Gita Jayanti

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Today is Gita Jayanti; 3206 years back Lord Krishna told the Gita to

Arjuna:

 

Trembling with nervousness and anxiety, unable to lift his mighty bow -

Gandiva - he pleads to

escape from the consequences of the war. His emotions of love for the

near ones, his concepts

of duty and Dharma, all appear to be confusing to himself. He is unable

to determine the

correct approach in this piquant situation of grave urgency and

emergency. And as such, Arjuna

lays down his arms to retire at the back of his chariot.

 

He appeals to Sri Krishna, " O Keshava, even for sovereignty of the three

worlds, I do not want to kill Kauravas and my relatives, though they may

kill me. Then how can there be any desire for this kingdom on the

earth? " (Chapter 1, verse 35

 

Just when we would expect Sri Krishna to sympathize with Arjuna on his

sorrowful state of mind full of " kindness and pity for others " , Lord

Krishna knowingly laughs at the behaviour of Arjuna saying: " Arjuna, how

has this infatuation overtaken you at this odd hour? Yield not to

unmanliness, ill does it become to you. Shaking off this paltry

faint-heartedness arise, O scorcher of your enemies. " (Ch. 2, verse 2,

3)

 

The reason why Sri Krishna tells Arjuna not to grieve for Kauravas is

that no one can be killed, for everyone is immortal souls and not the

body! The verse 12 says, " There was never a time when I was not or when

you or these kings were not, nor is it a fact that hereafter we shall

cease to be. " It is difficult to accept and understand this verse, for

it seems very obvious that when I die I shall cease to be, I will be no

more! But the Lord says 'you shall never die!' You are immortal. How to

reconcile these two opposing interpretations?

 

c s shah

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