Krishna and Arjuna in BHAGAVAD GITA - YGIC IV Book/Year IV-Chap.4A-BHAGAVAD GITA.pdfYear IV Chapter 4-BHAGAVAD GITA 123 Introduction • Bhagavad Gita also known as“Gita” in short,

CHAPTER FOUR

Krishna and Arjuna in

BHAGAVAD GITA

Year IV Chapter 4-BHAGAVAD GITA

123

Introduction

• Bhagavad Gita also known as “Gita” in short, is a dialog between the God Krishna and Arjuna, on the battlefield between good and evil (Kurukshetra).

• It is included in one of the parts of Mahabharat (Bhishma Parva).

• Written in Sanskrit -one of the ancient languages in India. • It has around 700 verses in 18 chapters. • Estimated to be At least 1000 BC or may be as old as 5000

BC. • One of the most important texts for Hindu people.

Adi Shankaracharya

• Greatest Hindu philosopher.

• He was born in India in the year 509

B.C. in Kerala.

• Wrote several slokas that we are learning in the class.

• Also wrote explanations for the

slokas from Gita.

Famous Indian –Spiritual Leader Swami Vivekananda

Swami Vivekananda said: “The Gita is a bouquet composed of the beautiful flowers of spiritual truths collected from the Vedas and the Upanishads.” -Chicago, 1893 1863-1902


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Freedom Fighter for India- Mahatma Gandhi- responsible for Independence in India

Mahatma Gandhi derived great moral strength from Bhagavad Gita, which is evident in his words: "The Gita is the universal mother. I find a solace in the Bhagavad Gita. When disappointment stares me in the face and all alone I see not one ray of light, I go back to the Bhagavad Gita. I find a verse here and a verse there, and I immediately begin to smile in the midst of overwhelming tragedies - and my life has been full of external tragedies - and if they have left no visible or indelible scar on me, I owe it all to the teaching of Bhagavad Gita."

From USA- Robert Oppenheimer

J. Robert Oppenheimer, "the father of the atomic bomb" served as the first director of Los Alamos National Laboratory, beginning in 1943.


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126

Krishna summarizes four kinds of Yoga in Gita

(Yoga can be understood at this time as different approaches or paths one can take to understand God)

– Bhakti Yoga or Devotion, – Karma Yoga or Selfless Action – Jnana Yoga or Self Transcending Knowledge – Dhyana Yoga or Psycho-Physical Meditation

Bhakti Yoga is basically Service in Love and Devotion to God. The 12th chapter in the Bhagavad Gita is Bhakti Yoga and it has 20 verses.


127

Bhakti Yoga, Sloka 1

Arjuna uvaca

evam satata-yukta ye bhaktas tvam paryupasate ye capy aksaram avyaktam tesam ke yoga-vittamah

arjunah uvaca--Arjuna said; evam--thus; satata--always; yuktah--engaged; ye--those; bhaktah--devotees; tvam--unto You; paryupasate--properly worship; ye--those; ca--also; api--again; aksaram--beyond the senses; avyaktam--unmanifested; tesam--of them; ke--who; yoga-vit-tamah--the most perfect.

Arjuna said: Which of these has the best knowledge of yoga those ever -steadfast devotees who thus worship You (as Krishna, Your personal aspect) or those who worship Your impersonal aspect, the Eternal Being (Brahman)?


128


sri-bhagavan uvaca

mayy avesya mano ye mam nitya-yukta upasate sraddhaya parayopetas te me yuktatama matah sri-bhagavan uvaca— the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; mayi--unto Me; avesya--fixing; manah--mind; ye--one who; mam--unto Me; nitya--always; yuktah--engaged; upasate--worships; sraddhaya--with faith; paraya--transcendental; upetah--engages; te--they; me--Me; yukta-tamah--most perfect; matah--I consider. The Supreme Lord said: I consider the best yogis to be those ever steadfast devotees (Bhaktas) who worship with supreme faith by fixing their mind on Me as their personal God. (12.02)


129

Bhakti Yoga, Sloka 3-4

ye tv aksaram anirdesyam avyaktam paryupasate sarvatra-gam acintyam ca kuta-stham acalam dhruvam

sanniyamyendriya-gramam sarvatra sama-buddhayah te prapnuvanti mam eva sarva-bhuta-hite ratah

ye--those; tu--but; aksaram--which is beyond the perception of the senses; anirdesyam--indefinite; avyaktam--unmanifested; paryupasate--completely engages; sarvatra-gam--all-pervading; acintyam--inconceivable; ca--also; kuta-stham--in the center; acalam--immovable; dhruvam--fixed; sanniyamya--controlling; indriya-gramam--all the senses; sarvatra--everywhere; sama-buddhayah--equally disposed; te--they; prapnuvanti--achieve; mam--unto Me; eva--certainly; sarva-bhuta-hite--all living entities' welfare; ratah--engaged.

They also attain Me who worship the unchangeable, the inexplicable, the invisible, the omnipresent, the inconceivable, the unchanging, the immovable Eternal Being (Brahman), restraining all the senses, even-minded under all circumstances, engaged in the welfare of all creatures. (12.03-04)


130


kleso 'dhikataras tesam avyaktasakta-cetasam avyakta hi gatir duhkham dehavadbhir avapyate

klesah--trouble; adhika-tarah--more troublesome; tesam--of them; avyakta--to unmanifested; asakta--being attached; cetasam--of those whose minds; avyakta--toward the unmanifested; hi--certainly; gatih duhkham--progress is troublesome; deha-vadbhih--of the embodiments; avapyate--achieve.

Self-realization is more difficult for those who fix their mind on the impersonal, unmanifest, Eternal Being (Brahman) because comprehension of the unmanifest by embodied beings is attained with difficulty. (12.05)


131


ye tu sarvani karmani mayi sannyasya mat-parah ananyenaiva yogena mam dhyayanta upasate

tesam aham samuddharta mrtyu-samsara-sagarat bhavami na cirat partha mayy avesita-cetasam

ye--one who; tu--but; sarvani--everything; karmani--activities; mayi--unto Me; sannyasya--giving up; mat-parah--being attached to Me; ananyena--without division; eva--certainly; yogena--by practice of such bhakti-yoga; mam--unto Me; dhyayantah--meditating; upasate--worship; tesam--of them; aham--I; samuddharta--deliverer; mrtyu--death; samsara--material existence; sagarat--from the ocean; bhavami--become; na cirat--not a long time; partha--O son of Prtha; mayi--unto Me; avesita--fixed; cetasam--of those whose minds are like that.

But for those who worship Me with unswerving devotion as their personal God, whose thoughts are set on My personal form, who offer all actions to Me, intent on Me as the Supreme, and meditate on Me I swiftly become their savior from the world that is the ocean of death and transmigration, O Arjuna. (12.06-07)


132


mayy eva mana adhatsva mayi buddhim nivesaya nivasisyasi mayy eva ata urdhvam na samsayah mayi--unto Me; eva--certainly; manah--mind; adhatsva--fix; mayi--upon Me; buddhim--intelligence; nivesaya--apply; nivasisyasi--you live; mayi--unto Me; eva--certainly; atah urdhvam--thereafter; na--never; samsayah--doubt. Therefore, focus your mind on Me and let your intellect dwell upon Me alone (through meditation and contemplation). Thereafter, you shall certainly attain Me. (12.08).


133


atha cittam samadhatum na saknosi mayi sthiram abhyasa-yogena tato mam icchaptum dhananjaya atha--if, therefore; cittam--mind; samadhatum--fixing; na--not; saknosi--able; mayi--upon Me; sthiram--fixed; abhyasa--practice; yogena--by devotional service; tatah--therefore; mam--Me; iccha--desire; aptum--to get; dhanam-jaya--O Arjuna. If you are unable to focus your mind steadily on Me, then long to attain Me, O Arjuna, by practice of (any other) spiritual discipline (Saadhana) that suits you. (12.09)


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abhyase 'py asamartho 'si mat-karma-paramo bhava mad-artham api karmani kurvan siddhim avapsyasi

abhyase--in practice of; api--even; asamarthah--unable; asi--you are; mat-karma--My work; paramah--supreme; bhava--you become; mat-artham--for My sake; api--even though; karmani--work; kurvan--performing; siddhim--perfection; avapsyasi--achieve.

If you are unable even to do any spiritual discipline (Saadhana), then be intent on performing your duty for Me. You shall attain perfection just by working for Me (as an instrument, just to serve and please Me, without selfish motives). (12.10)


135


athaitad apy asakto 'si kartum mad-yogam asritah sarva-karma-phala-tyagam tatah kuru yatatmavan atha--even though; etat--this; api--also; asaktah--unable; asi--you are; kartum--to perform; mat--unto Me; yogam--devotional service; asritah--refuge; sarva-karma--all activities; phala--result; tyagam--renunciation; tatah--therefore; kuru--do; yata-atma-van--self-situated. If you are unable to work for Me, then just surrender unto My will and renounce (the attachment to, and the anxiety for) the fruits of all work with subdued mind (by learning to accept all results, as God's grace (Prasada)) with equanimity. (12.11)


136


sreyo hi jnanam abhyasaj jnanad dhyanam visisyate dhyanat karma-phala-tyagas tyagac chantir anantaram sreyah--better; hi--certainly; jnanam--knowledge; abhyasat--by practice; jnanat--better than knowledge; dhyanam--meditation; visisyate--especially considered; dhyanat--from meditation; karma-phala-tyagah--renunciation of the results of fruitive action; tyagat--by such renunciation; santih--peace; anantaram--thereafter. The knowledge of scriptures is better than mere ritualistic practice; meditation is better than scriptural knowledge; Tyaaga, or renunciation of (the selfish attachment to) the fruits of work is better than meditation; peace immediately follows Tyaaga. (12.12)


137


advesta sarva-bhutanam maitrah karuna eva ca nirmamo nirahankarah sama-duhkha-sukhah ksami

santustah satatam yogi yatatma drdha-niscayah mayy arpita-mano-buddhir yo mad-bhaktah sa me priyah

advesta--nonenvious; sarva-bhutanam--for all living entities; maitrah--friendly; karunah--kindly; eva--certainly; ca--also; nirmamah--with no sense of proprietorship; nirahankarah--without false ego; sama--equally; duhkha--distress; sukhah--happiness; ksami--forgiving; santustah--satisfied; satatam--always; yogi--engaged in devotion; yata-atma--self-controlled; drdha-niscayah--with determination; mayi--upon Me; arpita--engaged; manah--mind; buddhih--intelligence; yah--one who; mat-bhaktah--My devotee; sah me priyah--he is dear to Me. One is dear to me who does not hate any creature, who is friendly and compassionate, free from the notion of “I” and “my”, even-minded in pain and pleasure, forgiving; and the yogi who is ever content, who has subdued the mind, whose resolve is firm, whose mind and intellect are engaged in dwelling upon Me, and who is devoted to Me. (12.13-14)


138


yasman nodvijate loko lokan nodvijate ca yah harsamarsa-bhayodvegair mukto yah sa ca me priyah yasmat--from whom; na--never; udvijate--agitates; lokah--persons; lokat--persons; na--never; udvijate--disturbed; ca--also; yah--anyone; harsa--happiness; amarsa--distress; bhaya--fear; udvegaih--with anxiety; muktah--freed; yah--who; sah--anyone; ca--also; me--Mine; priyah--very dear. One is also dear to Me who does not agitate others and who is not agitated by them, who is free from joy, envy, fear, and anxiety. (12.15)


139


anapeksah sucir daksa udasino gata-vyathah sarvarambha-parityagi yo mad-bhaktah sa me priyah anapeksah--neutral; sucih--pure; daksah--expert; udasinah--free from care; gata-vyathah--freed from all distress; sarva-arambha--all endeavors; parityagi--renouncer; yah--anyone; mat-bhaktah--My devotee; sah--he; me--Me; priyah--very dear. One who is desireless, pure, wise, impartial, and free from anxiety; who has renounced the doership in all undertakings such a devotee is dear to Me. (12.16)


140


yo na hrsyati na dvesti na socati na kanksati subhasubha-parityagi bhaktiman yah sa me priyah yah--one who; na--never; hrsyati--takes pleasure; na--never; dvesti--grieves; na--never; socati--laments; na--never; kanksati--desires; subha--auspicious; asubha--inauspicious; parityagi--renouncer; bhakti-man--devotee; yah--one who; sah--he is; me--Mine; priyah--dear. One who neither rejoices nor grieves, neither likes nor dislikes, who has renounced both the good and the evil and is full of devotion is dear to Me. (12.17)


141


samah satrau ca mitre ca tatha manapamanayoh sitosna-sukha-duhkhesu samah sanga-vivarjitah tulya-ninda-stutir mauni santusto yena kenacit aniketah sthira-matir bhaktiman me priyo narah samah--equal; satrau--to the enemy; ca--also; mitre--to friends; ca--also; tatha--so; mana--honor; apamanayoh--dishonor; sita--cold; usna--heat; sukha--happiness; duhkhesu--distress; samah--equipoised; sanga-vivarjitah--free from all association; tulya--equal; ninda--defamation; stutih--repute; mauni--silent; santustah--satisfied; yena--somehow; kena--or other; cit--if; aniketah--having no residence; sthira--fixed; matih--determination; bhakti-man--engaged in devotion; me--My; priyah--dear; narah--a man. One who remains the same towards friend or foe, in honor or disgrace, in heat or cold, in pleasure or pain; who is free from attachment; who is indifferent to censure or praise, quiet, content with whatever one has, unattached to a place (a country, or a house), tranquil, and full of devotion that person is dear to Me. (12.18- 19)


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ye tu dharmamrtam idam yathoktam paryupasate sraddadhana mat-parama bhaktas te 'tiva me priyah ye--one who; tu--but; dharma--of religion; amrtam--nectar; idam--this; yatha--as; uktam--said; paryupasate--completely engage; sraddadhanah--with faith; mat-paramah--taking the Supreme Lord as everything; bhaktah--devotees; te--such persons; ativa--very, very; me--Me; priyah--dear. But those faithful devotees are very dear to Me who set Me as their supreme goal and follow (or just sincerely try to develop) the above mentioned nectar of moral values. (12.20)


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Names of all the eighteen chapters in Bhagavad Gita

1. The Despondency of Arjuna – 47 verses 2. The Yoga of Transcendental Knowledge – 72 verses 3. The Yoga of Action (Karma Yoga) – 43 verses 4. The Yoga of Renunciation of Action in Knowledge – 42 verses 5. The Yoga of Renunciation – 29 verses 6. The Yoga of Meditation (Dhyana Yoga) – 47 verses 7. The Yoga of Self-Knowledge and Enlightenment – 30 verses 8. The Yoga of the Imperishable Brahman – 28 verses 9. The Yoga of Sovereign Science and Sovereign Secret – 34 verses 10. The Yoga of Divine Manifestations – 42 verses 11. The Yoga of the Vision of the Cosmic Form – 55 verses 12. The Yoga of Devotion (Bhakti Yoga) – 20 verses 13. The Yoga of the Discrimination of the Creation and the Creator – 34 verses 14. The Yoga of the Division of the three Gunas – 27 verses 15. The Yoga of the Supreme Self – 20 verses 16. The Yoga of Division between the Divine and the Demoniacal – 24 verses 17. The Yoga of the threefold Faith – 28 verses 18. The Yoga of Liberation by Renunciation – 78 verses

Documents

Krishna and Arjuna in BHAGAVAD GITA - YGIC IV Book/Year IV-Chap.4A-BHAGAVAD GITA.pdfYear IV Chapter 4-BHAGAVAD GITA 123 Introduction • Bhagavad Gita also known as“Gita” in short,