BHAGAVAD-GITA 1:30

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BHAGAVAD-GITA 1:30

 

na ca saknomy avasthatum

bhramativa ca me manah

nimittani ca pasyami

viparitani kesava

 

WORD FOR WORD

 

na--nor; ca--also; saknomi--am I able; avasthatum--to stay;

bhramati--forgetting; iva--as; ca--and; me--my; manah--mind;

nimittani--causes; ca--also; pasyami--I see; viparitani--just the

opposite; kesava--O killer of the demon Kesi (Krsna).

 

TRANSLATION

 

I am now unable to stand here any longer. I am forgetting myself, and

my mind is reeling. I see only causes of misfortune, O Krsna, killer

of the Kesi demon.

 

PURPORT

 

Due to his impatience, Arjuna was unable to stay on the battlefield,

and he was forgetting himself on account of this weakness of his mind.

Excessive attachment for material things puts a man in such a

bewildering condition of existence. Bhayam dvitiyabhinivesatah syat

(SB. 11.2.37): such fearfulness and loss of mental equilibrium take

place in persons who are too affected by material conditions. Arjuna

envisioned only painful reverses in the battlefield--he would not be

happy even by gaining victory over the foe. The words nimittani

viparitani are significant. When a man sees only frustration in his

expectations, he thinks, "Why am I here?" Everyone is interested in

himself and his own welfare. No one is interested in the Supreme Self.

Arjuna is showing ignorance of his real self-interest by Krsna's will.

One's real self-interest lies in Visnu, or Krsna. The conditioned soul

forgets this, and therefore suffers material pains. Arjuna thought

that his victory in the battle would only be a cause of lamentation

for him.

 

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with

permission.