Bhagavad Gita Verse 7 - Interpretation and commentary

[Guest guest]

Namste:

 

As one of the moderators of this list, I do owe an explanation

regarding Gita Commentary and Interpretation. The list had gone

over Gita verses as a part of Gita Satsangh in earlier years. During

that time, Sri Sadananda provided a detailed explanation to this

particular verse (also verses 1-8 combined). They are reproduced

here along with the original posting # etc.

 

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advaitin/message/4364

"Kuntimaddi Sadananda" <k_sadananda

Mon Mar 6, 2000 2:47 pm

Re: Bhagawad Gita - Ch.2 - Verses 1-8

 

Just couple of points with reference to sloka-s 2, 3 and 7. Till then

Krishna kept quite to let Arjuna vomit out whatever he can without

either encouraging nor discouraging him, by just with his

characteristic smile on His face.

 

As Shree Swami Ranganathanandaji of Ramakrishna Mission points out

with these two verses that Krishna is also teaching everyone of us

how to handle correctly at the psychological level any criticism of

others for their inaction or inappropriate action.

 

By saying that wherefrom you got this weakness of Oh Arjuna!, Krishna

implies that that weakness is not natural to Arjuna, whom He calls as

parantapa.

 

Instead of calling someone as a stupid - a positive approach is to

ask - where did you get this stupidity from? - which means that the

stupidity is not natural and it is only external and hence one can

easily get rid of it by proper thinking. It is a better way of

scolding than call any one a stupid or fool etc.

 

These very first two versus of Lord Krishna are also examples His

mastery of human psychology.

 

Verse 7 is as Prof VK noted is the example of completely

surrenderence of a confused soul to a higher authority.

 

KrishNa's real teaching about reality starts only after He found a

worthy disciple in Arjuna. Till that surrenderance is complete, the

student is not ready to listen. "I surrender completely - I am your

disciple - please teach me what is good for me" - Only after such

surrenderance the true teaching starts.

 

This aspect is emphasized in the VishishhTaadvaita - path of

prapatti - 'saadhi mAM tvAM prapannam' - Surrender to the Lord is

essential step for knowledge. One cannot surrender unless one has

devotion to that Lord. Hence Bhakti is essential ingradient for true

prapatti.

 

Next point is Arjuna is not asking a temporal solution to his

problem but for a solution that provides what is overall good from

all respects - shreyas - He is looking for a fundamental solution

rather than a temporary solution for the problme- Not just removal

of the symptoms of the problem but the problem itslef with the

roots. That is what shreyas implies. Hence Krishna sees that

Arjuna's problem is not just temporary weakness of the situation but

a more fundamental human problme of what is right and what is wrong

and how one should act when the mind is clouded by the attachments

and aversions. Hence Krishna's very first few sloks in resonse takes

us to the utmost philosophical heights. Everything else is an

elobaration of these thoughts.

 

Hari Om!

Sadananda

***************************************************

 

The members need to note that while undertsanding Gita, sometime

they need to go beyond a 'word,' 'phrase,' 'verse,' and chapter.

Great scholars have recognized that for greater philosophical

understanding, a thourough study of complete Gita is more than

necessary. Those who have read Dr. Radhakrishnan's commentary would

note many foot notes with references to other verses in Gita and

also from the Upanishads.

 

I hope that this clarification helps,

 

Warmest regards,

 

Ram Chandran

[Guest guest]

advaitin, "Ram Chandran" <RamChandran@a...>

wrote:

> Namste:

>

> Verse 7 is as Prof VK noted is the example of completely

> surrenderence of a confused soul to a higher authority.

>

>> Ram Chandran

 

Namaste, Ram Chandranji

 

I have always wondered how you remember and retrieve information or

part of even a casual comment just like that and just at the right

time. What self-discipline do you undertake to keep track of ideas

and opinions given by members of the list or of authors outside? I

would like you tell me the trick of this capacity of yours. Of

course I can understand how one can retrieve messages if one

remembers the title or the author and the approximate period of time

it was said. But you seem to be able to remember and retrieve even a

passing comment somebody made. Can you share with me some of your

methods? Thanks.

 

PraNAms to all advaitins.

profvk

[Guest guest]

Namaste Profvk:

 

I always greatly respect your scholarship and untiring and unselfish

service by using your time for teaching and for spreading the Hindu

wisdom to the world community. Your question has no answer because I

do not possess any extraordinary ability or capacity. The only answer

that I can think of is to humbly state that your perception about

my 'special ability' is only an illusion! Fruitful thoughts and

intuitions always arise due to His/Her Grace and all others come from

my impure mind!

 

Warmest regards,

 

Ram Chandran

 

 

advaitin, "V. Krishnamurthy" <profvk>

wrote:

>

> I have always wondered how you remember and retrieve information or

> part of even a casual comment just like that and just at the right

> time. ..... I would like you tell me the

> trick of this capacity of yours. Of course I can understand how

> one can retrieve messages if one remembers the title or the author

> and the approximate period of time it was said. But you seem to be

> able to remember and retrieve even a

> passing comment somebody made. Can you share with me some of your

> methods? Thanks.

[Guest guest]

shri Ram chandraN writes...

 

Namaste Profvk:

 

I always greatly respect your scholarship and untiring and

unselfish service by using your time for teaching and for spreading

the Hindu wisdom to the world community.

 

These are my sentiments too. Many people have wisdom and knoweldege .

But do not want to share this knowledge and wisdom with others either

beacause of lack of 'time' or due to other reasons ... But our

beloved professorji is able and willing to part with his knowledge

and wisdom to all, witout any expectation of reward.... . indeed, a

karmayogi ! of all, dhanams , vidya dhanam is the best .... gift of

knowledge ...

 

they say anna dhanam is best ... true, to some extent ... when you

feed a 'hungry' man, he is satisfied after eating the food , but ,

hours later, he is hungry again... but vidya dhanam ( jnana) - the

effects are permanent and everlasting....

 

Vidya Nama Narasya Rupamadhikam Pracchannaguptam Dhanam

 

Vidya Bhogakari Yasah Sukhakari

 

Vidya Bandhujano Videsa Gamane, Vidya Gurunam Guruh

 

Vidya Rajasu Pujyate Na Hi Dhanam Vidya Vininah Pasuh.

 

 

we must appreciate appreciate the greatness and the grandeur of True

Education.( vidya) Such education alone is real beauty, a hidden

treasure of mankind, and an unfailing companion when one travels

overseas. It is also the Teacher of all teachers. In the Court of

Kings, it is knowledge and not wealth that commands respect. He is a

pitiable fool, who does not aspire for such eternal knowledge.

 

(discourses from satya sai baba)

 

AND VIDYA IS THE ONLY DHANAM THAT DOES NOT DIMINISH BY SHARING WITH

OTHERS!

 

thank you professorji for your divine presence in this and other

cyber satsanghas!

 

SALUTATIONS TO SREE SARASWATI DEVI!

[Guest guest]

Namaste:

 

The Sanskrit term, 'annam' goes beyond feeding a hungry man. annam

for the stomach is good food, annam for the ear is hearing good

teachings, annam for the eyes is seeing the nature, annam for the

mind is 'pure thoughts.' The sentiments of your thought has also

been reflected by the Tamil saint and poet, Thiruvalluvar who states:

 

Thirukkural Tamil Verse:

'Sevikku unavu illatha pothu

Vayutrukkum iyappadum'

 

Translation:

We need to fill up our stomach with food if and only if we don't get

good food for our ears!

 

Swami Chinmayanda always used humor to illustrate and motivate the

audience. In one of his discourses, he said as human beings our

problem is the following: We seem to assume that our head is full

even when it empty, but at the same time we seem to assume that our

stomach is empty even when it is full!

 

I had the fortune to talk with many students of Profvk and everyone

greatly respect him for his unselfish services during his tenure in

Madurai (Tyagarajar College) and at BITS, Pilani.

 

Warmest regards,

 

Ram Chandran

 

advaitin, "adi_shakthi16"

<adi_shakthi16> wrote:

>

> they say anna dhanam is best ... true, to some extent ... when you

> feed a 'hungry' man, he is satisfied after eating the food , but ,

> hours later, he is hungry again... but vidya dhanam ( jnana) - the

> effects are permanent and everlasting....

[Guest guest]

dear ram chandran

 

very good point! i wish i had professorji as a Teacher in my college

days... maths was never my favorite subject specially calculus ! may

be if profeesorji was my teacher, i would have never failed in that

class !

 

YEs, you are right ! one must "feast" one's eyes on seeing good

things, hearing good things and on contemplating good things!

 

Knowledge is the true organ of sight, not the eyes. goes another

saying.

 

shastrasya chakshuhu- see everything through the eyes of the

scriptures!

 

 

we are fortunate to have professorji's holy presence in our midst...

 

btw, when did professorji teach BITS , PILANI ? MY BROTHER AND

COUSINS STUDIED THERE !

 

pranaams

 

 

 

 

 

advaitin, "Ram Chandran" <RamChandran@a...>

wrote:

> Namaste:

>

> The Sanskrit term, 'annam' goes beyond feeding a hungry man. annam

> for the stomach is good food, annam for the ear is hearing good

> teachings, annam for the eyes is seeing the nature, annam for the

> mind is 'pure thoughts.' The sentiments of your thought has also

> been reflected by the Tamil saint and poet, Thiruvalluvar who

states:

>

> Thirukkural Tamil Verse:

> 'Sevikku unavu illatha pothu

> Vayutrukkum iyappadum'

>

> Translation:

> We need to fill up our stomach with food if and only if we don't

get

> good food for our ears!

>

> Swami Chinmayanda always used humor to illustrate and motivate the

> audience. In one of his discourses, he said as human beings our

> problem is the following: We seem to assume that our head is full

> even when it empty, but at the same time we seem to assume that our

> stomach is empty even when it is full!

>

> I had the fortune to talk with many students of Profvk and everyone

> greatly respect him for his unselfish services during his tenure in

> Madurai (Tyagarajar College) and at BITS, Pilani.

>

> Warmest regards,

>

> Ram Chandran

>

> advaitin, "adi_shakthi16"

> <adi_shakthi16> wrote:

> >

> > they say anna dhanam is best ... true, to some extent ... when

you

> > feed a 'hungry' man, he is satisfied after eating the food ,

but ,

> > hours later, he is hungry again... but vidya dhanam ( jnana) -

the

> > effects are permanent and everlasting....