GITA 1.31

GITA 1.31

KAvEri viraja SEyam vaikuNTham rangamandiram

Sa VAsudEvO rangEsah pratyaksham paramam padam

This sloka tells about the greatness of Srirangam. This place has been the land where the Lord has been reigning for thousands of years, with the support of devotees. Within Srirangam temple, there are many Secondary sannidhis. Each sannidhi has its own speciality. Today's lecture is from a very old sannidhi called Sri Paramapadanathan Sannidhi. Here the Lord is gracing as He graces in Sri Vaikuntam. All the Ten Alwars also grace from here. At least 1000 years ago, the great Acharya Sri Parasara Bhattar, has mentioned these Ten Alwars gracing from this Sannidhi, in his Sri Rangaraja Sthavam. More than anything else, Sri Andal graces from here, and She is specially decorated during all the Thirty days of Tamil month Margazhi, every year! 

It is a treat to the eyes to view the Lord with all the Alwars and Sri Andal. Therefore, it is special to study Gita from this sannidhi. Now, we will see sloka 33. In the last sloka, we saw that Arjuna told Sri Krishna by calling Him, Govinda, that there was no use in getting victory, kingdom,  happiness thereof and even life , after killing his relatives. 

The name Govinda has special significance. Tondaradipodi Alwar says in a pasuram in his Tirumalai, that Sri Ranganatha is mad after us. He yearns for us to utter at least one of His Divine names so that He could carry us to His Paramapadam or Vaikuntam. There the Lord is seated with one leg folded and the other stretched. On His right is seated Sri Sri Devi and to His left are seated Sri Bhu Devi and Sri Neela Devi. If we can utter His Three syllable Divine name, that is Go-vin-da, He is ready to confer us Vaikuntam. But Alwar does not explicitly mention the name Govinda in his pasuram. Because, anything that is not exposed, will be attractive! If we take the prasad offered concealed in our upper garment, curiosity of others will be maximum! That is why Alwar simply mentioned Three syllable Divine name and left it for our curiosity. All pilgrims going to Tirumala, chant the name Govinda and climb the hill! Arjuna addresses Sri Krishna with that great name! 

Go means in Sanskrit, land. It also means cow. So, Govinda means, Who has Land or cows. Arjuna calls Sri Krishna as Govinda, hinting that He wanted to protect all the lives on the land, while Arjuna is to fight and kill his relatives! Also, Arjuna hints that Sri Krishna wanted to get good name by protecting even cows, while Arjuna should earn a bad name by killing his Acharya and relatives. 

Now, the 33rd sloka:

yesham arthe kanksitam no

rajyam bhogah sukhani ca 

ta ime ’vasthita yuddhe

pranams tyaktva dhanani ca

when all those for whom we may desire them are now arrayed in this battlefield

Nah = to us, yesham arte = for whom, rajyam = kingdom, bhogah = (Royal) pleasures, sukhani ca = and happiness,  kanksitam = these are desired, ta ime yuddhe = in this battle, avastita = arrayed (against Arjuna), tyaktva = (ready to) sacrifice, pranams = their lives, dhanani ca = and their wealth. Arjuna feels that the Kingdom and happiness, he wants to acquire in this battle, are all meant for his relatives and teachers. But the very same people are assembled to fight with him and are ready to sacrifice their lives in the battle. There is a saying in Sanskrit- sariram artham pranancha tat gurubyo nivedayat - body, wealth and life are to be dedicated to our guru. This is a noble thought. We should live for others and not for ourselves. Nature gives everything for others. We can learn this from trees, river and animals. Arjuna thought that if he got the Kingdom, it could please Bheeshma and Drona; but the same Bheeshma and Drona are in the opposite side to fight with him. We toil through out the day to earn. With that earning, we want to be happy with our kith and kin. 

                                                                             (continued)