Gyaneshwari Geeta-12

Gyaneshwari Geeta-12

5. It should be far better to live on alms in this world without slaying these high-souled elders. By killing these elders, even though money-loving, I should only be tasting joys smeared with their blood. We hear that the sea is calm, but it is only on the surface, similarly agitation does not affect Drona’s mind at any time. This limitless sky is capable of being measured some time, but Drona’s heart is unfathomably deep (36-40).

Nectar may turn sour or the diamond may break some time, but his mental balance will not shake even if provoked. They say that the mother has true love for her child, but the mind of Drona is kindness incarnate. Drona is the fount of compassion, the mine of all virtues, the limitless sea of learning, so said Arjuna. He is not only eminent, but also kind; how then can we think of killing such a person? That we should kill our elders in battle and enjoy royal pleasures does not seem right to me, even if I have to part with my life (41-45).

This is such a heinous crime; even if their death brings us greater joys, I would rather go without them and start begging. I would even lay down my life for their sake or resort to a mountain cave, rather than take up arms against them. O Lord, how can we strike them in their vital parts with newly sharpened arrows and enjoy royal pleasures? What do we gain thereby? How can we enjoy these blood-stained pleasures? I therefore do not appreciate your reasoning. Please give thought to this, so said Arjuna to Krishna. But Krishna did not at all like what he heard (46-50).

When Arjuna divined this, he became afraid and said, “O Lord, why don’t you listen to what I say?”

6. Nor do I know which is better for us, that we conquer them or they conquer us. Those after killing whom we should not care to live, the Kauravas stand in array before us. I have told you whatever is in my mind. But you know what is best for me to do in this matter. They, for whom we would fain lay down our lives, rather than be hostile to them, are standing here with the object of fighting us. I cannot make up my mind what is better for us, to slay them or withdraw from here.

7. My nature is stricken with fault of pity, and my mind is confused about my duty, Pray tell me for certain what is better; I am your disciple, guide me, who am your suppliant. I do not know what is proper for me to do; I am so bewildered by reason of this delusion (51-55).

When the sight is enveloped by darkness, it cannot see even things close to it, such is my state. My perplexed mind cannot decide what is good for me. O Krishna, consider this and tell me what is proper in this case. You are our friend; you are all in all to us. You are our teacher, brother, father and also our favorite God. You have always been our protector in adversity. The teacher does not at all forsake his disciple, as the sea does not part from the river, which joins it (56-60). If a mother abandons her child, how will it survive? O Lord, you are our only friend, more so than to others, and if what I said does not appeal to you, then tell me quickly, O Supreme Person, what is proper for me to do, which is not contrary to dharma.

Om Namah Shivay