Bhagavad Gita - Daily One Verse Brief Explanation - II 1:25 II

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II 1:25 II

 

bheesma-drona-pramukhatah, sarvesaam ca mahee-ksitam

uvaaca paartha pasyaitaan, samavetaan kurun iti (Gita 1:25)

 

Having placed the magnificient chariot between the two armies, in

front of Bhisma, Drona, and all the kings, said " O Partha (the son

of Pratha, Kunti), behold all these Kurus, assembled here. "

 

Comment:

 

Lord Krishna, by saying `Behold all these Kurus (instead of saying

only Dhartarastran) assembled here' had a deep insight. By seeing

all as part of one clan, Arjuna may develop kinship (delusion or

moha) towards them. This kinship may lead to attachment and make him

inquisitive for the Divine message. Thus by making Arjuna as an

instrument, Lord Krishna wants to preach the gospel of Gita for

destroying Arjuna's delusion on the outset and have the Divine

message of Gita serve as a benediction for the creatures of Kali-age.

 

From Gita Prabodhani in Hindi pg. 10-11 by Swami Ramsukhdasji

--------------------------

Chapter 1, Verse 25 is as follows;

 

Bheeshma- Drona = Bhishma and Drona

PramukhataH = in front of

SarveShaam = of all

Cha = and

Maheekshitaam = rulers of the Earth

Uvaacha = said

Paartha = O Arjuna!

Pashya = behold

Etaan = those

Samavetaan = gathered

Kurun = Kurus

Iti = thus

 

English translation:-

 

Facing Bheeshma and Drona and all the rulers of the Earth, Lord

Krishna said, " O Arjuna, behold all the Kurus gathered together " .

 

In the entire first chapter of Shreemad Bhagawad Geeta, Lord Krishna

remained silent with the exception of this verse number 25.

 

Partha is another title of Arjuna. Paartha means son of Prithaa i.e.

Kunti. Sanskrit term Partha also has an affinity to another Sanskrit

term `Paarthiva' i.e. made of earthen clay. Geeta is the song of

eternal truth sung by the Immortal Lord Shree Krishna for the

benefit of mortal Arjuna, as a typical representative of human

beings.

 

Lord Krishna knew very well that to Arjuna, paternal grandfather

Bheeshmaachaarya and Guru Dronaachaarya were the most adorable and

venerable persons in his entire life so far. Even though Arjuna

loved Krishna as a maternal cousin, so far he was treated as a dear

friend with whom Arjuna could take liberties of casual behaviour.

This is very well illustrated in the verse number 41 of 11th chapter

of Shreemad Bhagawad Geeta.

 

Therefore, Lord Krishna deliberately positioned the great chariot in

front of Bheeshmaachaarya and Guru Dronaachaarya. It was a litmus

test of Arjuna. Arjuna had already labeled all those in the army of

Kauravaas as evil-minded war-mongers, who were ready to please

unscrupulous Duryodhana. Lord Krishna brought to the notice of

Arjuna that his most formidable foes are going to be those two most

revered persons in his life. It is Arjuna's destiny that he has live

up to such un-welcome prospects and challenges in his life.

 

In the recent history, there is a nice poem written by Alfred Lord

Tennyson called as `The charge of the Light Brigade' and the most

relevant lines as are as under;

 

Their's not to make reply,

Their's not to reason why,

Their's but to do and die.

 

Never to debate on the merits and demerits of the decision to wage a

war is a characteristic of a true soldier. Lord Krishna conveyed to

Arjuna that Bheeshmaachaarya and Guru Dronaachaarya cannot be

grouped in the category of evil-minded war-mongers, who were ready

to please unscrupulous Duryodhana. As Bheeshmaachaarya and Guru

Dronaachaarya were living up to their `Dharma' i.e. obligatory

duties in life; Lord Krishna implicitly chides Arjuna to live up to

his own `Kshaatra Dharma' and perform his obligatory duty of

initiating the righteous war.

 

Unfortunately, Arjuna did not pick up the cue offered by Lord

Krishna. Soon Arjuna was drawn into the vortex of overpowering petty

emotions and confusion of personal motives and relationships, which

impeded the performance of his true obligatory duty.

 

However, fortunately for us it gave birth to the nectar of Shreemad

Bhagawad Geeta that continues to inspire us even today and will

continue to inspire us forever.

 

Thanks & Best Regards,

Shrikant Joshi

---

 

Shree Hari

Ram Ram

Thank you Shri Shrikantji Joshi for taking the initiative to support

this divine work and to Mrs. K Asani for requesting shloka

explanation on a daily basis.

From Gita Talk Moderators

Ram Ram