Bhagavad Gita - Daily One Verse Brief Explanation - II 1:44 II

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II 1:44 II

 

utsanna-kula-dharmaanaam, manushyaanaam janaardana

narake'niyatam vaaso, bhavatity anususruma (Gita 1:44)

 

We have heard, O Janardana that men who have lost their family

traditions, dwell in hell, for an indefinite period of time.

 

From Gita Prabodhani in Hindi pg. 16 by Swami Ramsukhdasji

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Chapter 1, Verse 44 is as follows;

 

Utsann = destroyed

Kula-DharmaaNaam = family religious rites

ManuShyaaNaam = of the men

Janaardana = O Krishna!

Narake = in hell

Aniyatam = for unknown period

VaasaH = dwelling

Bhavati = is

Iti = thus

Anushushrum = we have heard

 

English translation:-

 

We have heard, O Krishna, that hell is verily the long lasting abode

for an indefinite period of time of the men whose family religious

practices have been lapsed.

 

`Naraka' i.e. the Hell is an exact mirror image of `Swarga' i.e. the

Heaven. They are `Exclusive OR' to each other in terms of the

mathematical language. Our existence in this mortal world is indeed

a borderline existence. If one follows the practice of `Adharma'

i.e. unrighteousness, then one is destined to the Hell. On the

contrary, if one follows the practice of `Dharma' i.e.

righteousness, then one is destined to the Heaven.

 

In different religions, there are further different interpretations

of such basic concepts of the Hell and the Heaven.

 

In the verse 16 of chapter 16, Lord Krishna has said, " Bewildered by

many ill-thoughts, entangled in the meshes of delusion and addicted

to the instant gratification of desires, they fall into the foul

Hell " .

 

In the verse 18 chapter 16, Lord Krishna has said, " Having taken

refuge under the attributes of self-conceit, brutal force, egoism,

lust and wrath; these malicious people despise Me (the Atman, a

fraction of the superset the Brahman which is personified as Lord

Krishna) dwelling in the bodies of themselves and others " .

 

In the verse 19 chapter 16, Lord Krishna has also said, " These cruel

haters, the worst of men, I constantly hurl such evil-doers into the

wombs of demons resulting into the cycle of births and deaths. " They

do have a chance to improve their status only if they abandon

`Adharma' and turn to `Dharma'. An eloquent example is of price

Prahlaada, who was born in the family of the king of demons called

as HiraNya-Kashyapa.

 

In the verse 20 of chapter 9, Lord Krishna has said, " The knowers of

the three Vedas (Rigveda, Yajurveda and Saamaveda excluding the

fourth Atharvaveda as it induces desires of monetary considerations

in all spheres of activities), those who drink invigorating juice of

`Soma Vanaspati', those who are cleansed of all their sins, those

who worship Me with sacrifices, pray for their onward march to the

Heaven. They eventually reach the holy world of Lord Indra and enjoy

the heavenly pleasures of the gods " .

 

In the verse 21 of chapter 9, Lord Krishna has said, " Having enjoyed

the spacious world of the Heaven, they return to the world of

mortals, when their merit is exhausted; thus conforming to the

doctrine enjoined in the three Vedas and desirous of missing worldly

enjoyments, they obtain the constantly changeable state represented

by cycle of births and deaths. "

 

Thus in summary, in the parlance of Vedanta philosophy, if one does

not perform his obligatory duties of `VarNa Dharma', `Jaati Dharma'

and `Kula Dharma', `Rashtra Dharma' and `Manushya Dharma' then one

is destined to the Hell, otherwise either to the mortal Earth or to

the Heaven.

 

It is my understanding that -

 

- In Christianity, there is a doctrine that, there is only one birth

given to every human being and one has to perform his duties as if

it is the Last Offer. In a way it is likely to induce fear and

orient every believer in Christianity to perform his solemn duties.

 

- In Islam, there is a concept that one has to perform supreme

sacrifice of `Kurbaani' i.e. voluntary death for the protection of

Islam, in the name of the Supreme Being named `the Allah'. The

current human mortal existence is similar to the status of a transit

passenger waiting for onward journey to the `Jannat' i.e. the

heavenly abode where one will be rewarded with all his unfulfilled

pleasures. In a way this too is likely to induce fear and orient

every believer in Islam to perform his solemn duties.

 

- In Buddhism, there is a concept of `NirvaaNa' which is a

derivative of `Brahma-NirvaaNa' in Vedanta philosophy. Buddhism

stresses `Nivruttim' i.e. the concept of retirement from human

pleasures as against `Pravruttim' in Vedanta philosophy which

encourages pleasures with moderation and self-regulation.

 

Please note that I am not criticising any religion or faith, I am

just stating my humble understandings, which are open to be

challenged by every Sadhak.

 

The reason for such an elaboration is `Patha-Bheda' of Shreemad

Bhagawad Geeta i.e. two off-shoots of interpretation in the words

namely `Narake Niyatam VaasaH' versus `Narake Aniyatam VaasaH'.

 

Based on my understanding -

I support the strand of `Narake Aniyatam VaasaH' as it gives hope to

person in any state that there exists a chance for self-improvement

to move up the ladder from the Hell to the mortal Earth to the

Heaven subject to performance of righteous duties.

 

I do not support the strand of `Narake Niyatam VaasaH' as it gives a

false impression that once you attain the Hell then you are

permanently consigned to the Hell. This destroys the very hope that

there exists a chance for self-correction even release from the

Hell.

 

Arjuna is worried that if he participates in the gruesome epic

battle then he might be consigned to the Hell forever and therefore

his argument is that, " It is not the question of my abilities or my

whole-hearted willingness to fight the battle; but why to invite a

trouble in the first place when you have the intelligence with the

grace of God, to prevent your own downfall " .

 

Thanks & 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