20 Values From Srimad BagawathGeetha

8/8/2019 20 Values From Srimad BagawathGeetha

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Sri Gurubyo Namaha

The Twenty Values from Srimad Bhagavad

Gita

By:V.Prabhakar Rao

SingaporeMa 2009



The Twenty Values from Srimad

Bhagavad Gita

Since a long time I have been fascinated by the Twenty Values that

Lord prescribes in Ch.13 of Srimad Bhagavad Gita, The Kshethra

Kshethragna Yoga. He goes onto categorically declaring them as “Gnanam” (“Yethath gnanamithi proktham”) and that anything

which differs from these as “Agnanam” (“agnanam yathatho

anyatha”).

The values by themselves are very profound. More fascinatingly,the way Lord has listed them in the slokas 8 to 12 (or 7 to 11 in

some books) gives one the strong conviction that these values evolve

from one tier to the next.




Gita

The first eight values contained in sloka 8 (amanithvam,adambhithvam, ahimsa, kshanthi, aarjavam,

acharyopasanam, soucham & sthairyam) are focused on one’s conduct and seem to form the very foundation of this

evolution.

Amanithvam adambhithvam ahimsa kshanthirarjavam l

Acharyopasanam soucham sthairyam athmavinigraha: ll

- (BG-13:8)




GitaThe next seven values contained partly in sloka 8 and in slokas 9 & 10 (athma vinigraha, indriyartheshu vairagyam, anahankara,

janma mruthyu jara vyadhi dhukka dhosha anudarsanam, puthratharagruhadhishu asakthi, anabishvanga & ishta anishta upapaththishu nithyam samachiththathvam) seem to be pertaining

to attaining control over one’s mind (attitude) and state of being.Lord Krishna perhaps is indicating that the first eight values will

lead one to the next seven.

Indriyarththeshu vairagyam anahankara yeva cha l

Janma mrithyu jara vyadhi dhukkha dhoshanu darsanam ll - (BG-13:9)

Asakthi: anabhishvanga: puthratharagruhadhishu lNithyam cha samachiththathvam ishtanishtopa paththishu ll - (BG-13:10)




Gita

Let us look at the next three values. These values

prescribed in sloka 11 (mayi ananya yogena bhakthi avyabicharini, viviktha desa sevithvam & arathir janasamsathi) imply a transformation in the sadhaka’s

personality. One can safely assume that Lord holds our hand and leads us through the first 8 values related to one’s conduct , the next seven values related to one’s

attitude ..... leading us to a major transformation through the next three values.

Mayicha ananyayogena bhakthi: avyabhicharini l

Viviktha desa sevithvam arathir janasamsathi ll

- (BG-13:11)




Gita

The final two values mentioned in sloka 12 (adhyathma

gnana nithyathvam & thathva gnana artha darsanam) ,

the very pinnacle of a properly led human life, which can be said to be the final stage of evolution.

Adhyathma gnana nithyathvam thathvagnanartha darsanam l

Yethath gnanamithi proktham agnanam yathathonyatha ll

- (BG-13:12)




Gita

First Eight Values

(amanithvam, adambhithvam, ahimsa, kshanthi, aarjavam,acharyopasanam, soucham & sthairyam

Next Seven Values

(athma vinigraha, indriyartheshu vairagyam, anahankara, janmamruthyu jara vyadhi dhukka dhosha anudarsanam,

puthratharagruhadhishu asakthi, anabishvanga & ishta anishtaupapadhdhishu nithyam samachiththathvam)

Next Three Values

(mayi ananya yogena bhakthi avyabicharini, viviktha desa

sevithvam & arathir janasamsathi)

The Pinnacle Two

(adhyathma gnana nithyathvam

& thathva gnana artha darsanam)

Conduct

Attitude

Transformation

Pinnacle




Gita

It is my humble intention to write about each of these

values in the following slides.



Sri Gurubyo Namaha


Gita

With a pranam to Guru Sri Raghavendra Rayaru let me start this compilation. I will be referring to his work “Geethartha Sangraha” while

preparing this presentation.



“Amanithvam”Meaning: Humility

Can there be a better example than

Sri Anjaneya! After searching and locating the

Divine Mother Sri Sitadevi in Lanka, when he came back to report

to Sri Rama along with the

Choodamani, he stood along with all

the vanaras who accompanied him upto the Mahendra Parvatham (and

no more) and said “We did it” ....

thus sharing the credit with all of them.



“Adhambithvam”Meaning: Modesty, Quiet Performance

Sri Bhimasena, the quiet but steadfast bhaktha of Lord Sri Krishna, is perhaps the best example for this value.

Arjuna thinking no one can be performing

puja to Krishna with more dedication than him, asks for confirmation from Lord

Krishna Himself. Krishna points out the

superior puja being performed by Bhimasena ..... without any outward sign

of it and with intense dedication.



“Ahimsa”Meaning: Non-violence, Not hurting any being

Ahimsa refers to that value which does not hurt any being both physically, emotionally &psychologically. Note that the sloka from “Pancharatra” which describes the eight bhavapushpams

with which one can do manaseeka puja to God,begins withAhimsa as the first pushpam.

Not hurting anyone through spoken/written words is a very important aspect of Ahimsa. In the

famous Tamil literature “Thirukkural” Thiruvalluvar says “தயன சடபண உளமஆறதநவன சட வ” meaning even physical wounds will vanish over time but not the wounds caused

by the lashing of the tongue.

ahimsA prathamam pushpam pushpam indriya-nigraha: sarva-bhUta-dayA pushpam

kshamA pushpam viSeshata: |

jnAnam pushpam tapa: pushpam dhyAnam pushpam tathaiva cha satyam ashtavidham

pushpam vishno: prItikaram bhavet ||

- From “Pancharatra”



“Kshanthi”Meaning: Forgiveness

Lord Rama forgave even Kaikeyi

“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of thestron ” – Mahathma Gandhi



“Arjavam”

Meaning: Honesty

Harischandra having lost his kingdom and all the wealth, parting with his only son in an auction

No one personified “honesty” more than King Harischandra

Arjavam is complete alignment of Thoughts, Words & Actions



“Acharyaupasanam”

Meaning: Service of Gnanis, Gurus, Acharyas & Elders

Sabhari’s was the hallmark of service to Guru

Her selfless dedication to her Guru (Sri Mathanga Rishi) brought LordRama to her door steps



“Soucham”

Meaning: Purity (Internal & external)

Soucham refers to both bodily purity and the purity of heart

Pure like snow .... Pure like a towering mountain



“Sthairyam”

Meaning: Steadfastness

Sthairyam refers to steadfastness in holding onto one’s svadharma

Be steadfast in faith like Prahlada. Lord Hari took the Sri Narasimha avathara just to prove Prahlada’s words as true!

“Sathyam vidhatum nija bhrtya bhashitam .....”



“Athma Vinigraha” & “Indriyarththeshu Vairagya”Meaning: Self Control & Detachment from sensual Pleasures

Sri Vadhiraja Swamy is an outstanding example

Right at his birth he was given over to the Mutt (Sodhe

mutt). He grew up in the Mutt. Even as a little boy he

displayed enormous control over self. When he was 6 or 7 years old, Bhoovaraha (purvashrama name of Sri Vadhiraja

Swamy), was asked by the Guru Sri Vageesa Theetharu, as to

what play toys or food delicacies or clothes that he wanted.

And the 6 or 7 years old boy replied ......

“I want Guru bhakthi I want the blessings of the elders I want to hear Harikatha everyday I want detachment I want to do Vishnu aradhana

I want japa and thapas I want the Grace and Blessings of Sri Hayavadana”

No wonder his Guru saw his future successor in him right then ......

He took sanyasa at the age of 8 years and lived as a sanyasi for 112 years. Senior to Sri

Raghavendra Swamy, he entered his Brindavana alive, at his age of 120.

“Anahankara & Janma Mr th jara adhi dh kkha



“Anahankara & Janma Mruthyu jara vyadhi dhukkhadhoshanu darsanam”

Meaning: Egolessness & being conscious of the birth death cycle and

the sufferings of old age and illness

Mahabali and his giving up of his ego to Mahavishnu’s Vamana avatharam, come to one’s mind when one contemplates on the value “Anahankara”. Anahankara essentially refers to not assuming a superior air hiding one’s inadequacies. Ahankara is invariably a consequence of one’s ego.

Sri Kanaka Dasa’s famous reply “Naanu hodhare hove”

when asked whether he thinks he deserves to go to heaven ,also comes to one’s mind here. On the surface it means he thinks he will . But in a beautiful play of the words he actually says that one will go to heaven if one

gives up one’s ego.

“Sage of Arunachala” Sri Ramanar’s appeal to Sri Arunachaleswara to root out the ego of those who pray to him (“Ahaththai veraruppai Arunachala” ) in his

Aksharamanamalai, is a heart rending appeal on behalf of the human society.

Sri Adi Sankaracharya’s Bhaja Govindam is a beautiful lesson highlighting

the value “Janma Mrutyu Jara Vyadhi dhukkha dhoshanu darsanam”



“Putratharagrahadhishu asakthi: Anabishvanga:”Meaning: Avoiding too intense an attachment & affinity to one’s wife,

children & possessions

When we think about this value,

the phrase that jumps to our

minds is “Illaraththil

thuravaram” ( இலறதறவறம)

ie., staying in and leading a

normal grahastha’s life but without serious attachment and

affinity. Lord Krishna in

Bhagavad Gita (Ch.3) states that King Janaka lived the life of a

perfect Karma Yogi and reached

mukthi.



“Ishta Anishta Upapaddhishu nithyam samachiththathvam”

Meaning: Equanimity in the face of both positive and negative developments

Sage Valmiki describes that there was absolutely

no difference in Sri Rama’s countenance while

going for his “anticipated” pattabishekha and

while returning from there with the knowledge

that he has been banished to the forest. Moreover,

Ramayana goes on to explain how Sri Rama

consoled His mother Kausalya Devi and His

brother Lakshmana who are more outraged and

distressed than Rama himself at this turn of

events.

World could not have witnessed a better example for

this magnificent value than Lord Sri Rama!



“Mayi Ananya Yogena Avyabhicharini bhakthi”

Meaning: Everlasting and unconditional bhakthi towards the Lord

The love of Gopis towards Krishna



“Viviktha Desa sevithvam” Meaning: Love for solitude

It is interesting that Lord Krishna advises “Love for

Solitude” as one of the key values. Further study andcontemplation of the final two values, that He

prescribes, indicates that this is one of the logicalsteps in the evolution to the pinnacle



“Janasamsathi Arathi” Meaning: Disinterest in being in a crowd

Even though this sounds similar to the previous value it is subtlydifferent. While the earlier one refers to a love for solitude (leading to

study and contemplation) this value steers one away from impropercompany towards proper human interactions which will enhance one’s

sadhana and aid the spiritual journey.



“Adhyathma gnana nithyathvam” Meaning: Constantly seeking the eternal Truth

If we were mountain climbers and attempting to climb Mt Everest, the ultimate peak, all the time

won’t we be thinking about the Peak, where are we in relation to the Peak, are we on the correct

track to reach it and what wonderful feeling will be awaiting us when we reach there ... etc?

To my mind, if we consider God to be the Peak, this state represents “Adhyathma Gnana

nithyathvam”



“Thathva Gnanartha Darsanam” Meaning: Realising The Truth / Attaining Bliss

Dharma Brings Happiness

REACHING

THEPINNACLE!




Gita

This work is dedicated to two young men – Rajesh of the Kannada Satsangh for triggering in me the thought of

writing on this subject & Kartik of Sridhar-Sudha Satsangh for the lively discussions on this topic – and the

members of these Satsanghs.

And my thanks to my wife, Sarayu, for the spontaneous enthusiasm she shows for every single one of my projects

and for the meticulous editing.

Sri Krishnarpanamasthu

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20 Values From Srimad BagawathGeetha