Bhagavad Gita - Daily One Verse Brief Explanation - II 2:11 II

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|| Shree Hari ||

Ram Ram

 

II 2:11 II

 

sri-bhagavan uvacha

 

ashochyan anvashochah tvam, prajna-vadams cha bhaashase

gataasoon agaatasoons cha, naanushochanti panditaah

 

Shri Bhagavaan said -

 

" You grieve for those who should not be grieved for, yet speak as if

a man of wisdom. The wise grieve neither for the living nor for the

dead. "

 

Comment:

 

Beginning with this verse Lord Krishna is starting His Divine

message - the wisdom of knowing what is body (unreal) and what is

the indweller of the body (real) which is very essential for all

aspirants to realize, may they be following any of the spiritual

paths. The sharira (body, unreal) is constantly marching towards

death and the shariri (soul, real) always lives (is eternal),

therefore it is not proper to feel sorrow for both the real and the

unreal. This is the gist of the entire Divine message.

 

One thing is of special importance here, in this context, Lord has

used the word shariri (dehi, the indweller in the body) even though

It is a ray of His consciousness only to make the ordinary people

understand. The fact is that shareer (body) and shariri (indweller

in the body) has no relationship with each other, it is impossible

for shariri (indweller in body, Soul) and sharira (body) to have any

relationship.

 

From Gita Prabodhani in Hindi pg. 23-24 by Swami Ramsukhdasji

 

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Chapter 2, Verse 11 is as follows;

 

Shree Bhagavaan = Lord Shree Krishna

Uvaacha = said

Ashochyaan = to those who should not be grieved

AnvashochaH = have grieved

Tvam = you

Pradnyaa-Vaadaan = words of wisdom from wise

Cha = and

BhaaShase = you speak

Gataasoon = the dead / the departed souls

Agataasoon = the living / the arrived souls

Cha = and

Na = not

Anushochanti = grieve

PaNditaaH = the wise

 

 

English translation:-

 

The Blessed Lord Krishna said, " You have grieved for those, who you

should not have grieved for; yet you spell words of wisdom. The wise

do not grieve for the living or for the dead. "

 

This verse marks the commencement of the divine message from the

divine messenger, the Lord Shree Krishna, whom we recognise as the

`SampoorNa Purushottama' i.e. the personification of the Purest

Consciousness.

 

However, a caution is to be exercised by all the Sadhakas that the

divine message is not to be confused with the divine messenger. The

one, who is `GuNaateeta' i.e. beyond description, cannot be

subjected to the same limitations of human attributes and knowledge.

 

In the Indian Kashmir version of Shreemad Bhagawad Geeta, there is a

`PaTha Bheda' i.e. different presentation in the form of

`Padnyaavaad Na Abhi-Bhaashase' i.e. you do not speak as an

intelligent man. So be it.

 

Lord Shree Krishna begins with the strongest dose of `Samkhya Yoga',

which is quite different from `Sankhya Darshan' i.e. a philosophy

expounded by Kapila Muni.

 

In verse 26 of chapter 10, Lord Krishna has said, `Siddhaanaam

Kapilo MuniH' i.e. Kapila Muni his one of his `Vibhuti', i.e. a

divine manifestation of the Self. Kapil Muni was recognised as the

person with the highest order of knowledge and achievements. Kapila

Muni had the stellar reputation of a contemporary Albert Einstein,

the one who had thoroughly understood the secrets of the Universe.

 

In Sanskrit language, `PanDaa' means wisdom and therefore the word

`PaNDitaH' means a learned person.

 

In the Upanishad, there is a Shloka as follows;

 

" PaNDaa AatmaaviShayaa BuddhiH YeShaam, Te Hi PanDitaaH " i.e. those

who have the real knowledge of the Self are considered to be the

learned persons.

 

Lord Krishna holds that the one who truly knows the very plan and

the purpose of the Universe is a `PaNDitaH'. While speaking like an

enlightened one, Arjuna grieves like an ignorant child, which an

apparent contradiction.

 

Keeping the fickle mind, rock-steady in all favourable or

unfavourable eventualities is the hallmark of a true `PaNDitaH'.

Such a person does not grieve over the death of his kith and kin any

more than one grieves over the sunset. The wise perfectly

understands the inevitable and unending procession of the departing

and arriving souls on the planet earth. A birth does not excite him.

A death does not deject him.

 

Therefore, Arjuna's grief and dejection display a total lack of

wisdom and yet he speaks words of wisdom. Moreover, Arjuna grieves

over the unrepentant and remorseless Kauravaas who represent

`Murtimanta Paapam' i.e. personification of the most evil and wicked

characteristics of human beings.

 

In Lord Krishna's assessment, Arjuna's thoughts, words and deeds on

the battle-field are not coherent i.e. not in perfect synchronism

and harmony. This has reflected in his shattered mind, shambled

physical body and dejected spirit.

 

Swami Ramakrishna has said, " Speak out that only which is in your

mind. Do not create conflict between word and deed. Nothing good

comes from the disharmony of the thought, word and deed in oneself. "

 

Lord Krishna is indirectly advising Arjuna to look at the entire

situation from the standpoint of a dispassionate onlooker or

observer, who is not in the same frame of reference. He is asking

Arjuna to renounce his current physical, mental and intellectual

estimates of Grandsire Bheeshmaachaarya and Guru Dronaachaarya and

re-assess them and re-evaluate the entire scenario, through

spiritual understanding of the Self.

 

As per Albert Einstein's theory of relativity, a person travelling

in an airplane with closed windows has no perception of his motion,

while being inside the moving airplane. However, to another person

standing on the earth in the vicinity, he has perfect knowledge of

the motion of the aircraft as he is not part of the same frame of

reference as that of the traveller in the airplane.

 

All that Lord Krishna is trying to convince Arjuna is that first try

to understand the limitations of your perceptions, thoughts and

imaginations. Once you know them well and accept them as your

genuine shortcomings, you will certainly transcend them and attain

`Yoga' i.e. the unity with the Self.

 

Thanks & Best Regards,

Shrikant Joshi.

 

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

FROM OTHER SADHAKS

 

Respected Shri Suhas Gogate jee,

 

You wrote: In an earlier write up BG (1/41) Shrikant ji has ref to

the " Vrushni " clan. Today we have a clan called " BISHNOI " who stay in

south-west Rajasthan around Barmer & in north Saurashtra. Their name

comes from the 20 Principles of Life which they follow. Since Dwarika

is close enough to this region, I feel their name is a misnomer

of " Vrushni " which has changed over a period of time. Am I right??

 

No, Suhas jee, you are not right. Bhagwan Krishna has been addressed

as Vaarshaneya by Arjuna in Gita 1:41 and 3:46. The word means

descendent of Vrushni. But Bishnoi (or Vishnoi) are a Vaishnava sect

who follow, not twenty, but bees+noi: twenty-nine, " Principles of

Life " laid down by their Guru Shri Jambhojee (1451-1536). Shri

Jambhoji was born in Panwar Rajput family in village Pipasar in

Nagaur Pargana of Rajputana, now Rajasthan. Since, these people

worship Bhagawan Vishnu, on this account too they are called

Vishnois.

 

Also, not only in Barmer and North Saurasthra but also South-West

Punjab (especially Fazilka Tehsil of Ferozepur), Haryana, Bikaner,

Jodhpur and other princely states of Rajputana are the areas where

they are found.

 

Dr. Ranjeet Singh

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

|| 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