Bhagavad Gita - Daily One Verse Brief Explanation - II 2:8 II

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|| Shree Hari ||

Ram Ram

 

II 2:8 II

 

na hi prapasyaami mamaapanudyaad

yac chokam ucchosanam indriyaanaam

avaapya bhoomaav asapatnam rddham

raajyam suraanam api chaadhipatyam

 

" For even on obtaining undisputed sovereignty and an affluent

kingdom on this earth as well as lordship over the gods in heaven. I

do not see any remedy that can remove my grief, which parches my

senses. "

 

From Gita Prabodhani in Hindi pg. 22 by Swami Ramsukhdasji

 

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Chapter 2, Verse 8 is as follows;

 

Na = not

Hi = because

Prapashyaami = I see

Mama = my

Apanudyaat = would remove

Yat = that

Shokam = grief

Uchchho-ShaNam = dries up

IndriyaaNaam = of my senses

Avaapya = having obtained

Bhoomau = in the Earth

Asaptnam = unrivalled

Ruddham = prosperous

Raajyam = dominion / kingdom

SuraaNaam = over the Gods

Api = even

Cha = and

Aadhipatyam = lordship

 

English translation:-

 

I do not find any remedy to the grief that parches my senses, though

I may happen to gain unrivalled and prosperous monarchy on the earth

or even the sovereignty over the Celestials (by emerging victorious

in the impending royal battle).

 

Arjuna has declared an emergency situation and he is seeking instant

advice from Lord Krishna, as if it is available upon pressing the

`Help' button on a modern digital computer. Arjuna is trying to

communicate urgency in his earnest appeal to Lord Krishna. Arjuna is

simply unable to bear any more the agonies of the internal inferno

raging within him and he does not know how to quench that insatiable

fire and thus bring an end to his sufferings.

 

In modern day parlance, it is equivalent to a `SOS' i.e. `Save Our

Souls' signal from a captain of a sinking ship. The three letters

`SOS' represent the radio telegraphic signal (â‹…â‹…â‹… – – – â‹…â‹…

â‹…) used, especially by ships in distress, as an internationally

recognized call for help.

 

It is also equivalent to `May-Day' call. `May-day' is an emergency

code word used internationally as a distress signal in voice

procedure radio communications. It derives from the French phrase

`Venez m'aider', meaning 'Please come and help me'. It is used to

signal a life-threatening emergency situation by many groups such as

police forces, aircraft pilots, firefighters, ship-captions and many

transportation agencies. The call is always given three times in a

row ( " Mayday Mayday Mayday " ) to prevent mistaking it for some

similar-sounding phrase under noisy environmental conditions and to

distinguish an actual mayday call from a communication describing

about a mayday call in general.

 

Arjuna wants to know which golden parachute to use and how to

quickly manage a graceful rescue operation from the pitiable

condition he has landed in so far.

 

It reminds me of a famous `Bhakti Geeta' in Marathi language;

 

`Anantaa Anta Nako Paahu' i.e. O Lord of infinite love, please do

not wait till I meet with my ultimate demise. Please help me right

away and right now.

 

Arjuna's attitude is as if, " I do not know what I want, but I want

it right now! "

 

A newly married young woman in agony hesitates to divulge her

distress to her husband, but hastens to unburden it to her dear

mother as soon as she meets her. It is but natural for her to open

her mind to her dear mother, who is a guaranteed source of genuine

love and compassion for her.

 

Here, Arjuna is found in a position similar to the young woman in

agony. He opens his heart and pours out his pitiable case to Lord

Krishna; his friend, philosopher and guide.

 

When emotions overpower a person, he feels mental depression. The

mental depression saps his energy and in turn reduces him to a

vegetable state of sheer helplessness and utter despair. Without

taking recourse to `Viveka Buddhi' i.e. superior intellectual

discrimination, such a distressed person is unable to find succour.

 

The great characters like Hamlet, Othello and King Lear are eloquent

testimonies in the great Shakespearean tragedies, of those tormented

souls who led lives of great mental agonies and resultant,

subsequent miseries in their lives.

 

It reminds me of a famous quote by Albert Einstein, " No problem can

be solved from the same level of consciousness that has created it. "

 

Similarly, Arjuna is unable to solve his problem from the same level

of consciousness that has created it. He acknowledges his own

limitations.

 

Arjuna has to seek the help of Lord Krishna who represents the

flawless, Pure Consciousness

 

Arjuna is indeed fortunate as Lord Krishna addresses him in the

verse 3 of chapter 4, " Bhaktosi Me Sakhaa Cheti " i.e. O Arjuna you

are my dear friend as well as my devotee and I am going to tell you

the Supreme Secret, which will dispel your darkness and lead you to

the path of realisation of the Self. "

 

Thanks & Best Regards,

Shrikant Joshi

 

===============================================================

FROM " THE BHAGAVAD GITA - SADHAK SANJIVANI "

 

 

II 2:8 II

 

In the previous verse, Arjuna takes refuge in Lord Krsna, but he

thinks that Lord Krsna wants him to wage the war, which he regards

as unrighteous and so He will again order him to wage war. Secondly,

he thinks that perhaps he has not been able to convey his feelings

to Him. So in the next verse, Arjuna clearly expresses his feelings

to Him, against the war.

 

Comment: —

[Arjuna thinks Lord Krsna, wants him to wage war, so that

he may gain victory and kingdom, and thus his grief may be removed.

But he is so grief stricken, that even the joy of victory, is not

likely to remove his grief.]

 

'Avapya bhumavasapatnamrddham rajyam' — Even if I obtain an

undisputed sovereignty and affluent kingdom, on this earth, and my

subjects become happy and prosperous, and I may have no enemy on the

face of earth, it will fail to remove my grief.

 

'Suranamapi cadhipatyam' — Not to talk of worldly pleasure, even

lordship of Indra (the king of the gods) over the gods, cannot

remove my worry and grief. In verses, thirty-two and thirty-three of

the first chapter, Arjuna wanted to turn away from war, because of

his attachment for his kinsmen. But here, he wants to turn away from

war because he thinks that it is an obstacle, to salvation. So there

is a lot of difference, between the two situations.

 

'Na hi prapasyami mamapanudyad yacchokamucchosana-mindriyanam' — How

sad I shall become, after the death of My kinsmen, when I am so much

grieved after thinking of it! If I grieved over the loss of a

kingdom, it might be overcome by gaining it. But I am grieved at

thinking of the massacre of my kinsmen. If I gain a kingdom, it will

rather enhance my grief, because who could enjoy the kingdom, after

the death of my kinsmen? Therefore, undisputed sovereignty and an

affluent kingdom on this earth and lordship over the gods cannot

remove the grief, that is parching my senses.

 

 

From " The Bhagavad Gita - Sadhak Sanjivani " in English pg 83-84 by

Swami Ramsukhdasji.

 

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|| Shree Hari ||

Ram Ram

 

All Sadhaks can and should contribute as well. Discussion /

clarification is encouraged

 

OTHER REQUESTS FROM SADHAKS -

 

Please feel free to take the lead in any of these areas so that all

sadhaks may benefit.

 

- Introduction to Chapters (GT MODERATOR FROM SADHAK SANJIVANI)

- Chapter Summary - Principles and Laws emanating from it.(N.B. VYAS)

- Summary of Chapter from Sadhak Sanjivani " AS IS "

- Yes, Epilogue / Important Facts in each verse good to bring out.

- Any subtle thoughts / interpretation (MIKE ?)

- In-depth explanation of " Om Tat Saditi Srimadbhagavadgitaasu,

Upanishadsu..... " is a very good idea. (GT MODERATOR FROM SADHAK

SANJIVANI)

 

From Gita Talk Moderators

Ram Ram

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

 

Shree Hari

Ram Ram

We deeply thank Shri Shrikantji Joshi for taking the initiative to

support this divine work of daily one verse Bhagavad Gita

explanation and Shri Madan Kauraji for the Gita Prabodhani

translation Chapter 1 and 2 and to Mrs. K Asani for requesting shloka

explanation on a daily basis.

From Gita Talk Moderators

Ram Ram