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

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

II d: You are beyond time (2.12 - 2.15)

Sutra Subject: Immortality

It's the individual who gets destroyed. Infinity is indestructible. Being immortal is looking at your infinite nature.~SriSri

there was no moment, no time
when i was not present
and neither were you ever absent
or these warriors of your kin
events and moments, come and go
way beyond them you and me and them
shall continue to be,
present, chasing time all the way upto eternity.

the resident of the body
so continuously on the move
from staying in the frame of an infant
to that of the young to the aged tenant
And when the residence becomes tumble-down
simple! trade it in
for a fresh one, with a shining crown...
( and you dont even have to sign a lease!)
who gets deluded by the shape-move?
not he who lives in the wisdom-groove.

fire and ice...sun and snowflakes
being but temporary handshakes
between the senses and the matter vain
a moment of pleasure and a moment of pain
with a smile as your patient greeting
watch the sensations,
so transient and fleeting!

The ONE who stands unshaken, with temerity
across the flashes of gloom and glee
is he who can and does dissolve
in the present, in the timeless presence
and lives embodying eternity

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Mahatma Gandhi's verse-by-verse

2.12. For never was I not, nor thou, nor these kings; nor will any of us cease to be hereafter.

2.13.As the embodied one has, in the present body, infancy, youth and age,even so does he receive another body. The wise man is not deceivedtherein.

2.14.O Kaunteya! contacts of the senses with their objects bring cold and heat, pleasure and pain; they come and go and are transient. Endurethem, O Bharata.

2.15.O noblest of men, the wise man who is not disturbed by these, who is unmoved by pleasure and pain, he is fitted for immortality.

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Sanskrit
( Shree bhagavan uvaacha)

na tvevaaham jaatu naa-asam na tvam neme janadhipah
nachaiva na bhavishyama sarve vayamatah param (2.12)

dehinosminyathadehe koumaaram youvanam jaraa
tatha dehantarapraaptirdheerastatra na muhyati (2.13)

maatraasparshastu kounteya sheetoshNa sukhaduhkhada
aagamaapaayeenonityans tantiteekshasva bhaarata (2.14)

yum hi no vyathayantete purusham purusharshabha
samaduhkhasukhamdheeram somrutatvaaya kalpate (2.15)

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

II c. The wise lament not the past or future...(2.9-2.11)

The conquerer of sleep
lay down his arms and sat
waiting for the answer
to his sincere query

There in the middle of the TWO sides
laughing with compassion
the ONE teased him:
Brooding on that which is not worth,
you're misusing words to sound wise!
Neither regret for that which is gone
Nor worry for the that which hasnt even arrived,
trap the attention of the learned,
No! not at any price....

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Mahatma Gandhi's verse-by-verse

Sanjaya Said:

9. Thus spoke Gudakesha Parantapa to Hrishikesha Govinda, and with the words 'I will not fight' became speechless.

10. To him thus stricken with anguish, O Bharata! between the two armies, Hrishikesha, as though mocking, addressed these words:

The Lord Said: 11. Thou mournest for them whom thou shouldst not mourn and utterest vain words of wisdom. The wise mourn neither for the living nor for the dead.

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Sanskrit

Sanjay uvaacha
Evamuktvaa Hrishikesho GuDakesho Parantapa
Na yotsya iti Govindamuktvaa tooshNim babhoovah(2.9)
tamuvaacha hrisheekesho prahasanniva bhaarata
senayorubhayourmadhye visheedantamidam vachah(2.10)

Shree bhagavaan uvaacha

Ashochyaananvashochastvam Pragnavaadanschcha bhaashase
gataasoonagataasoonschcha nanushochanti panDitah (2.11)

Copyright 3000 B.C. Vedavyasa for Sri Krishna

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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)