Bhagavad Gita - Daily One Verse Brief Explanation - II 1:31 II

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II 1:31 II

 

nimittaani cha pashyaami, vipareetani keshava

na cha shreyo 'nupashyaami, hatvaa sva-janam aahave (Gita 1:31)

 

O Kesava, I see adverse omens and also I do not foresee any good

ensuing from the slaughter of kinsmen in battle.

 

From Gita Prabodhani in Hindi pg. 13 by Swami Ramsukhdasji

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Chapter 1, Verse 31 is as follows;

 

Nimittaani = omens

Cha = and

Pashyaami = I see

Vipareetaani = adverse

Keshava = O Krishna!

Na = not

Cha = and

ShreyaH = good

Anupashyaami = I see

Hatvaa = by killing

Svajanam = our people

Aahave = in battle

 

English translation:-

 

O Krishna, I see adverse omens. I do not see any good ensuing from

the slaughter of kinsmen in the battle.

 

Arjuna's inclination to omens indicates his mental instability and

very weak morale to initiate the royal battle. In his state of utter

mental confusion, his emotive outbursts are totally disassociated

from his otherwise sharp intellect. A patient of mental hysteria is

normally found in a denial mode and indulging in self inflicting

agonies.

 

Omens, superstitions are the last resorts of the weak, constantly

wavering and vegetating masses, who are completely deluded. Even

today, many people in India still believe that, if a cat crosses

their path, then it is a bad omen to start any new activity.

 

Those who are always active in the performance of their obligatory

duties have neither time nor inclination to such omens and

superstitions. However, omens and superstitions have the destructive

potential to totally ruin the lives of those who fall victim to

their magical spell.

 

In his natural warrior like attitude Arjuna had no time for omens,

but now in his hesitant and un- warrior like attitude; Arjuna sees a

number of bad omens, which are totally subjective as they are born

out of his utter mental disorder.

 

The Universe is governed by the natural laws of space, time and

causation. Those people who are governed by their `Viveka Buddhi'

are able to discern the cause, the effect, the symptoms and the

remedies as a rectangular diagram of their correlation. A change

from a normally stable state of equanimity to an unstable mental

state happens due to external environmental forces as well as

internal unfulfilled desires.

 

Humans are fallible but not the laws of nature, which seem to be

governed by the Supreme Being, which we refer to as `Parama –

Aatma'. Lord Krishna is a `Vibhuti' i.e. a representative of the

various special manifestations of that all pervading Brahman i.e.

`Parama – Aatma'. It is very well illustrated by Lord Krishna

himself in verse 7 of chapter 7 of Shreemad Bhagawad Geeta.

 

The title `Keshava' of Lord Krishna has following three meanings;

 

1. The destroyer of the demon Keshin

 

2. One who has beautiful flock of heir on his head

 

3. `Ka' represents Lord Brahma, `Isha' represents Lord Shankara, the

king of Rudras and `Va' represents Lord Vishnu who accords bliss to

one and all.

 

Keshava is the embodiment of the Vedic Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and

Mahesh who have divided their respective tasks as the Creator, the

Preserver and the Destroyer of the Universe.

 

In this verse 31, Arjuna addresses Lord Krishna as `Keshava' asking

as if, " If you are well known for according bliss to one and all in

the Universe, then why are you depriving me of that very bliss? "

 

Thanks & Best Regards,

 

Shrikant Joshi.

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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.

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Ram Ram