Gyaneshwari Geeta-9

Gyaneshwari Geeta-9

35. These I do not wish to slay, even if they were to kill us. O Krishna, for the kingdom of the three worlds, let alone the earth. Even if they were to cause harm to us or slay us, we would not think of attacking them (221- 225). Even if we were to get the uncontested kingdom of the three worlds, I would not commit this foul act. If we commit this act today, how shall we retain the respect of others? Tell me, O Krishna, shall we be able to see your face thereafter?

36. What joy shall be ours, O Krishna, by killing the Kauravas? Sin alone will dog us, if we slay these aggressors. If I were to slay these kinsmen, I shall be a hotbed of sins, and lose your company which we now have. If we cause the destruction of the family, we shall incur many sins. When and where shall we see you then? If the garden is engulfed in a big fire, the cuckoo will not tarry
there even for a moment (226- 230). Or if the chakora bird sees that the lake is full of slime, it will abandon the lake and go away. Likewise, O Lord, if my merit becomes exhausted, you
will beguile us and not greet us with affection.

37. Therefore, we ought not to kill the Kauravas along with their kinsmen. Indeed, how can we be happy, O Krishna, by slaying our own people? Therefore, I will not take up the weapon in this war. This deed appears to me improper in every way. If we lose you, O Krishna, what will remain with us? Our hearts will burst with sorrow, if you will leave us. Arjuna said, “So this thing is not likely to come about that we should slay the Kauravas and enjoy ourselves (231-235).”

38. Even if they do not perceive, with minds overcome by greed, evil in the destruction of the family or sin in the betrayal of friends,

39. Why should we not think it fit to turn away from this sin, when we see clearly, O Krishna, the wrong in the destruction of the family? Even if the Kauravas infatuated by pride, have come to fight us, we must see wherein lies our well-being. How can we slay our kith and kin? How can we drink poison knowing it to be so? If by chance, we come across a lion in our way, the advantage lies in avoiding it. If we throw away light and resort to a dark well, what benefit, O Lord, do we derive thereby? If we cannot keep away from fire facing us, it will engulf us and burn us in a moment (236- 240). How do we conduct ourselves, when we know fully that the sin of kin-slaughter will affect us? On that occasion Arjuna said, Lord listen to me. I shall explain how gruesome this sin is.

40. With the ruin of the family, its ancient customs decline. When these customs perish, immorality overtakes the entire family. Just as the fire, kindled by rubbing one stick with another, burns all wood, so if men belonging to the same clan kill one another, then that horrible sin destroys the whole clan through malice. As a result of this sin, family customs languish and thereby immorality, finds a home in the clan (241-245).

41. When immorality prevails, O Krishna, the women of the family become wanton; with the corruption of women, there arises intermingling of castes. Then all thought of right and wrong, or moral conduct, of what one should do and should not do, is lost, even as a person who throws away the lamp in his hand and walks in the dark, trips on a straight road. So with the destruction of the family its customs cease and then what can be his lot other than sin? When the senses start acting wilfully without self restraint, then even women of good families become unchaste. Then the higher castes unite with the lower castes, and with the mingling of castes the caste duties perish (246-250). Just as the crows pounce upon the food kept on the cross-road, so all sins rush at that family.

Om Namah Shivay