
starts) The embodied being can never
completely give up activities; but it is described that by renouncing the
fruitive results of actions that one is renounced.(11/18) Results of three
kinds of activities accrue after death, leading to hellish planets, leading to
heavenly spheres and to human worlds in between for those desiring the
results of actions; but never at any time for ( who) the renunciate.(12/18).One
whose mentality never considers being
the doer and whose spiritual intelligence is not attached to fruitiveness;
such a person even if warring with the whole world; does not actually slay
any one nor become entangled by fruitiveness(17/18). ( Further) There is no
being existing on the earth, in celestial sphere or in any universal
planetary system which is free from the influence of these three modes of
born of material nature ( Guna).(40/18) O Arjuna, the activities of the
Brahmanas, Kshatriya, Vaisyas and Sudras are clearly divided according to the
qualities born of their own nature ( Guna).(41/18) ( based on nature not by born caste, kashtrya must fight) From
whom is the existence of all living entities, by whom all this is pervaded;
through worshipping Him, by one’s own actions prescribed according to
qualification a man achieves perfection.(46/18)( Work is worship). Ones righteous duty imperfectly done is
better than another’s duty done perfectly; by performing actions predicated
according to one’s own nature sinful one does not incur sinful reactions.(47/18)( Repeat) Actions prescribed according
to one’s own nature must not be given up, O Arjuna, even if defective; since
all endeavors are covered with defects as fire is covered by smoke (48/18)(Repeat, Metaphor). Being in consciousness of
Me, you will overcome all obstacles and difficulties, by My grace; but if due
to false ego, you do not listen, you shall perish.(58/18)( promise of protection if obeyed, and if
not perish) If rationalizing due to false ego, you resolve not to fight
such a decision is only in vain; your own nature will compel you.(59/18)(Guna will compel you). O Arjuna, that
which out of delusion, you do not wish to perform, you will unavoidably,
being bound by your inclinations born of your own nature.(60/18) Thus the most confidential wisdom of all
that is confidential has been described by Me to you; deliberating fully on
this; accordingly act as you wish.(63/18). (Conclude and decision left to Arjuna, however again instruct him, which can
be the summery of Geeta).
Krishna said : Just think of Me, be My devote, worship Me,
offer obeisance unto Me, certainly you will come to Me, I promise this in
truth to you being dear to Me. Relinquishing all ideas of righteousness,
surrender unto Me exclusively; I will deliver from all sinful reactions, do
not despair. (65,66/18) O Arjuna, have you heard this with concentrated
attention? O conqueror of wealth has your bewilderment due to illusion been
dispelled? (72/18)
Arjuna said: My illusion has been dispelled, O Krishna, by
Your grace realization is restored to me: I am stable and all my doubts are
removed. I shall execute Your command. (73/18)
To conclude, first in spite of accepting own weakness and surrendering
to teacher, disciple doubts him. Once he understands teacher’s greatness and
capacity; doubt changes to curiosity, appreciation and readiness to learn new
subjects. He also feels sorry for earlier behavior. Further, disciple
properly takes up un-explained or not understood points and finally obeys
teacher. On teacher’s part he fully understands disciple’s state of mind. Do
not force anything. Gives many examples, uses metaphor, first give other’s
opinion and shows alternative routes to reach goal. Not only he teaches but helps disciple to
understand, do not evade any question etc. In short, teacher exhibit
exemplary patience and strength to create faith in disciple about path offered
by him.
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