Glory of the Second Chapter of Bhagavad Gita

[Guest guest]

Sorry for the delay in posting the Glory of the Second Chapter of

Bhagavad Gita. My sincere thanks to all those who had nice words to

say about the first post. Sarojaji has given an excellent commentary

on the story about the first chapter. I wish she continues to do so

for the remaining chapters also .

 

Regards

Parameswaran

 

THE STORY OF DEVASHARMA AND GOOD KARMA

 

In the village of Purandara in South India, lived Devasharma, a very

pious person. He was renowned for his noble deeds. Still he was not

happy and peaceful. He visited many saints and holy men in search of

peace of mind, but it still eluded him.

 

A very famous saint happened to come to his village temple at that

time. Hearing about his greatness , Devasharma went to meet

him. " Holy one, I surrender myself at thy feet, bless me with peace

of mind " .

 

The saint thought for a while and told Devasharma – " Dear one, in the

dense forest at Punyapura, there lives a shepherd called Mithravan.

You can find him resting on the rocks. Approach him, he alone can

give you peace of mind "

 

Immediately Devasharma started his journey to meet Mithravan. He

reached the forest and searched Mithravan for quite a long time.

Finally he saw him resting on a rock holding a big stick. There was

radiance in his face and besides him tiger cubs and sheep were

playing together.

 

Devasharma bowed with respect before the shepherd – " I come from the

Village of Purandara, I have come in search of peace of mind, kindly

bless me " .

 

Mithravan went in to deep meditation. His face started glowing.

Devasharma was in awe seeing the radiance which surrounded Mitravan.

 

After awakening from the meditation Mitravan told Devasharma –

 

" Long ago, I was also like you searching for peace of mind. By the

banks of Godavari, there lived a person called Durdhama, who was very

cruel and wicked. He was born as a Brahmin in his next birth and due

to his vasanas of previous birth he married a woman notorious for her

bad character and excessive lust. After marriage, she had affairs

with several men without the knowledge of her husband. A girl was

born to her, after a few years the Brahmin came to know that he was

not the father of the girl. He threw his wife out of the house and

married her daughter, inspite of his old age and weak health.

 

His wife who was thrown out of the house started roaming in the

forest, causing trouble to many people who lived there. Her husband

also soon followed her, after thrown out of the house by his young

wife. Both of them died in the forest . In the next birth the Brahmin

was born as a tiger and his wife as a sheep in my herd. Once when a

tiger chased one of my sheep I ran behind them. When both of them

reached the banks of the river, I saw remarkable changes in their

behaviour. I was stunned when the sheep started speaking to the

tiger – " You please eat me, you must be hungry " , the tiger replied –

" No I have only love and compassion towards you, I'll not eat you "

 

I reached beside them and asked – " What is the reason behind your

affection for each other " . None among us knew the answer. Suddenly

I heard a voice " I know the reason " . I turned back and saw a monkey

laughing at us from the branches of the tree. We three approached

the monkey and told it " Please tell us the reason "

 

The monkey started telling us – " See the rocks over there, there

lived a great soul named Sukarma. He treated his guests like God and

was famous for his hospitality. Once a holy guest who was mighty

pleased with Sukarma offered him a boon. Sukarma asked him for a

boon – " I always desire to give peace to others " . The holy man was

pleased on the truly selfless request of Sukarma.

 

The monkey continued – " See what the holy man has given to Sukarma.

On the rocks over there, he has inscribed the Second Chapter of the

Bhagavad Gita. Due to it's powerful effect, all beings living here

are unaffected by hunger, thirst, greed, lust, anger and enmity. It

is because of the blessings of Sukarma, the tiger and sheep have

compassion for each other. Though the tiger was born to take revenge

on the sheep because of the vasanas of his past birth, this place has

reformed them. "

 

After hearing the words of the monkey, we started walking towards the

rocks and started reading the Second Chapter of Bhagavad Gita

inscribed in it. The sheep and the tiger have already attained

liberation and I am patiently awaiting for it. If you want peace of

mind, Dear Devasharma , start reading the second chapter of Bhagavad

Gita. "

 

On hearing the noble words of Mithravan, Devasharma started reading

the second chapter of Bhagavad Gita.

 

HARE KRISHNA,