Monday, December 23, 2013

BHAGAVAD GITA - THE COMPLETE YOGA SASTRA - Ch.1-Arjuna Vishada Yoga - Sl.23 to 26 - Is Arjuna Ready to fight and kill his most loved and loving ones?



   BHAGAVAD GITA


(THE COMPLETE YOGA SASTRA)


 



 






CHAPTER.1.VERSE.23




Yotsyamaanaanaveksheham  ya yetetra samaagataah |

Dhaartaraashtrasya durbuddheryuddhe priyachikeershavah  ||

Arjuna continues further and asks Lord Krishna as follows :
Meaning :

 
 "I want to see all those who are assembled here,  to fight, and please the evil minded son of Dhritaraastra."
Arjuna wanted to take a look at all those warriors in the Enemy Army, who had come there to fight with him, so eager to please the evil-minded Duryodhana. 

At this point of time, clearly Arjuna was eager to fight his enemy army and kill all their warriors. One of Arjuna's names was "Bheebhatsa", which meany - one who created terrible atmosphere and terror in the hearts of the enemies. Arjuna was, without any doubt, the most feared warrior in the Pandava Army.


CHAPTER.1.VERSE.24 & 25


Sanjaya Uvaacha (Sanjaya speaks) :
Yevamuktho Hrisheekeso Gudaakesena Bhaarata   |

Senayorubhayormadhye sthaapayitvaa rathottamam   ||   (Sl.24)
Bheeshma Drona pramukhathah sarveshaam cha Maheekshitaam  |

Uvaacha Paartha pasyaithaan samavethaan kuroon iti ||   (Sl.25)



Meaning :
"Oh Dhritaraashtra, born in the Bharata clan! thus requested by Arjuna (Gudaakesa), Lord Krishna (Hrisheekesa) placed the best of chariots (on which both of them are seated) in the middle of the two armies..(Sloka.24)


As the chariot stood facing Bheeshma, Drona and other Great kings, Lord Krishna tells Arjuna : O Partha, Look at all the Kaurava warriors assembled here.""
Bharata was the son of King Dushynta of Hastinapur and Shakultala, the daughter of Viswamitra and Menaka, who was a heavenly danseuse. The Kings of Hastinapur therefore came to be known as Bhaarataas, or descendants of Bharata clan. Even the current Capital of India is Hastinapur or Delhi - and therefore, the country is aptly called Bharata desa or Bhaarat. The country is calso famous for Bharata sage, who introduced the Bharata natyam Dance form in the country, which is famous even in the current days.

Dhritaraashtra , Pandavas and Kauravas all belong to this  King Bharata's clan. Hence, he is addressed as Bhaarata. Gudaakesa means many things. One meaning is - conqueror of sleep. Another is one with knotty hair. There is yet another meaning given by some as - One who has pleased Vishnu(a), Ka (Brahma) and Isa(Siva) all - like the sweet Guda (Jaggery).

In any case, it refers to Arjuna, and he surely fits all the meanings. Hrisheekesa, the lord of the senses, is Krishna. Krishna, as Charioteer, steered the Chariot of Ajuna to the mid point between the two armies, where, Bheeshma, Drona and other great Warriors were facing Pandava army in their chariots.

He could have placed the Chariot in front of any other Great warriors. Arjuna would have relished their sight and would have plunged into the war instantly. But, destiny was different. krishna placed it before his most beloved Grandsire, Bheeshma and his most respected Guru, Drona, and many who were very dear to Arjuna in the past. Not only that, Krishna did not just place the Chariot in fornt of them. He points to them and asks Arjuna,"Look carefully,at those who have gathered before you." Arjuna did just that, as we see in the next sloka.


CHAPTER.1.VERSE.26

tatraapasyat sthitaan Paarthah Pithroonatha Pitaamahaan   ||

Achaaryaanmaathulaanbhraathrun puthraanpouthraansakheensthathaa  |

Swasuraansuhrudaschaiva senayorubhayorapi  |



Meaning :

"There, Arjuna saw - standing before him were fathers, grandfathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, Sons, grandsons, friends, fathers-in-law, peple dear to heart and so on - on both sides .  "
Arjuna looked at both armies. He saw that the two armies were full of people whom he loved, respected, blessed, protected, played with,counseled, took counsel, and greatly relished being with. And, these are the people whom he is going to battle and kill now or people who wanted to battle with him, kill him and the people on his side - in the ensuing battle.

How could the sight of so many loving and lovable people on both sides - give Arjuna the longing for killing them all, or, seeing them killed by others? Was this the war, he was waiting for fifteen long and difficult years, to wage, finally? Were these the people on whom he would be releasing his divine astras and sastras, obtained from Lord Siva and all the Gods of heaven, with so much difficulty?

The crux of  Arjuna Vishada Yoga, in which Arjuna gets filled with sadness and grief and expresses it to Lord Krishna starts now ...


.....Will Continue.

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