Bhagavad Gita - Daily One Verse Brief Explanation - II 2:34 II

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|| Shree Hari ||

Ram Ram

 

II 2:34 II

 

akeertim chaapi bhootaani, kathayishyanti te 'vyayaam

sambhavitasya chakeertir, maranaad atirichyate

 

" All beings will ever recount your undying infamy, in other words

they will speak ill of you. That infamy brought on is surely worse

than death for a man enjoying popular esteem . "

 

From Gita Prabodhani in Hindi pg. 42 by Swami Ramsukhdasji

 

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Chapter 2, Verse 34 is as follows;

 

Akeertim = dishonour / ill-fame

Cha = and

Api = also

Bhootaani = living beings

Kathayishyanti = will tell

Te = your

Avyayaam = everlasting / perpetual

Sambhaavitasya = of the honoured

Cha = and

AkeertiH = dishonour

MaraNaat = death

Atirichyate = exceeds

 

English translation:-

 

People will ever recount your perpetual dishonour. To the honoured

one, ill-fame is indeed worse than death.

 

An ordinary person is always scared of death and he tries all means

at his disposal to preserve his own life and prolong it at any cost.

 

In Geeta RaamaayaNa in Marathi language written by Shri. G. D.

Madagulkar, there is a nice illustration as follows;

 

" Jaraa MaraNa Yaatunee Sutalaa KoNa PraaNijaata

DuHkha Mukta Jagalaa Kaa Re KuNee Jeevanaata

MaraNa Kalpaneshee Thaambe Tarka JaaNatyaanchaa "

 

It means that there is no human being who is free from old-age,

disease and ultimate death. There is none who has lived a life

without sorrow. However, all the experts are unable to describe what

happens after a death.

 

A true warrior is the one who rises above the common fear of death

and tries his best to protect and preserve the lives of everyone in

the civil society and the nation, which he belongs to. By his

willingness to sacrifice his own life while preserving the great

cause, his glory increases and people regard him as their saviour

from the evil and wicked ones. Arjuna had earned such a stellar

reputation and he was regarded as the best archer in the world.

 

Lord Krishna chides Arjuna that he must come out of the present

state of utter despondency otherwise it will offer a ready fodder to

the people who indulge in slander and calumny of others. They will

project Arjuna as a spent force, who refused to face the realities

of life and like a coward, ran away from the battlefield merely to

protect his own skin. It will be indeed a matter of utter shame and

indignation to Arjuna.

 

If it ever happens that Arjuna finally abandons the battlefield,

then all the 13 years of planning and preparation to fight the royal

battle to uphold the righteousness will go down the drain. What a

colossal waste of efforts and energy that will be!

 

Lord Krishna has selected Arjuna to perform the divine task and

therefore he tries his best to turn the tide and convince Arjuna to

rise above the mundane existence and to fight the epic battle.

 

Whenever a doctor prescribes a strong dose of antibiotics, one feels

drowsy and weak. Similarly by the strong dose of Sankhya Yoga

philosophy, Arjuna displays a mental fatigue and intellectual

exhaustion. Lord Krishna is a smart teacher, who understands

Arjuna's predicament and immediately changes his track, by toning

down his appeal to a mundane level of a common speak. The very

thought of `dishonour' strikes Arjuna like a sharp arrow. To a true

warrior, meeting death on a battlefield is the supreme honour that

he longs for. In such a death, he does not lose his name and fame.

Whereas, by abandoning his obligatory duties, Arjuna faces the

prospects of dis-credit, strong rebuke and infamy for the rest of

his life. Arjuna is certainly not prepared to lead such a

disgraceful life.

 

It reminds me of a very nice Sanskrit Shloka, which is as follows;

 

" Nindantu Neeti NipuNaH Yadi Vaa Stuvantu,

LakshmeeH Samaavishatu Gachchhatu Vaa Ythaa Ishtam

Adya Eva Vaa MaraNastu Yugaantare Vaa

NyayaaH Pathat Pravichalanti Padam Na DheeraaH "

 

Let the experts in ethical conduct may rebuke or praise, let the

Goddess of Wealth – Lakshmee may bless or depart; today – tomorrow –

until the death or even beyond the change of an age; the steps of

the wise, intelligent and resolute ones do not deviate from the path

of honesty and justice, as they are not unduly worried about their

name, fame and wealth.

 

Arjuna was certainly not of the calibre of the wise, intelligent and

resolute ones. Therefore, being a true warrior, the fear of

`Akeerti' i.e. dishonour appeals to Arjuna the most, as he does not

wish to attract any blemish to his entire career full of valour and

honour.

 

Thanks & Best Regards,

 

Shrikant Joshi

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OTHER SADHAKS

 

From Gita 2:33

 

Exalted Sadhaks

 

Is swadharma peculiar to a person ? or to a group ?

 

In these days of multi various activities and groups, how can we

identify our own swadharmas

 

Is swadharma a character trait acquired after birth or something

ingrained in you

 

and how to use the same to purge yourself of the vasanas

 

Is not the vasanas that dictate how you will act in a given circumstance? then

is swadharma subject to vasanas? if so, how swadharma paripalanam can relieve

you of ur vasanas ?

 

Please explain

 

Siva " wannabe.acharya "

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Shree Hari

ALL SADHAKS CAN RESPOND TO ABOVE QUESTION. GT Moderators, RAM RAM

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-Shree Hari-

 

 

Dear Shrikant,

Reading your great presentation stimulated a couple of thoughts.

When looking at human beings,(same can apply to mammals, harder to

monitor). Giving an example; my wife apparently when first put into a

row boat as a young child was paralyzed with fear, still hates boats.

My daughter in law, is totally freaked out by even a small lizard,

totally harmless as lizards are.

People have inexplicable phobias.(When viewed with western logic).

Other side of the coin; one of my sons was so musicale, that within

months his music teacher told us that she could no longer teach him,

he had learned so fast,(remembered?).

Surely these are impression from previous lives and are part of the

mix.

I wish to clarify a point, the dialogue and imagery of the Bhagavad

Gita, although historical and geographic, is also allegorical, yes?

 

With Respect and Divine Love,

 

Mike Keenor

 

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BHAGAVAD GITA RESOURCES

 

Please see list of Bhagavad Gita resources at:

 

http://www.karmayog.org/bhagavadgita/

 

(compiled by karmayog.com)

Shrikantji / Sadhaks if you have come across other great resources,

please kindly send note to us with link. Ram Ram

 

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

 

|| 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