Bhagavad Gita - Daily One Verse Brief Explanation - II 1:34 II

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II 1:34 II

 

aacaaryaah pitarah putraastathaiva ca pitaamahaah

maatulaah svasuraah pautraah, syaalaah sambandhinas tathaa (Gita

1:34)

 

Teachers, uncles, fathers, sons, as well as granduncles, maternal

uncles, fathers-in-law, grandsons, brothers-in-law and other

relatives as well.

 

From Gita Prabodhani in Hindi pg. 13 by Swami Ramsukhdasji

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Chapter 1, Verse 34 is as follows;

 

AachaaryaaH = teachers

PitaraH = fathers

PutraaH = sons

Tathaa = thus

Eva = also

Cha = and

PitaamahaaH = grandfathers

MatulaaH = maternal uncles

ShvashuraaH = fathers-in-law

PautraaH = grandsons

ShyaalaaH = brothers-in-law

SambadhinaH = relatives

Tathaa = as well as

 

English translation:-

 

Teachers, fathers, sons as well as grandfathers, maternal uncles,

fathers-in-law, grandsons, brothers-in-law and other relatives are

present here.

 

Arjuna once again sees the warriors in the opposing army of

Kauravaas as preceptors and dear relatives.

 

Arjuna in his myopic view continues to argue that he is almost

veering to the point that the impending battle between two factions

of the Kuru family is a futile exercise; as it will certainly wipe

out all those who are so near and dear to him and that he cannot

possibly imagine leading a life without their existence and

emotional support.

 

Lord Krishna's provocative silence induces Arjuna to repeat his

`thought experiment' of inventing lame excuses for justification of

withdrawal but not surrender from the ensuing epic battle; without

realising that it is not based on any concrete foundation, that is

in consonance with the scriptures.

 

What a pity! The destiny has called upon Arjuna to rise to the

occasion and demonstrate his mettle and ultimately emerge victorious

in the battle. Arjuna was looking for softer options in life by

going after low hanging fruit.

 

Arjuna is at the crossroads of his journey in life. The very thought

of indulgence in the fratricidal war does not bring him any joy, at

the same time abstinence from the war does bring him only sorrow as

if he has lost all his co-ordinates and all bearings in life.

 

Unlike a modern politician, Arjuna is not a turncoat. He is

certainly not an `Aayaa Raama and Gayaa Raama'. He has nothing to

gain from the battle. Duryodhana had not made any secret deal with

Arjuna for breaking away from the rank of Paandavaas. Arjuna's

dichotomy was whether to preserve the Kuru family tree or to

preserve the great nation `Bhaarata-Varsha'.

 

Why such a sudden change in Arjuna's attitude? A tiger cannot

suddenly become a vegetarian. A deer cannot suddenly become a

carnivorous animal. But a man can suddenly change course in his

life. After the merciless battle of Kalinga, King Ashoka suddenly

renounced violence. A dacoit called `Vaalyaa' could become a

renowned sage called `Vaalmikee'. They all were destined to become

so as per their `Purvakrutam' i.e. accumulation of good `Karmas'

i.e. actions in the preceding births.

 

This explains the very divine purpose in the creation of a man. As

per our scriptures, one begets a life of human being only after

going through the torturous process of crossing 84,00,000 varieties

of species of life on this earth. In addition to that, only after

crossing a number of cycles of birth and death in the human form,

one realises the Self i.e. the godhood or godhead in oneself. This

is very well explained by Lord Krishna himself in the verse 19 of

chapter 7 of Shreemad Bhagawad Geeta.

 

Arjuna is about to undergo such a dramatic transformation in his

life from a hesitant, reluctant warrior to a Self realised person,

whose doubts are dispelled and illusions are destroyed by the divine

grace of Lord Krishna.

 

Shreemad Bhagawad Geeta is indeed a unique scripture, whose narrator

is Lord Krishna, whose listener is `Arjuna', a representative of

Lord Vishnu and whose compiler is `Maharshee Veda Vyaasa', also a

representative of Lord Vishnu. This is very well explained by Lord

Krishna himself in the verse 37 of chapter 10 of Shreemad Bhagawad

Geeta.

 

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.

From Gita Talk Moderators

Ram Ram