Thiruvaheendhrapuram RathnAngi Kaimkaryam series: Posting 258/Desika Prabhandham : GeethArTa Sangraham : Part 18

[Guest guest]

SrI:

 

Dear BhakthAs of Lord PaarTasArathy :

 

Today , we will study the TWELFTH Chapter of

SrImath Bhagvath GeethA .This chapter has

20 slOkams . This chapter is about Communion

through loving devotion .

 

Introduction to the 12th chapter

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BhagavAn explains here the following aspects of the Bhakthi

Yogam /Bhagavath UpAsanam; latter is superior to

the meditation on the AathmA/Self ( JeevAthmOpAsanam).

The superiority of the Bhagavath UpAsanam over

AathmOpAsanam is due to the superiority of

the object of meditation ( Bhagavan ) over AathmA.

 

AchArya RaamAnujA quotes the 47th slOkam of

the sixth chapter of Bhagavath GeethA in this context :

" He who , with faith , worships Me , whose inmost self is

fixed in Me , I consider him as the most integrated

among all Yogins " . The path of meditation on the Self

is recommended for one , who does not have the wherewithall

to follow Bhagavath UpAsanam.

 

BhagavAn explains the following four points related to

Bhakthi Yogam in the twelfth chapter:

 

1. Meditation on the Lord through Bhakthi yOgam

2. Speediness of Bhakthi yOgam in bearing fruits

over JeevAthmOpAsanam and hence the superiortiy

of Bhakthi yOgam/Bhagavath UpAsanam

3. the " felicity " of the performance of Bhagavath UpAsanam

4. the means for meditation ( upAsanam ) on the Lord.

 

Swamy AlavanthAr's summary of the 12th chapter

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BhakthE: Sraishtyam upAyOkthi: asakthasyAthmanishtathA

tathprAkArAsthvathipreethi: BhakthE dhvAdasa uchyathE

 

- - - GeethArTa Sangraham of Swamy AlavathAr: slOkam 16

 

(Expanded mening): The superiority of Bhakthi yOgam is taught to

Arjuna in the 12th chapter. Arjuna is advised that Bhagavath

UpAsanam is superior (Sraishtyam) to JeevAthama upAsanam

( Aathma saakshAthkAram/Kaivalyam ) . Bhagavath UpAsanam is

identified as the one which will yield fruits (Moksham) quicker

than JeevAthmOpAsanam. Those who are not qualified for

Bhagavath upAsanam should elect for JeevAthmOpAsanam ,

which will pave the way for Bhagavath UpAsanam (asakthasya

aathma nishtathA ) . There are many steps in Bhagavath

UpAsanam ( Bhakthi yOgam): Control of mind , total focus

on experiencing Bhagavath GuNams , Construction of Temple ,

Gopuram , other Kiamkaryams to the Lord with Bhagavath preethi

alone in mind (athi prethA:) and the scrupulous observance of

nithya karmAs . These are UpAyOkthis. The accessory to Bhakthi

Yogam(Tath PrAkArA: ) is Karma yOgam . The aathma guNams

conducive to the observance of Karma Yogam are described by

BhagavAn from slOkam 13 to 19 of this twelfth chapter.

 

Swamy Desikan's summary of the 12th Chapter

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

Tann kazhalil patthi thAzhathathum athan kAraNamAm

innguNa chinthayum Eethu aRiyAthArkku avvadimaikaLum

tann karumankaL aRiyAthavarkku ilahu nilayum

tann kazhal anbarkku nallavan sARRinan PaartthanukkE

 

-- -- 13th Paasuram of Swamy Desikan's GeethArTa Sangraham

 

Meaning of the First & part ofthe second lines of the Paasuram :

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" Tann Kazhalil patthi thAzhAthathum , athan KaaraNamAm

innguNa chinthayum "

 

One who observes occupational duties , nithya karmAs ,

performs Yaagam , Homam , Tapas and dhAnam and presents

the fruits of those karmAs to the Lord in the spirit of Saathvika

ThyAgam will be assisted by the Lord to overcome all obstacles

to cross the ocean of samsAram and the Lord will grant him

Moksham . In contrast to the above Bhagavath upAsanam

with the angam of Karma yOgam , the route of AathmOpAsanam

will delay one's journey to MOksham since it is not easy to stop

the activities of the senses to perform upAsanam on JeevAthma .

The upAsakan has been used to consider his deham as AathmA and

that leads to additional confusion . Although it is difficult at

the beginning to have whole hearted focus on Bhagavan for one

who has been ruled by his senses , the repeated meditation on

BhagavAn's anantha kalyANa guNams will pave the way for

success in Bhagavath upAsanam.

 

Meaning of the rest of the second line of the Paasuram

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

" EethaRiyArkku avvadimaikaLum "

 

It is not easy to deflect the mind to engage in dhyAnam

of BhagavAn since the mind for a very long time has been

lured by external pleasures of a nonlasting kind. The power of

the old vaasanais can however be controlled in favor of

Bhagavath upAsanam by engaging in matters that please

the Lord : Building of His temples , creating flower gardens for

Him , lighting lamps in His sannidhi , facilitating AarAdhanam

for Him , Performing PradhikshaNams , BhagavannAma

sankeertthanam and namaskaraNam .Since these karmAs are

sacred and constant engagement in them will lead to single

pointed devotion to the Lord and access to Him .

 

Meaning of the Third line of the Paasuram

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" Tann karumangaL aRiyAthavarkku ilahu nilayum "

 

Saathvika ThyAgam including the samarpaNam of

the fruits of the karmAs to the Lord will destroy

sins arising from ahankAra-mamakArams . The JevAthma

dhyAnam will follow ; avidhyai will get banished and

the sEshathva Jn~Anam will get established .

The comprehension of the blissful nature of

the AathmA on a par with the Lord's aanandha

svaroopam will be realized and Bhakthi yOgam

will be realized with out much effort .

 

The Meaning of the fourth line of the Paasuram

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

" Tann Kazhal anbarkku nallavan saaRRinan PaatthanukkE "

 

Our Lord indicates that those who practise Bhakthi yOgam

(Tann kazhal anbar ) are very dear to Him ( anbarkku nallavan).

This truth was taught by the Lord to Arjuna in the 12th chapter

( saaRRinAn PaartthanukkE ) .

 

Some Key slOkams of the 10th Chapter of Bhagavath GeethA

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

MayyAvEsya manO yE Maam nithyayukthA upAsathE

sraddhayA parayOpEtAstE mE yukthatamA mathA:

-- -- 2nd slOkam

 

(meaning): " Those who , ever integratd with Me and

possessed of supreme faith , worship Me , focusing their

minds on Me-- -- these are considered by Me the highest

among the Yogins " .

 

yE tu sarvANI karmANi mayi sanyasya MathparA:

ananyEnaiva yOgEna Maam dhyAyantha upAsathE

-- -- 6th SlOkam

 

tEshAm aham samuddharthA mruthyusamsaAra saagarAth

BhavAmi na cirAth PaarTa MayyAvEsitha chEthasAm

-- -- 7th slOkam

 

(Meaning of both the slOkams): " For , those who dedicate all

actions to Me , hold Me as their supreme goal , intent on Me , and

worship Me meditating on Me with exclusive devotion. Of those

whose minds are thus focused on Me , I become soon their

Saviour from the ocean of mortal life" .

 

In slOkams 13 to 19 , BhagavAn lists the attributes of

those who are dear to Him as practioners of Karma Yogam

as an angam for Bhakthi yOgam . The sixteenth slOkam provides

an example of such upAsakan dear to the Lord:

 

anapEksha: suchirdaksha udhAseenO gathvyaTa:

sarvArambha-parithyAgi yO madhbhaktha: Sa mE priya:

 

(Meeaning): " He who is free from desires , who is pure ,

expert , indifferent and free from agony , who has renounced

every undertaking -- -- he is dear to Me."

 

tulyanindhAsthuthir-mounee samtushtO yEna kEnachith

anikEtha: sTiramathir-bhathimAn mE priyO nara:

-- -- 19th slOkam

 

(Meaning ): " He who regards alike both blame and praise ,

who is silent and content with any lot , who has no home ,

who is firm of mind , and who is devoted to Me -- -- dear to Me

is such a man . "

 

Sarvam KrishNArpaNam asthu ,

 

Daasan , Oppiliappan KOil VaradachAri SadagOpan

Srimate Sri Laksminrisimha Divya Paduka Sevaka

SrivaNN Satakopa Sri Narayana Yatindra Mahadesikaya Nama: