Bhagavad Gita - Daily One Verse Brief Explanation - II 2:29 II

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|| Shree Hari ||

Ram Ram

 

II 2:29 II

 

ascarya-vat pasyati kascid enam, ascarya-vad vadati tathaiva canyah

ascarya-vac cainam anyah srnoti, srutvapy enam veda na caiva kascit

 

" One beholds the Self as wonderful, another speaks of It as

marvelous; another hears of It as a marvel, yet another having

heard, knows It not. "

 

Comment:

 

The Self is so special that even its experience is full of wonder,

to describe is a wonder, hearing Its description is a wonder also.

The experience of the Self is not based on hearing or practice but

it can be only attained by accepting It. The means for It is – to be

silent, be in peace and be not a doer of anything.

 

From Gita Prabodhani in Hindi pg. 37 by Swami Ramsukhdasji

 

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Aashcharyavat = as a wonder

Pashyati = sees

Kashchit = someone

Enam = This (the Self, the Aatman)

Aashcharyavat = as a wonder

Vadati = speaks of

Tathaa = so

Eva = also

Cha = and

AnyaH = another

Aashcharyavat = as a wonder

Cha = and

Enam = This (the Self, the Aatman)

AnyaH = yet another

Shrunoti = hears

Shrutva = having heard

Api = even

Enam = This (the Self, the Aatman)

Veda = knows

Na = not

Cha = and

Eva = also

Kashchit = anyone

 

English translation:-

 

One beholds the Self - the Aatman as a wonder; another one mentions

of the Atman as a marvel; yet another hears about the Atman is an

astonishment; even though having heard the glory of the Atman, yet

no one comprehends the real truth behind the Atman at all.

 

This verse has been derived from chapter 1, section 2 and verse 7 of

Kathopanishad, wherein Lord Yama, the God of death preaches

Nachiketa, about life after death.

 

The Aatman cannot be classified with the things which can perceived

by the human sensory organs like eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin.

The Aatman is beyond the realm of the mind. The Aatman cannot be

defined by the intellect.

 

" Spittle or saliva is a thick and moist substance, which is secreted

by the salivary glands. The Vedas and all other scriptures may be

compared to with `Uchchhistam' i.e. spittle-defiled, as while

reciting they are tongue-touched. But the infinite Brahman has never

been spittle-defiled. Nobody has ever succeeded in defining the

Brahman in words. " …Ramakrishna Paramahansa.

 

Please refer the verse 3 in chapter 7 in Shreemad Bhagawad Geeta,

wherein Lord Krishna has said, " Among thousands of men, scarcely one

strives for perfection and amongst those who do strive and succeed,

scarcely one knows Me – the Aatman i.e. the subset of the superset

the Brahman in true essence. "

 

The right attitude, the right understanding, the right disposition

and the right application of the mind and the intellect are the

indispensible virtues that lean an aspirant to the Divinity. Men who

are fully equipped with such rare and divine qualities are rare

indeed.

 

The only thing that is possible for such rarest of the rare person

is to realise the Self.

 

While praising the Supreme Being, Santa Dnyaaneshwara has very

nicely explained in the following verse;

 

" Tuja SaguNa MhaNu Ki NirguNa Re; SaguNa, NirguNa Eka Govinda Re

 

Nivrutti Prasaade Dnyaanadeva Bole, Baapa Rakhumaa Devee Varu

Vitthalu Re "

 

It means: I do not know if I could ever describe You – the Supreme

Being, with attributes or without attributes. You are indeed

`GuNaateeta'. In fact, You are beyond all these attributes.

 

A layman tries to approach the God – the Self through his material

equipments. His human senses cannot perceive the Self. His mind

cannot feel the Self. His intellect cannot conceive the Self.

Anything that lies beyond the reach of his physical body, the mind

and the intellect is indeed a subject of puzzlement and amazement to

the layman. The Self remains a great mystery, a marvel and an awe

inspiring puzzle to an ordinary human being.

 

For such a gross level layman, only `Chamatkaaram' i.e. an act of

miracle is a pre-requisite for `Namaskaaram' i.e. an act of bowing

to the God.

 

However as one moves from the Gross to the Subtle, one does not need

miracles to appreciate the Divinity. Even routine Sunrise and Sunset

can inspire a Saadhaka towards spirituality.

 

For a highly evolved personality like Jesus Christ, he used to

say, " I see the Divinity everywhere. "

 

Please refer the verse 30 in chapter 6 of Shreemad Bhagawad Geeta,

wherein Lord Krishna has nicely defined such an accomplished

person, " He who sees Me everywhere and sees all in Me, I am not lost

to him nor he is lost to Me. "

 

Thanks & Best Regards,

Shrikant Joshi.

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

Dear Mike,

 

First of all thank you for appreciating my daily submissions. It

gives me succour, strength and reaffirms my resolve to complete the

task undertaken.I will try to follow, 'YogaH Karmasu Kaushalam'.

 

Addressing me Shrikant will suffice.

As regards, your questions of Is this refinement of the mind? Have

you any thoughts/comments?...my response is as follows.

 

In Vedanta philosophy, the mind is considered to be a fickle

instrument that you can not trust all the time. The mind is capable

of imagining what your sworn enemies may not think of. The mind needs

the rudder of the intellect, without which it goes helter skelter.

The intellect does not get focussed on gross level. It needs the

subtlest of the subtle entity the Aatman to focus. Under the

presence, supervision and the guidance of the Aatman, the trio of the

physical body, the mind and the intellect can be managed in the state

of equanimity and equipoise and thus finally resulting in the unity

with the Self.

 

I am a student of science. My objective is to present the meaning

of every verse in Shreemad Bhagawad Geeta, based on the sound

principles of science and technology. Science explains 'What

happened based on scientific facts and figures' but religious

scriptures help us to understand 'Why it happened beyond the

scientific facts, figures and proofs'. In my opinion, we need both.

In order just to survive and lead a life with comforts, we need

science and technology. But to lead a meaningful human life, beyond

the material comforts, we need religious teachings and the knowledge

of the Self.

 

I may not be qualified to answer all your questions, however, let us

continue this meaningful dialogue as addressed in the verse 9

in chapter 10 of Shreemad Bhagawad Geeta.

 

Thanks & Best Regards,

Shrikant Joshi

 

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

 

|| 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