Bhagvad-Gita:Treatise of Self-help by BS Murthy - HTML preview

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Chapter 2

All about Life

.

This character defining chapter of the Gita comprising 72 slokas, known as sãnkhya yoga, Realization through Knowledge, is regarded by many, as the peerless part of the great epic. Arjuna’s dilemma, meanwhile, turns into grief, as the horrific prospect of slaying Bhishma, his revered granduncle, and Drona, his venerated guru, sinks into his consciousness. Bogged down by sentiment, Arjuna appeals to Lord Krishna for guidance. The Lord’s response starting with the epoch making eleventh sloka,

 

‘Averring as knowing

Worried over trivia!

Reckon never wise

Dead and alive both,’

 

is indeed the curtain raiser to the grand discourse.

It is apparent that the sentiment of causing death and destruction plagues Arjuna. Thus, Lord Krishna brings the very issue to the fore to dispel the unwarranted fear of death by stressing upon the trans-migratory nature of the indwelling spirit of all beings. Then the Lord proceeds to enlighten Arjuna about his duty to fight as a warrior besides touching upon the infamy of surrender.

To enable Arjuna overcome the predicament of attachment, Lord Krishna elaborates upon the precepts and practices of detached action, besides its spiritual and  philosophical connotations. As a way of caution, the Lord finally explains to Arjuna how his sensual nature hinders man to act in true detachment. This chapter, indeed, is the spectrum supreme of the kaleidoscope of wisdom that Bhagvad Gita is.

 

1

Thus spoke Sanjaya:

In pity Krishna

Addressed Arjuna,

Bogged in sorrow

With tears profuse.

 

2

Thus spoke the Lord:

Oh, what affliction

At this juncture!

Wholly un-Aryan

Unholy as well!!

 

3

Mind-set impotent that unnerves

Strengthen thou for fight on hand.

 

4

Thus spoke Arjuna:

Adore as I, how dare I

Make Bhishma ’n Dron target?

 

5

Better I go with begging bowl

Than earn disgrace slaying them,

Would the scepter ever glitter

In the bloodstained hands of mine?

 

6

Those us oppose

We hate hurting,

What use war

Who victors are?

 

7

About my duty I’m in doubt

Tell me kindly what is right.

 

8

Beset by doubts,

Saddled by grief

Would I be joyous

Were I the king?

 

9

Thus spoke Sanjaya:

Bent to rescind

Arjun had no more to speak.

 

10

Make I privy O my Lord 

Speaks as Krishna to Arjun

Stood who there in confusion.

 

11

Thus spoke the Lord:

Averring as knowing

Worried over trivia!

Reckon never wise

Dead and alive both.

 

12

You and  Me

As well these,

Have had past

Future as well.

 

13

Wise all realize

Embodies selfsame spirit in one

From birth to death, in every birth.

 

14

Sensual feelings, grief ’n joy

Transient are like, heat and cold.

 

15

Weigh who pain ’n pleasure equal

Such are those on path freedom.

 

16

What’s not real, it’s never been

And that’s true, it’s ever there

That’s how wise all came to see.

 

17

Spirit in lay us  All-Pervading

Given that not to destruction,

What sense doth it make to think

That’s immutable gets destroyed!

 

18

Perish all bodies, Spirit not therein

Know this truth, and take up arms.

 

19

With no slayer, nor one slain

Whoso feels that he might kill

It's in delusion that he harps.

 

20

Unbound being ever unborn

Ageless since it’s endless too

Goes on Spirit, beyond life-span.

 

21

Spirit as entity hath no birth

How can thou kill what’s not born!

 

22

Change as men fade if clothes

So doth Spirit as frames are worn.

 

23

Hurts no weapon the Spirit in thee

Nor scathe elements, wind, water ’n fire.

 

24

Unalterable ’n Eternal

Immovable but pervades all

Permanent ’n so Everlasting

Spirit thus none can ever destruct.

 

25

Can sans form Spirit get bound?

Get right answer thou won’t burn.

 

26

Prima facie if thou feel

Subject Spirit is to rebirths

Why grieve over end of frame?

 

27

Dies as one

For like rebirth,

Why feel sad

Of what’s cyclic.

 

28

Isn’t thy lament over that

Un-manifested to start with

Gets manifested just as guest

And bids adieu in due course.

 

29

Seen in wonder, spoken in awe

Spirit none knows that lies in him.

 

30

Dies not Spirit as die beings

What for man then tends to grieve!

 

31

Being a warrior dharma thine

That thee fight with all thy might.

 

32

For martyrs of unsought wars

Ever open are heavenly gates.

 

33

If thee back out from duty

Imperil thou thy own dharma

And that earns thee infamy.

 

34

What for lead a dishonored life

Why leave legend dubious behind!

 

35

Amiss be taken thine intent

Treat thee coward thy friends ’n foes.

 

36

Count on thou thy detractors

Besmirch they thy character,

Damned be thine  obituary By

their campaign of slander.

 

37

If slain, heaven; alive, it’s reign

Resolve to fight with right intent.

 

38

Shed thy sentiment, guilt unhinge

Eye not gain as wage thou war.

 

39

It's this knowledge that liberates

And helps thee act, with no restraint.

 

40

Goes not waste

Effort thine ever,

Zeal for action

Frees from fear.

 

41

In their resolve

Succeed firm,

Mind as wavers

Lose infirm.

 

42

Unwise use all enticing

Flowery language to further

Rituals Vedic in their scores

Not the knowledge of Vedas.

 

43

Eyeing heaven with mind mundane

Go for ceremonies such in hope

Of having best of both the worlds.

 

44

Pursue if thou wants with zeal

Instincts then would spin thy mind.

 

45

Aspects three of life, reveal Vedas four

Transcend thou dualities, in them as inherent.

 

46

Well-waters draw Veda-dependent

Banks on reservoir dwell all realized.

 

47

Hold as patent on thy work

Reckon thou not on royalty With

no way to ceasing work Never

mind outcome but go on.

 

48

It’s but yoga

If thou strive

Wants without

Emotions bereft.

 

49

Work well greedy with motive

Work wise not with result in mind.

 

50

Wise not sentiment bring to work

That's hallmark of art of work.

 

51

Freed from bonds with mind even

Act wise regardless ever composed.

 

52

Clears if reason one’s illusion

Bothers he not to what's over

Or for what might lie in store.

 

53

Stands as firm mind thy clear

Steer thou clear of path rituals.

 

54

Thus spoke Arjuna:

How to spot the yogi true

Were he there ever in the crowd?

 

55

Thus spoke the Lord:

Blessed are strong with blissful self

Helps them that slight all that tempts.

 

56

Oblivious of misfortune

Not the one to crave for fun

Sways not ever by his feelings

Stays thus yogi ever even.

 

57

Unfettered by attachment

Compliments to indifferent

Adversity by unshaken

Wisdom thus is personified.

 

58

Stimuli those of organs sensory

Tortoise like, wise draw into shell.

 

59

Senses reined

Who so abstains,

Sans he longing

Turns he godly.

 

60

Senses as may tend them rash Wise

as well stray, from right path.

 

61

Rein in senses, hone thine effort

Rely on Supreme, that’s true wisdom.

 

62

Leans man on

Lends what charm,

Brings that want

And that’s fault.

 

63

Despair is what clouds reason

Brings that ruin through deeds mindless.

 

64

Yield  to senses sans craving

Cap as thou thy wants dubious.

 

65

Calm that offsets woes of life

And that equable makes thy mind.

 

66

Lacks mind focus as it strays

Robs that peace ’n joy thereby.

 

67

As in seas sans boat rudder

So course sensual man loses.

 

68

With tight leash on their senses

Wise with ease lead poised lives.

 

69

Ignoring all ignorant crave

Wise take note what folks not note.

 

70

Subdues as sea, rivers it holds

Wise keep cool while wants taming.

 

71

Freed of ego ’n wants as well

Blessed are wise who lack longing.

 

72

State it’s that of true being With

no tenseness of  being, Life ever

in that mode being Makes what

one with All-being.

 

Ends thus:

All about Life,

The Second Chapter

Of Bhagavad-Gita

Treatise of self-help.