Bhagavad Gita - Daily One Verse Brief Explanation - II 2:43 II

[Guest guest]

|| Shree Hari ||Ram Ram

II 2:42-43 II

 

yaam imaam pushpitaam vaacham, pravadanti avipaschitahveda-vada-rataah paarth, naanyad asteeti vaadinahkaamaatmaanah svarga-paraa, janma-karma-phala-pradaamkriyaa-visesa-bahulaam, bhogaishvarya-gatim prati

"O Partha (Arjuna), those who are obsessed by desires, who look upon heaven as the supreme goal, and they are devoted to the letter of the Vedas, performing many rites for fulfilling desires. They argue that there is nothing else (except to enjoy the pleasures). These unwise people utter flowery (show-off type, pleasant) speeches, recommending many rituals of various kinds for the attainment of pleasure and prosperity, with rebirth as the fruit of their actions."

 

From Gita Prabodhani in Hindi pg. 45 - 46 by Swami Ramsukhdasji

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

 

Chapter 2, Verse 43 is as follows;

 

Kaama-AtmanaH = full of desires

Svarga-ParaaH = with heaven as their highest goal

Janma-Karma-Phala-Pradaam = leading to new birth as a result of their actions / deeds

Kriyaa-Vishesh-Bahulaam = exuberant with various specific rites

Bhoga-Aishvarya-Gatim = the attainment of pleasure and power

Prati = towards / for

 

English translation:-

 

The unwise, obsessed with desires, with heaven as the ultimate goal, promise new birth as the reward of their actions and prescribe various specific elaborate rites for attainment of pleasure and power.

 

Normally, it has been construed that the ancient Vedic sacrifices were planned and directed towards the acquisition of monetary and material benefits on the Earth and promise of great future rewards in the Heaven. On the contrary Lord Krishna's advice to Arjuna is to renounce all selfish desires and actions and thus lead a life of service with true devotion and sacrifice for the betterment of the whole society and the entire nation.

 

In order to exploit the gullible masses, many people belonging to the BrahmaNa VarNa i.e. Priests preyed upon the frailty of human mind. Their basic idea was to instill fear of God and propagate and perpetuate the concepts of `Paapa and Punya' to such an extent that they were able to maintain their dominant position in the society.

 

Even today in India, one of such eloquent examples is forcing a family to perform religious rites after death of a family member, which the family cannot afford it after paying for the expenses of costly medical treatment and high hospitalization charges prior to death of their near and dear one. This is nothing else but cruelty to fellow human beings.

 

In fact, the basic objective behind the `Karma-Kaanda' has been purification of physical body, the mind and the intellect. It is a sort of preparation towards the final goal of the realisation of the Self.

 

However, people in search of instant gratification of their sensual pleasures and enjoyments in the acquisition of the material objects and comforts, distort this very basic objective for their personal profit and dominance over others.

 

In Christianity, the Heaven is considered as an eternal state of everlasting bliss and constant communion with God, where the sacred souls who have been granted salvation get a chance to reside.

 

Even in Islam, the human existence is treated as a state in transit, just waiting for transition / transfer to the `Jannat' i.e. the Heaven upon the supreme sacrifice called as `Qurbaani'.

 

Lord Krishna is trying to convince Arjuna, "Do not brood over the past, do not worry about the uncertain future, just focus your physical body, mind and intellect on the present and perform your divine role. You will automatically achieve all those heavenly pleasures without performing those elaborate Vedic rites, which are basically meant for motivation of ordinary citizens."

 

Thanks & Best Regards,

Shrikant Joshi.

 

 

Note:

I have following responses to various comments and observations;

Dear Mike: Thanks for your appreciation. I will certainly try to be brief. The original scriptures are indeed brief and terse, just like the basic message of `Tat Tvam Asi' i.e. You are indeed the one…the Self! However, a commentary needs a little more elaboration to explain the basic concepts involved. Therefore, please pardon my verbosity.

Dear Shashikala: Thanks for your nice presentation. I fully endorse your point of view.

Dear N B Vyas: I fully appreciate your observations. It reminds me of a famous song by Tina Turner, "Who needs a heart, when a heart can be broken, what love has got to do with it?" In the same manner, "Who needs to learn Geeta by heart, if it does not touch your heart, what any century has got to do with it?" Please pardon my indiscretion, if any.

With Best Wishes,

 

Shrikant Joshi

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

 

 

 

 

 

Hari OmBG 2:44 ! This verse states as to where the intellect can not become determinate- what is obstacle in fixation of object. Bhog (Consumption) and Aishavarya (Sangrah/ Accumulation ) , in fact !! Says Swamiji Ramsukhdasji Maharaj :Just as: A fish caught in net can not proceed furtherSimilarly: A person entangled in worldly bhog and aishavrvya can not fix single object of God Realisation. Can not even determine !!The Lord is talking here about Karma Yoga. One who considers world to be 'Real' - to him Karma Yoga gives very fast results. A Karma Yogi essentially becomes happy by seeing others happy, and compassionate by seeing sorrow in others. In the former case (seeing happiness in others, and becoming happy thereby) , his own desire for 'bhoga' (consumption) is eliminated. In the latter case by getting compassionate, his own desire for 'aishavarva' is eliminated. In former case in order to be happy , consumption is not necessary. Hence desire for consumption goes. In the latter case, accumulated worldly objects automatically get employed to remove the sorrows of others, out of compassion ! Hence the very means of bhoga get employed elsewhere.Once the desire for 'bhog' and 'aishvarya' gets eliminated, the obstacle is removed, and intellect gets power to become determinate !Oh ! Humanity shall always remain grateful to Holy Gitaji and Saints like Swamiji Ramsukhdasji Maharaj, who unravelled the mysteries with such precision and so simply. Swamiji also proved here as to how simple becomes easy to implement in day to day life of sadhak !Dear Sadhaks ! Please join this Gyaan Yagya enthusiastically. Such divine opportunities come only by Grace of God . Ask Qs. Deliberate. Glorify the Gitaji. Try to recheck meanings. Memorise Gitaji. An ocean of nectar is spread before all of us.Jai Shree KrishnaVyas N B -

Loving Divine,

Pranam.

In response to "...If you stabilize mind, how will you do karma? Because in stability of mind, outer activities cease !!"

I understand it this way... if mind (mana) ceases, the intellect (pragna, buddhi) starts working producing better karma (BG 2:68) as it is better instrument than mind, it knows right from wrong. When intellect ceases, soul takes over producing superior karma because then all comes from God and only God (BG 12:8) therefore karmas done by saints are of superior quality then intellect beings then by the one lead by mind. So both mind and intellect needs to cease for soul to manifest in our karma (BG 2:42/43).

love.

humble regards,

always at Thy Holy Feet

Manjula Patel

 

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

Hari OmPasting the following from Shrikantji's learned purport on BG 2: 42 :-Indeed rare and fortunate are those, who are able to avoid the ills of the `Karma-Kaanda' even today.As against the above, there is BG 6:44 reading as under:Even seeker of the Yoga of Equanimity ( curious) also transcends the fruit of vedic rituals performed with some motive.Seeking learned comments of sadhaks. Isn't it a beauty of Holy Gita that it has solutions to every obstacle, every difficulty, every apparently appearing rarity- merely if a human develops even simple curiosity and takes first step towards Him, or throws a cursory glance at His presence ? Jai Shree KrishnaVyas N B--------------------

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

Note:

Is it important to learn by rote the Bhagavath Geetha? I think that is meant for a practice. It is verily the user manual of our life. I have not seen anyone learning any user manual by rote or even try to do so; however expensive the item may be. What you say Sadhaks?

 

Siva

Hari OmRemembering Holy Gita by heart ! This is divine in itself. Oh ! What a peace generates in you when you spontaneously start singing verses of Holy Gita ! Every time you recite it, more meanings of words come into mind. Bhavas unlimited spring forth. The words of Sanskrita start dancing with their subtle meanings. Each and every syllable, vowel, word, sentence starts appearing meaningful. You invariably realise as to how Great is Lord who spoke such words. What a class in itself is God's voice, His selection of words, His chosen order of verses, His way of explaining, His methodology of repetition and summarising ! Secrets of Gitaji start manifesting within. Gitaji definitely appears new and fresh every time you recite it. I have no doubt on the same. Befitting Gita verses start coming to mind automatically based on practical situations prevailing at a particular time. The very environment becomes pure. When you remember by heart, then all obstacles get removed. You can recite before falling asleep, immediately after getting up, in the car, in the lift, whenever alone or feeling like !! Holy Gita. Any thing connected with that becomes Divine- be it tongue or mind or intellect or body or a piece of paper, or pen or computer !! Mind is the culprit for bringing us to this mortal world. If in this mind Gitaji is stored ... Divine !!What 2oth or 21st Century has got to do with the same?Jai Shree KrishnaVyas N B

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

|| Shree Hari ||Ram RamAll Sadhaks can and should contribute as well. Discussion /clarification is encouragedOTHER REQUESTS FROM SADHAKS -Please feel free to take the lead in any of these areas so that allsadhaks 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 SADHAKSANJIVANI)From Gita Talk ModeratorsRam Ram-----------------------------Shree HariRam RamWe deeply thank Shri Shrikantji Joshi for taking the initiative tosupport this divine work of daily one verse Bhagavad Gitaexplanation and Shri Madan Kauraji for the Gita Prabodhanitranslation Chapter 1 and 2 and to Mrs. K Asani for requesting shlokaexplanation on a daily basis.From Gita Talk ModeratorsRam Ram