Reposting : Srimad Bhagvad Gita : Q&A Part 1

[Guest guest]

His Holiness Sri Puttige Swamiji delivered discourses on Srimad Bhagavad Gita in

Bay Area for seven consecutive evenings as Gita Saptaha. I would like to post

the summary of the same in a question and answer form in seven parts with

blessings

from Sri Swamiji.

 

I might have comitted mistakes in trying to convert the discourse into this

form due to my limited knowledge and ignorance. I request the knowledgable to

correct my mistakes.

 

Best Regards,

VRP

 

--

Sri Gurubhyo Namaha

Harihi OM

 

E mahImandaladoliha guru |

shrI madAchAryara mathAnuga |

rA mahA vaishnavara vishnu pAdAbja madhukarara ||

stOmakAnamipe avaravara |

nAmagala nempElve bahuvidha |

yAma yAmangalali bodhisalemage sanmathiya ||

[Harikathamrutasara - Sandhi 32 - Padya 53]

 

--

Q. What is the position of Bhagavad Gita amongst all scriptures ?

 

A. Amongst all the scriptures, Mahabharatha is the greatest. Within that

Vishnu Sahasranama and Bhagavad Gita are the Crown Jewels. Bhagavad Gita

is the message of Lord Sri Krishna and Lord Vedavyasa (who is also an

incarnation of the supreme himself) to the mankind. It is like Diamond; in

which ever direction it is seen it gives new light. It can be viewed as

philosophy, psychology, economics, political science, etc.

 

--

Q. Bhagavad Gita consists of 18 chapters. Any significance of #18 ?

 

A. In some scriptures numbers are used to convey tattvas since words fail to

communicate tattvas in an unambigious manner. (Sometimes words can be

interpreted to mean more than one thing.) Number 18 symbolises NARAYANA

himself. So the depth of Bhagavad Gita is indicated by it consisting of

18 chapters.

 

Also it is of interest to note that

1. There are 18 Parvas in MahaBharatha

2. Kurukshetra war lasted for 18 days

3. There are 18 Puruanas (and 18 upa-puranas)

 

--

Q. Can you give examples of other numbers and tattvas represented by them ?

 

A. Lakshmi Devi is represented by number 17.

Soul(Jeeva) is represented by number 16.

 

Jeeva is covered by 15 fences like, Pancha Jnanendriya, PanchaKarmendriyas

etc. Jeeva has to come out of this 15 fences and reach Lakshmi Devi and

then Lord Narayana.

 

--

Q. Bhagavad Gita was preached by Lord Sri Krishna to Arjuna. How is it useful to

us?

 

A. Arjuna was only a Nimitta Karana; Name sake only. In reality it is intended

for the entire mankind. It is said :

 

sarvopaniShado gaavo dogdhaa gopaala nandanaH |

paarthovatsaH sudhiirbhoktaadugdha.m mahat.h ||

 

In this verse, the Upanishads are called a cow, Sri Krishna is the milkman,

Arjuna is the calf which induces the cow to yield milk and the Gita is the

milk. Just as the milk is not for the calf alone, so also the Gita which

contains the quintessence of all the Upanishadic thoughts is not for Arjuna

alone but for the whole of mankind.

 

Fingers take the position of Jnana Mudra during milking. So Bhagavad Gita

is also called Jnana-Ksheera. Milk is considered a pari-poorna Aahara for

the physical body. Similarly Bhagavad Gita is considered a pari-poorna

Aahara for the spiritual body.

 

--

Q. Arjuna was a reputed to be a great warrior even before the war. What happened

to him all of a sudden that he wants to withdraw from fighting this war ?

 

A. Arjuna being very proud of his strength and full of ego asked krishna to

position his chariot between the two armies so that he could have a view of

his adversaries. After thus positioning the chariot, Krishna says

" You see all KURU people here " . A great knowledgable person like Arjuna

started thinking how he can kill his own teachers, elders and kinsmen. He was

caught in the ATTACHMENT/MOHA that he has with his people. Hence he puts

forth arguments in favour of withdrawing from the battle field.

 

--

 

Arjuna's argument against fighting the war :

 

He feels it is not dharma to kill his elders, teachers and innocent people

in the process of killing the wicked.

 

He feels the war would lead to many social ills. Each and every house has

sent its able-bodied men into this war. Most of them would be killed and

hence the male population would diminish. The social structure would crumble.

As such there will be a lapse of dharma.

 

Thus he narrates to Sri Krishna evils of the war from both personal and

social angle.

 

--

 

Sri Krishna's Reply :

 

Lord Krishna just laughs after hearing Arjuna. In whole of Bhagavad Gita

Sri Krishna has not given any direct replies to the questions regarding

social evils arising out of war that arjuna put forth in his argument.

But in the end Arjuna is satisfied completely.

 

Sri Krishna attacks the ROOT cause of the problem Arjuna is having.

Sri Krishna knows that it is Arjuna's attachment to his kith and kin that

is speaking and not his real concern about the evils of the war. Also Sri

Krishna thinks, why did not the same question arise in several battles that

Arjuna fought earlier ? If the disease has to be cured, the casue should

be treated and not the symptoms. (Eg. The yellow fever cant be cured by

applying cosmetics to the skin.)

 

--

 

Q. Why is that we should not worry about the fruits of the action ?

 

A. karmaNyevaadhikaaraste maa faleShu kadaacana | II-47

 

God alone is the giver of the reward, only the perfomance of actions is

within our reach. The befitting fruits of the action will be automatically

given by the Lord and as such there is no need to worry about the fruits.

Fruits of any karma is like shadow, which will follow automatically if you

do not chase it. On the other hand, if you chase the shadow, meaning

concentrate on the phala instead of the karma, you will never be able to

catch it.

 

Eg: If a student wastes all his time worrying if he will get through the

exam or not instead of concentrating on his studies, he will not be able

to get through.

 

Hence it is better if we just concentrate on doing our karma and befitting

fruits will be given by the Lord. (without us worrying for it)

 

--

Q. We see some good & kind people inspite of their hard work will be struggling

to make the ends meet. On the other hand we see some un-worthy people having

committed bad acts enjonying the comforts of worldly life. Why isnt the law

of karma applicable in these cases.

 

A. Fruits of karma is not limited to just one life time. Good karma done in the

previous lives would have enabled a better life in this life time. Following

analogies will help to understand this concept better.

 

Farmer on account of his hard work previous year would have harvested a

bounty and need not worry for this years food. Similarly people who worked

hard and studied during their childhood have comeup in life and those who

neglected their studies are facing tough time now.

 

People who were rich in their previous life and did not use their money for a

good cause will become beggers in their next life.

 

--

 

Conclusion :

Do your duty properly. Lord Krishna will reward you with appropriate fruits.

There is not need to worry.

 

--