Gyaneshwari Geeta-11

Gyaneshwari Geeta-11

CHAPTER 2

|| SANKHYA AND YOGA ||

Sanjaya said,
1. To whom thus overwhelmed by pity, with troubled eyes, full of tears and despairing, Krishna spoke these words. Then Sanjaya said listen, O king, Partha was there overcome with grief and was lamenting. When he saw his family before him, there arose in him a strange affection, and his heart melted with the warmth of feeling. Even as salt melts in water, or a cloud is dispersed by the wind, so his courageous heart was touched in a tender spot. He was overcome by compassion and looked wan like a swan stuck in a swamp. Seeing that, Arjuna was afflicted by great delusion, hear what Lord Krishna said to him (1-5).

The blessed Lord said:

2. When has come upon you at this critical juncture this infamous dejection, not followed by the noble nor leading to heaven? O Arjuna, does this behaviour become you on this occasion? Think what you are and what you are up to? What’s the matter with you? Do you lack anything? Has anything remained to be done? What grieves you? You never thought of improper things nor lost courage. Your very name scares away failure to the end of the quarters. You are the abode of valour, the prince among warriors; all the three worlds stand in awe of your valour. You conquered Lord Shiva in war and dispatched the Nivatakavacha demons and made the Gandharvas sing your praises (6-10). The world looks small in comparison with you, so great are your qualities, O Partha. It is strange that losing your heroic spirit, you are lamenting with face downcast. Think for yourself, O Arjuna, how wretched you are with this compassion: Tell me, has darkness ever swallowed the sun? Does the wind ever fear the cloud or does nectar ever suffer death? Do you think that the firewood can smother the fire? Can the salt ever melt water? Can the
deadly poisonous kalakoota die of poisoning? Tell me, can a frog swallow a cobra (11-15)? Has a fox ever wrestled with a lion? Have such queer things happened before? But you have made such things seem possible. Therefore, O Arjuna, do not think of such things. Take courage and come quickly to your senses. Give up this folly, arise and take the bow in hand. Of what avail is this compassion on the field of battle? O Arjuna, you are a clever fellow; why don’t you think now? Tell me, is compassion proper at the time of war? It will ruin your present reputation and spoil your chances of going to heaven, so said Lord Krishna to Arjuna (16-20).

3. Yield not to impotence, O Partha; this does not become you. Cast off this gross weakness of the heart and stand up, O Arjuna. Therefore, O Arjuna, rid yourself of this grief and take courage. Stop this unseemly wail of woe, O son of Pandu. The reputation you have built so far will cease; think now at least what is good for you. This clemency will not help you on this occasion. Have you realised only now that they are your kinsmen? Did you not recognise this before? Did you not know them to be your relations? Then why are you making now this fuss about nothing? Is such a war new to you in your life? There has always been between you sufficient motive for war (21-25). It is beyond my understanding, but O Arjuna, what you have done is wrong. If you stick to this delusion, you will lose your present reputation and forfeit the joys of heaven, as also of this world. Faintheartedness is not good on such an occasion. It brings disgrace to a warrior in battle. The merciful Lord thus counseled Arjuna in many ways. Now listen to what Arjuna said after hearing it.

Arjuna said:
4. How shall I fight with arrows Bhishma and Drona in battle, when they deserve our homage, O slayer of foes? Lord, there is no cause for you to say all this; pray, think for yourself about this war (26-30). This is not a war but a blunder on our part. Our engagement in it will be disastrous, involving the slaughter of our elders. We should be serving our parents and giving them joy
in every way. Instead, how can we slay them with our own hands? Lord, we should bow down to the holy men, and if possible, worship them. How then could we go on cavilling at them? These are our elders who deserve respect at all times. Moreover, we are indebted to Bhishma and Drona in many ways. When we cannot even dream of enmity with them, how can we think of attacking them face to face (31-35)? What’s wrong with everybody? Woe upon our life that we should use against them the military skills learnt from them! I am the pupil of Drona who taught me the science of archery. Shall I then return this favour by slaying him? Am I demon Bhasmasura that I should betray those who have granted us favours and blessings?

Om Namah Shivay