Negativity (Dharma and youth)

[Guest guest]

In the sixteenth chapter of the gItA and also elsewhere, the positive

characteristics or those of devas and the negative characteristics

or those of the asuras and rAxasas are mentioned. One might wonder

"why does the Lord talk about such bad qualities such as hypocrisy,

arrogance, anger, etc. of the demoniac and further describe their

nature to Arjuna, that too in such a sacred scripture as the gItA?

Should He not be only talking about positive characteristics, take

a positive approach to teach Arjuna?"

 

The answer to this is found in Shankara's commentary, introduction

to the sixteenth chapter, where he says that the positive/divine

qualities are to be accepted by us whereas the negative/demoniac

qualities are to be rejected. The Lord Himself makes this clear

in the 5th verse, saying that the divine qualities enable one to

be liberated while the demoniac qualities cause bondage.

 

It is good to be aware of the positive things that we should

strive for or cherish. At the same time, we should be aware of

what NOT to do, what to avoid. Detailed stories in the epics

and other sources about demons, hypocrites, etc. are only

meant for teaching us whom NOT to emulate, to avoid the mistakes

that are pointed out. So, in the vairAgya shataka too, the author

points out/criticizes the bad qualities that are commonly found

in society with a view of teaching us NOT to repeat the same.

Such teachings should be taken in the right spirit.

 

Anand