Thiruvaheendhrapuram RathnAngi Kaimkaryam series: Posting 252/Desika Prabhandham : GeethArTa Sangraham : Part 13

[Guest guest]

SrI:

 

Dear BhakthAs of Lord PaarTasArathy :

 

Today , we will study the EIGHTH Chapter of

SrImath Bhagvath GeethA , which is the second chapter

in the second hextad of Geethai adhyAyams .It will take

more than one post to summarize the high lights of

this chapter and its relationship to the previous chapter.

 

Swamy Desikan's summary of the EIGHTH Chapter of Geethai

**************************************************

Swamy Desikan's brilliant summary of the 28 slOkams of

the EIGHTH chapter has taken this form in his

GithArtha Sangraham Paasuram :

 

aarAtha selvamum aar uyir kaaNum arum payanum

pErAthu tann kazhal keezh amarum peru vAzhcchikaLum

sOrAthu uhanthavar thUmathi koLvathum seyvanavum

tErA Visayanukkut-ThirunAraNan seppinanE

 

---GeethArtha Samgraham : Paasuram 9.

 

(Meaning ): Lord KrishNA , the direct incarnation of

SrIman NaarAyaNan , performed upadEsam to the confused

Arjunan about the doctrines to be grasped and the practises to be

observed by the four different adhikAris ( qualified ones) who desire

either undiminishing wealth or the enjoyment arising from

the direct visualization of the Self or the parama purushArTam

( the Supreme Goal) of living forever at the sacred feet of

the Lord in His Supreme abode (SrI Vaikuntham).

 

Prelude to the 8th Chapter

**********************

At the very end of the 7th chapter, Bhagavan Used two slOkams

( 29th and 30th slOkam) to instruct ArjunA about the need for

a clear understanding of three tatthvams by those who wish

to get a release from dhOshams like old age , death et al and

to enjoy the aanandham of direct visualization of the AathmA

(KaivalyAnubhavam) . These three tatthvams to be understood

were mentioned without elaboration as " Brahmam , adhyAthmam

and Karmam " . Here " Brahmam " stands for the Supreme abode of

auspicious attributes (viz)., Svaroopam of VishNu . " AdhyAthmam-

Kruthsnam " refers to the blessed JnA~na svaroopam of the JeevAthma

seen during KaivalyAnubhavam . " akhilam Karma " refers to the

entire karmAs of the Lord . The adhikAri (seeker ) here is the one

who desires the joy of KaivalyAnubhavam . This upadEsam

was covered in the 29th slOkam of the 7th Chapter and was for

the benefit of KavalyArTi , the one seeking Kaivalya anubhavam.

 

In the 30th and the final slOkam of the 7th chapter , our Lord

aimed His instruction at the other remaining three adhikAris

( Aartthan , arTArTi and Jig~nAsu) , who are collectively named as

the seekers of Iswaryam ( IsvaryArTi). Our Lord indicated

that these three adhikAris should know about adhibhUtham ,

adhidhaivam , adhiyaj~nam and anthima smruthi ( rememberance

of the Lord even during their last moments on earth).

 

Strictly speaking there are three types of adhkAris instead of Four :

 

(1) KaivalyArTi, who desires pure aathmAnubhavam

(visualization and enjoyment of the Self) .

 

(2) IsvaryArTi, who desires the best of worldly joys .

The one wants to regain lost weath (aarTi) and one who

wishes to gain wealth for the first time are both clubbed

under " IsvaryArTi " .

 

(3) MokshArTi , who desires neither Kaivalyam nor perishable

lOka sukhams but longs only for Moksham ( residence in SrI Vaikuntam

to enjoy the bliss of nithya kaimakryam to SrIman NaarAyaNan).

 

Each of these three kinds of adhikAris need to understand different

tattvams ( Brahmam , adhyAthmam and Karmam for KaivalyArTis

and adhyayaj~nam ) .

 

Arjuna was confused between these terminologies and the requirements

that each kind of adhikAri should possess . In the first slOkam of the 8th

Chapter , Arjuna pleads with the Lord to explain these concepts clearly.

 

There are 8 questions from Arjuna : (1) Who is that Brahmam ?

(2) What is adhyAthmam ? (3) What is Karmam ? (4) What are

the activities of Brahmam? (5) What is adhibhUtham ?

(6) What is adhidhaivam ? (7) How can one find adhiyaj~nam in

the body of Jeevans? Who is adhujaj~nan ? (8) During the last

moments ,what is the purpose of Yours(Lord's) , what form are you

(My Lord) appearing and how can one recognize You then ?

 

Throughout the entire 8th chapter , BhagavAn answers

patiently and clearly the above 8 questions from Arjuna.

 

(To be continued )

 

Swami Desikan ThiruvadigLE SaraNam ,

Daasan , Oppiliappan Koil VaradAchAri Sadagopan

 

SrImathE SrI Lakshminrusimha Dhivya PaadhukA Sevaka

SrIvaNN SaThakOpa SrI NaarAyaNa YathIndhra MahA DesikAya Nama: