Bhagawad Gita - Ch.1 - Verses 24-31

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Chapter I: 24-27

Sanjaya said: Thus addressed by Arjuna, Krishna,

having stationed that best of chariots in the midst of

the two armies, in front of Bhisma and Drona and all

the rulers of the earth, said: "Oh Arjuna, behold

these Kurus gathered together."

 

Then Arjuna saw stationed there, fathers and

grandfathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers,

sons, grandsons and companions, too, fathers-in-law

and friends also, in both the armies. Seeing all these

kinsmen thus standing arrayed,

 

 

Commentary

----------

The greatest of all moments in the history of the

world, the moment when the yoga of the Bhagavad Gita

was revealed, arrived. Arjuna was the chosen channel.

The Lord was maneuvering Arjuna into the position in

which the ideal stage would be set up. Hence, he

places the chariot right in front of the two people

for whom Arjuna had the greatest respect and love -

Bhisma and Drona. Not only that, the Lord miraculously

brings about a change in Arjuna's vision.

 

Arjuna, who but a moment before was thinking of the

Kaurava army as the "enemy", "evil-minded", etc.,

suddenly beholds all the warriors in a different light

- as kinsmen and friends. Enthusiasm for war yields

place to sorrow and confusion.

 

The external situations or circumstances have but a

neutral intrinsic value: it is one's own mind that

attributes pleasure and pain, good and evil to them.

As we shall see, this is the very core of the yoga of

the Bhagavad Gita, and, Lord Krishna creates the most

suitable climate for his teaching by bringing out the

contrast in the two attitudes of Arjuna.

 

 

Chapter I: 28-31

 

Arjuna spoke thus, sorrowfully, filled with deep pity:

"Seeing these, my kinsmen, Oh Krishna, arrayed and

eager to fight, my limbs fail and my mouth is parched,

my body quivers and my hairs stand on end, the bow

slips from my hand and my skin burns all over. I am

unable even to stand and my mind is reeling, as it

were. And I see adverse omens, Oh Kesava, I do not see

any good in killing my kinsmen in battle."

 

 

Commentary

----------

The seed of all our miseries is beautifully exposed to

our view. "Suffering" does not move us to pity. We are

not at all "grieved" over death. We do not shed tears

when we read of earthquakes and air crashes. Only

identification of our own self with the persons

involved gives rise to grief. "A boy drowned in the

sea" is news; "My son was drowned" is a heart-breaking

tragedy! Both boys were living beings, born of

parents, but the latter was "my son", and that makes

all the difference.

 

Delusion is a mental state, but it has a devastating

effect on even our physical being. Psychosomatic

medicine is discovering the truth that our health

depends not so much on health foods and tonics, on

strong muscles and sturdy limbs, but on the state of

our mind which is ultimately dependent on a correct

attitude to life. The Bhagavad Gita gives us this

correct attitude.

 

The "adverse omens" - did Arjuna actually see any? We

should not forget the Pandavas were victorious. The

omens could have portended the destruction of their

own

children. Or perhaps the fear and the confusions which

overwhelmed Arjuna made him "see things".

 

Commentary by Swami Venkatesananda web address.

www.dailyreadings.com

 

Pranams,

Viji.

 

 

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