Bhagavad Gita - Daily One Verse Brief Explanation - II 1:37 II

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II 1:37 II

 

tasmaannaarhaa vayam hantum, dhaartaraastraan svabaandhavaan

svajanam hi katham hatvaa, sukhinah syaama maadhava (Gita 1:37)

 

Therefore we are not worthy of slaying the sons of Dhrtaraashtra,

our kinsmen; for, O Maadhava (Krishna)! by killing our own kinsmen,

our own relatives, how can we gain happiness?

 

From Gita Prabodhani in Hindi pg. 14 by Swami Ramsukhdasji

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Chapter 1, Verse 37 is as follows;

 

Tasmaat = therefore

Na = not

ArhaaH = justified

Vayam = we

Hantum = to kill

Dharta-raaShtraan = the sons of Dhritarashtra

Sva-Baandhavaan = our brothers / relatives

Svajanam = kinsmen

Hi = indeed

Katham = how

Hatvaa = having killed

SukhinaH = happy

Syaam = may we be

 

Maadhava = O Krishna! (`Maa' means goddess of wealth and `Dhava'

means husband)

 

English translation:-

 

Therefore, we should not slay the sons of Dhritarashtra - our own

brothers. O Krishna, how can we become happy by killing our own

kinsmen?

 

Shreemad Bhagawad Geeta is full of beautiful logical constructs like

`Yadaa, Tadaa' i.e. when / then, `Yasmin, Tasmin' i.e. if / then,

`Yasmaat, Tasmaat' i.e. if that is the case / therefore in that case

etc.

 

These immaculate logical constructs demonstrate total mastery of

Lord Krishna as well as of Maharshee Veda Vyaasa over all ancient

scriptures. Sound logic and impeccable reasoning always precede

their irrefutable conclusions and therefore those conclusions are

valid in any period of time. Their thoughts and reasoning are

classified as `Akshara Vaangamaya' i.e. loss-less literature for

time immemorial. On top of that both have the utmost modesty of

admitting that countless sages have already sung a number of hymns

with distinctive precepts, the very knowledge of the Self, with

characteristic certainty and incomparable reasoning. It is well

illustrated by Lord Krishna himself in verse 5 of chapter 13 of

Shreemad Bhagawad Geeta.

 

In the verse 37, the usage of word `Tasmaat' i.e. therefore in

conclusion, is indeed inappropriate as the reasoning put forward by

Arjuna lacks direction, depth, conviction and any concrete

foundation as per our scriptures. No wonder Arjuna's so called

logical constructs collapse like mere pack of cards with the severe

blows of `Samkhya Yoga' i.e. Yoga of knowledge administered by Lord

Krishna in chapter 2 of Shreemad Bhagawad Geeta.

 

Arjun arrives at the so called logical conclusion that killing of

sons of Dhritarashtra cannot be justified as no happiness can accrue

by killing them. This is nothing else but a perverted logic.

 

In the self-centered state, Arjuna under the magical spell of his

hallucinated mind with total disregard to his `Kshatriya Dharma'

i.e. obligatory duties as a warrior; cannot imagine anything else

but his own sorrow and happiness.

 

It is indeed a tragedy that when the happiness and well being of the

entire nation called as `Bhaarat-Varsha' is at stake, Arjuna is

thinking only about himself and his kinsmen.

 

It reminds me of the famous inaugural speech by Ex-President of USA,

John Fitzgerald Kennedy, " In a call to bear the burden of a long

twilight struggle, year in and year out, rejoicing in hope but

patient in tribulation, a struggle against the common enemies of man

namely tyranny, poverty, disease and the unjust war itself; ask not

what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your

country " .

 

It is Lord Krishna's divine role to make Arjuna realise the fallacy

of his own baseless arguments; however, not by cold logic but with

warmth, genuine concern, tender love and a cent percent guarantee of

liberation from all sins that are going to be accumulated during the

course of the epic battle.

 

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