Hare Krishna
Chapter-1 Bhagavad Gita
An Overview
1. In verse 1.1,The importance of Kurukṣetra has been described.
a. Kurukṣetra has been described as -Sacred place of pilgrimage -Also referred as dharma-kṣetra because on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra, the Supreme Personality of Godhead was present on the side of Arjuna
b. The doubt of Dhṛtarāṣṭra has been described about the possibility of his sons' ultimate victory. So, he asked his secretary about the situation of battlefield. He was fearful about the effect of the holy place on the battle.
2. In verse 1.2 to 1.3, Duryodhana’s Fear and diplomatic attitude has been described. He went to commander in chief, Droṇācārya to inform him of the real position i.e. military arrangement of Pāṇḍavas. In 1.3, he pointed out the mistakes of Droṇācārya as follows:
· Droṇācārya had some political quarrel with King Drupada. As a result of this quarrel, Drupada performed a great sacrifice, by which he received the benediction of having a son (Dhṛṣṭadyumna) who would be able to kill Droṇācārya. Droṇācārya knew this perfectly well and yet he did not hesitate to impart all his military secrets to Dhṛṣṭadyumna when he came to him for military education.
· Now, on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra, Dhṛṣṭadyumna took the side of the Pāṇḍavas, and it was he who arranged for their military phalanx, after having learned the art from Droṇācārya
3. In verse 1.4 to 1.6, Duryodhana spoke to Droṇācārya about the powerful warriors/ fighters of Pāṇḍavas.
4. In verse 1.7 to 1.11, Duyodhana spoke about the powerful warriors of his side. In verse 1.10 and 1.11, he specifically pointed out the prowess of Grandfather Bhīṣma (general of his force i.e. one who protects). He compared the Bhīṣma with the general of Pāṇḍavas i.e. Bhīma. At last he told to all military to support the general from all sides. Duryodhana clearly felt that the victory of the Kurus depended on the presence of Bhīṣmadeva
5. In verse 1.12, Bhīṣma blew his counchshell and in verse 1.14, Lord Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna blew their respective counchshells. From verse 1.15 to 1.18, It has been described that all powerful warriors of Pāṇḍavas blew their respective counchshells. In verse 1.19, the fear of Duryodhana generated from the sounds of counchshells of Pāṇḍavas has been described. The sound shattered the hearts of the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra.
6. From 1.20 onwards, the confusions of Arjuna has bene shown. Arjuna spoke to Lord Kṛṣṇa about his confusions and at last in verse 1.46, the last verse, he cast aside his bow and arrows and sat down on the chariot, his mind overwhelmed with grief. From 1.20 to 1.23, he told Lord to take him between the two armies so that I may see those present here and intended to fight. He wanted to see all those who have come to fight, wishing to please the evil-minded Duryodhana. In 1.24 to 1.25, Lord Krsna bring him between the two armies and let him see all kurus who assembled to fight.
7. From 1.26 to 1.46, after seeing armies of both sides he became overwhelmed with compassion.
8. In verse 1.28 to 1.30, he described the his compassion in following words:
a. In 1.28 he said that his limbs of his body quivering and his mouth drying up after seeing the fighting spirits of relatives and well wishers standing on the other side.
b. In 1.29, he said that his whole body is trembling, his hair is standing on end, his bow Gāṇḍīva is slipping from his hand, and his skin is burning
c. In 1.30, he said that he is now unable to stand here any longer. He was forgetting himself, and his mind is reeling.
9. From 1.30 onwards he described his confusions to Lord Krsna as follows:
a. he see only causes of misfortune (1.30)
b. He could not see any good come out from killing his own Kinsmen. (1.31)
c. He didn’t desire – Victory, Kingdom and Happiness (1.31)
d. Arjuna fears that all his relatives and friends will be killed on the battlefield and he will be unable to share his opulence after victory. (1.32-35)
e. Arjuna did not want to kill his relatives, and if there were any need to kill them, he desired that Kṛṣṇa kill them personally. (1.32-35)
f. He was not prepared to fight with them even in exchange for the three worlds- Victory, Kingdom and Happiness. (1.32-35)
g. In 1.36, he thinks that he will not be happy after killing his own kinsmen.
h. Sin will overcome if he kills such aggressors. Since Duryodhana was an aggressor as described in Vedic Injunctions but as per Dharma Sastra (in which killing of relatives and friends has been restricted), which is superior than Niti Sastra (in which killing of aggressors has been approved), Arjuna thinks that killing of such aggressors who are also his relatives would attract sin. (1.36)
i. He was thinking that though Duryodhana and others of his side have became blind in greed (Lalach), why should he engage in the act of sinful acts. He thinks that he is not blind he can think after taking in to account all sastras and scriptures. (1.37)
j. On the death of the elder members (present in the Duryodhana’s Army, family religious traditions of purification may stop, and the remaining younger family members may develop irreligious habits and thereby lose their chance for spiritual salvation. (1.39)
k. When irreligion is prominent in the family the women of the family become polluted (1.40)
l. With degradation of women comes unwanted progeny (children). (1.40)
m. An increase of unwanted population certainly causes hellish life both for the family and for those who destroy the family tradition. (1.41)
n. The performances for offering food and water to forefathers/ ancestors of such corrupt families are entirely stopped therefore those forefathers falls down from heavens. (Verse 1.41)
o. By the evil deeds of those who destroy the family tradition and thus give rise to unwanted children, all kinds of community projects and family welfare activities are stopped. (verse 1.42)
p. He was tought from his disciplic succession that those who destroy family traditions dwell always in hell. (verse 1.43)
q. He was very sad thinking that he and his army was preparing to commit sinful acts to enjoy royal happiness/ kingdom by killing their own kinsmen.(verse 1.44).
r. At last he tells that even if he is attacked by the enemy in unarmed and unwilling position, he would not fight.
Comments