Verses from the Song of Wisdom ( previously The Daily Gita): 9/9/07

Saturday, September 15, 2007

II b: The enquiry begins (2.4-2.8)

The strong words
from the dear ONE
did ruffle the warrior of light,
moved him quickly from his steadfast gloom
to a slow examination of the wrong and the right

Well aware of the guilt it would bring
to have fought and killed his teachers and the kin
despite their choice
of the ungracious side
he said: to me a homeless life
seems way more appealing
than for my enjoyment of a kingdom
to put them through the gory fight.

Even victory, kingdom and heaven appeared
to be a tasteless illusion
was it right to fight or not to fight?
Aware now of his confusion
reconising what appears may be misperception
sought Arjun some help and advice
knowing fully well that the wise dont speak
unless asked properly and at the right time...
I am torn between opposites oh dear, he said,
please be my guide to light
and show me what will bring
freedom from this grief of even victory
what will definitely give
meaning to my life?
what am i supposed to do to attain glory, harmony
and long-term delight?

not shy in admitting his weakness and confusion,
seeking support and guidance from the ONE
timely, with humility and devotion,
ah what a quick and intelligent step
from the darkness of despair and confusion
toward wisdom, freedom, and a meaningful life!
.

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Mahatma Gandhi's verse-by-verse

Arjun Said:

4. How shall I, with arrows, engage Bhishma and Drona in battle, O Madhusudana, they who are worthy of reverence, O Arisudana?

5. It were better far to live on alms of this world than to slay these venerable elders. Having slain them I should but have blood-stained enjoyments.

6. Nor do we know which is better for us, that we conquer them or that they conquer us, for here stand before us Dhritarashtra's sons having killed whom we should have no desire to live.

7. My being is paralysed by faint-heartedness; my mind discerns not duty; hence I ask thee; tell me, I pray thee, in no uncertain language, wherein lies my good. I am thy disciple; guide me; I see refuge in thee.

8. For I see nothing that can dispel the anguish that shrivels up my senses even if I should win on earth uncontested sovereignty over a thriving kingdom or lordship over the gods.

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Sanskrit

Arjun uvaacha

Katham Bheeshmamaham sankhye droNam cha Madhusoodana
Ishubhih pratiyotsyaami poojarhaavarisoodana (2.4)

Guroonhatvaa hi mahaanubhaavaan
shreyo bhoktum bhaikshyamapeeha loke
hatvaarthakaamanstuguroonihaiva
bhoonjeeya bhogaanrudirapradigdhaan (2.5)

Na chetadvidmah kataranno gariyo
yadva jayema yadi va no jayeyuh
yaaneva hatvaa na jijeevishaamah
teavasthitah pramukhe dhaartaraashtrah (2.6)

Pruchhami twam dharma sammoDhachetah
yachhreyah syaannishchitam bruhi tanme (2.7)

Na hi prapashyaami mamaapanudyaad
yachhokamuchhoshaNamindriyaaNam
avaapya bhoomaava sa patnamruddham
raajyaam suraaNamapi chaadhipatyam (2.8)

Copyright 3000 B.C. Vedavyasa for Sri Krishna

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Friday, September 14, 2007

II a: Shake up and Wake up (2.1-2.3)

Lucky was Arjun

to be with the ONE,
who chided him and nudged him
gently and yet firm.
Compassion of the wise
can come as strong admonition,
like at this time!

In an angry tone, hiding a smile,
said Krishna:
Where from have you allowed
these dark doubts
and attitudes of unproductive, defaming,
unenlightening irresponsibility (!)
to dwell in and deepen and weaken your heart?!

In the onset of this crucial battle
sits the mighty lion
whimpering like a squeaky mouse?!
Shake off this act of a whining lamb
Drop the drama,
the excuses, the complains
and stand up tall
up to the commitment, unshaken,
unwavering,
face the inevitable challenge
of the day with all your might.

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Mahatma Gandhi's verse-by-verse

Sanjay Said:

2.1. To Arjuna, thus overcome with compassion, sorrowful, whose eyes were obscured by flowing tears, Madhusudana spake these words:

The Lord Said:

2.2. How is it that at this perilous moment this delusion, unworthy of the noble, leading neither to heaven nor to glory, has overtaken thee?

2.3. Yield not to unmanliness, O Partha; it does not become thee. Shake off this miserable faint-heartedness and arise, O Parantapa!

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Sanskrit

Sanjaya Uvaacha:
Tam tathaa kripayaavishtam ashrupoornaakulekshanam;
Visheedantam idam vaakyam uvaacha madhusoodanah. (2.1)

Sri Bhagavaan Uvaacha:
Kutastwaa kashmalam idam vishame samupasthitam;
Anaaryajushtam aswargyam akeertikaram arjuna. ( 2.2)
Klaibyam maa sma gamah paartha naitat twayyupapadyate;
Kshudram hridaya daurbalyam tyaktwottishtha parantapa. (2.3)

Copyright 3000 B.C. Vedavyasa for Sri Krishna

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Thursday, September 13, 2007

I d: The certainty of the deluded (1.37- 1.46)

Convinced it was a sin
to fight and destroy
the greedy and small-minded ones
after all, weren't they old friends?

Just as sometimes in walking
the path to the vast
tiny cravings, fears, aversions
disguised as very convincing "reasons"
can rob off of our zeal and willingness

Elusive pleasure of old patterns
not a source of charm or delight,
but the very thought of leaving
cause of such pain and fright!
knowing their harmfulness to evolution
and yet knees buckle, when left
face-to-face with them, aghast!

Decidedly Arjun put down his arms,
ready to be killed by the small mind
sorrowful and disheartened
disinterested in the action
for which he had learnt his war-art

Just as in the heat of some moments
all knowledge gets blown away into the wind
and one is taken over
by unruly wanderings of the little mind
wonder-blunders of a short sight!

Such was the state of the warrior of warriors
as he sat unaware and unwilling
to act as the moment needed him to...
yet seemingly certain
of his desire to not fight,

Ah...isnt it such a contrast
from the perhaps-ness of the wise!
The certainty in the deluded mind
oft becoming its very plight!

Heartbroken, he exemplified
Non-resistance in (in)action and
Full resistance in the mind...

Oh haven't we all sometimes
been there..done that? :)

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Verse by Verse Translated by Ramanand Prasad :

Therefore, we should not kill our brothers, the sons of Dhritaraashtra. How can we be happy after killing our kinsmen, O Krishna? (1.37)

Though they, blinded by greed, do not see evil in the destruction of the family, or sin in being treacherous to friends. (1.38)

Why shouldn't we, who clearly see evil in the destruction of the family, think about turning away from this sin, O Krishna? (1.39)

With the destruction of the family, the eternal family traditions are destroyed, and immorality prevails due to the destruction of family traditions. (1.40)

And when immorality prevails, O Krishna, the women of the family become corrupted; when women are corrupted, social problems arise. (1.41)

This brings the family and the slayers of the family to hell, because the spirits of their ancestors are degraded when deprived of ceremonial offerings of rice-ball and water. (1.42)

The everlasting qualities of Varna and family traditions of those who destroy their family are ruined by the sinful act of illegitimacy. (1.43) (Note: Varna means color, or the make up and the hue of mind; a social division or order of society such as caste in India.)

We have been told, O Krishna, that people whose family traditions are destroyed necessarily dwell in hell for a long time. (1.44)

Alas! We are ready to commit a great sin by striving to slay our kinsmen because of greed for the pleasures of the kingdom. (1.45)

It would be far better for me if the sons of Dhritaraashtra should kill me with their weapons in battle while I am unarmed and unresisting. (1.46)

Sanjaya said: Having said this in the battle field and casting aside his bow and arrow, Arjuna sat down on the seat of the chariot with his mind overwhelmed with sorrow. (1.47)

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

I c: Excuses-the chains of delusion (1.27-1.36)

When the glimmer of sun is faint
shadows look like mountains.
One close look at the mammoth kin
of the virtuous and the vicious
Close buddies, relatives and friends
The inevitability of their destruction,
of change, of redefinition, of the horror
Shook the force out of Arjun...

No longer sure of what he wanted
he was ready to quit...
convinced he presented to Krishna,
his concience and friend,
seemingly sound reasons...

ah..isnt it ironic? the same reason
that lays the path to truth
can delude one away ...thus was Arjuna
consumed by reasons, excuses and justification
of why it was better to quit and drop the fight
than to face the inevitability of the fierce action..
Copyright 2007 dropsoflight for
Art of Living.(bookstore.artofliving.org)

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Verse by Verse Translated by Ramanand Prasad :

Arjuna was overcome with great compassion and sorrowfully said: O Krishna, seeing my kinsmen standing with a desire to fight, (1.28)

My limbs fail and my mouth becomes dry. My body quivers and my hairs stand on end. (1.29)

The bow, Gaandeeva, slips from my hand and my skin intensely burns. My head turns, I am unable to stand steady and, O Krishna, I see bad omens. I see no use of killing my kinsmen in battle. (1.30-31)

I desire neither victory nor pleasure nor kingdom, O Krishna. What is the use of the kingdom, or enjoyment, or even life, O Krishna? (1.32)

Because all those, for whom we desire kingdom, enjoyments, and pleasures, are standing here for the battle, giving up their lives and wealth. (1.33)

Teachers, uncles, sons, grandfathers, maternal uncles, fathers-in-law, grandsons, brothers-in-law, and other relatives. (1.34)

I do not wish to kill them, who are also about to kill, even for the sovereignty of the three worlds, let alone for this earthly kingdom, O Krishna. (1.35)

O Lord Krishna, what pleasure shall we find in killing the sons of Dhritaraashtra? Upon killing these felons we shall incur sin only. (1.36)

Copyright 1988 by Dr. Ramanand Prasad - All Rights Reserved

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For the sanskrit text and audio see:
http://bhagavad-gita.org/Gita/verse-01-28.html
http://bhagavad-gita.org/Gita/verse-01-29.html
http://bhagavad-gita.org/Gita/verse-01-30.html
http://bhagavad-gita.org/Gita/verse-01-31.html
http://bhagavad-gita.org/Gita/verse-01-32.html
http://bhagavad-gita.org/Gita/verse-01-36.html
http://bhagavad-gita.org/Gita/verse-01-37.html

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Tuesday, September 11, 2007

I b : Awareness-the twilight zone (1.14-1.26)

The conches blew loud and clear,
Krishna and Arjuna,
and others from far and near
The roaring sound of the righteous
deafening the slaves of little mind...
And Arjuna asked the ONE to take him
to the fence of the honorable and dishonorable
One last look before the onset of the war
so that he could clearly see
who was at odds,
what was the war-toll going to be...
Shaken to see his dear ones on the wrong side...

Until this last examination
there was clarity, power, and determination...
and this decision to stretch and redefine
the limit of the comfort-zone
brought to light new doubts, new fears
unheard of until reaching the twilight zone,
neither asleep-unaware,
nor wakeful-blossomed in awareness....

Copyright 2007 dropsoflight for
Art of Living.

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Verse by Verse Translated by Ramanand Prasad :

Krishna blew His conch, Paanchajanya; Arjuna blew his conch, Devadatta; and Bheema, the doer of formidable deeds, blew (his) big conch, Paundra. (1.15)

The son of Kunti, King Yudhishthira, blew (his conch) Anantavijaya, while Nakula and Sahadeva blew Sughosha and Manipushpaka conches, respectively. (1.16)

The King of Kaashi, the mighty archer; Shikhandi, the great warrior; Dhristadyumna, Viraata, and the invincible Saatyaki; (1.17)

King Drupada, and the sons of Draupadi; the mighty son of Subhadraa; all of them blew their respective conches, O lord of the earth. (1.18)

The tumultuous uproar, resounding through earth and sky, tore the hearts of the Kauravas. (1.19)

Seeing the sons of Dhritaraashtra standing; and the war about to begin; Arjuna, whose banner bore the emblem of Hanumana, took up his bow; and (1.20)

Spoke these words to Lord Krishna: O Lord, (please) stop my chariot between the two armies until I behold those who stand here eager for battle and with whom I must engage in this act of war. (1.21-22)

I wish to see those who are willing to serve the evil-minded son of Dhritaraashtra by assembling here to fight the battle. (1.23)

Sanjaya said: O King, Lord Krishna, as requested by Arjuna, placed the best of all the chariots in the midst of the two armies; (1.24)

Facing Bheeshma, Drona, and all other Kings; and said to Arjuna: Behold these assembled Kurus! (1.25)

There Arjuna saw his uncles, grandfathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons, and comrades. (1.26)

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