GITA 1.6
Just like Two armies are arrayed against each other, there are two energies opposing each other in our body - one the good qualities and the other the undesirable bad qualities. This pair is in each and every body. We may be surprised that a friend and an enemy are residing in our bodies. All of us are dominated by three qualities - satva, rajo and tamo gunas or qualities. Satva quality will grow good behaviour, high intelligence and rational thinking. Every action will be done with enthusiasm. On the other hand, rajo quality will encourage anger, fervour, fighting and passion. Tamo guna will induce darkness, ignorance, dullness, sleep, inertia and laziness. But all these three qualities are in our body. We could describe satva quality as Pandava army and rajo and tamo qualities as Kaurava army.
Just like with the help of Sri Krishna, the Pandavas became victorious, we should strive to conquer rajo and tamo qualities by satva quality. For this we need Sri Krishna's blessings and that is why Gita was preached.
In addition there are two opposing forces in our body. On one side is our ahankaram (ego), mamakaram (possessiveness), kamam(lust), krodam (anger), macharyam (jealousy), lobham (greed), etc. On the other side we have intelligence, diligence, compassion, helpfulness, etc. A person is praised as distinguished when he is able to suppress all these bad qualities and show up the good qualities. So we do not have to search for Kurukshetra, it is in ourselves! Right from the time we were born, we have to face this 'war'. None can escape this 'war'. Instead of running away like a coward, we should face and conquer the bad qualities and emerge as distinguished persons. To help to achieve this Sri Krishna is ever ready! Gita is the guide for this. So we have started to examine Gita. Who are going to help us in this endeavour? Many Scholars have made bhashyam (commentaries) on Gita, like Adi Shankara, Ramanuja, Madwacharya, etc. Gita is a book widely translated in many languages. Also Gita is spoken about daily in many research institutions all over the World. New interpretations are published. Sri Ramanuja wrote a commentary on Gita and that is known as Gita Bhashyam. Acharya Sri Vedanta Desika wrote an extensive explanatory on Gita Bhashyam, called Tatparya Chandrika. It is a treasure and we can find invaluable jewels in it abundantly. In addition Vadikesari Azhagiya Manavala Jeer, another Acharya, has made a Tamil hymn for every sloka of Gita - bhagavadgitai venba. Like this many people have contributed to make us easily understand Gita. With the aid of all these we saw the First sloka yesterday.
After the query by Dridarashtra, Sanjaya replies as to what was happening in the battlefield.
sanjaya uvaca
drstva tu pandavanikam
vyudham duryodhanas tada
acaryam upasangamya
raja vacanam abravit
Sanjaya said: O King, after looking over the army gathered by the sons of Pandu, King Duryodhana went to his teacher and began to speak the following words:
Sanjaya replies Dridarashtra that King Duryodana told these to (his) Acharya. Here Acharya denotes Drona. Duryodana drives his chariot near Drona. He started talking like this. Duryodana sees Pandava's army, which is arranged in vuham (formations). We might have heard of Chakra Vyuha, Padma Vyuha, etc. If the formation resembles a wheel, it is chakra vyuham. If the army is formed in the shape of a lotus flower, it is padma vyuham. If it is like a needle, it is ooshi vyuham.Like this the army is kept in different formations. These are formed to frighten the enemy. That is how Duryodana was frightened at seeing the formations in Pandavas army and so he goes near his Acharya Drona. From this we have to learn something. Normally when crime is committed many of us will not be afraid. But when we see the result of the crime or when punishment is nearing, we start fearing. When crime was committed, good thoughts could have come and prevented us from doing the crime. After committing all crimes, and after refusing to give away at least five villages when Sri Krishna came as a Pandavas messenger, now Duryodana is frightened. Duryodana is also a capable warrior. His army was bigger than Pandavas army. With all that, if Duryodana could get scared, we can realise his guilty conscience. When we do a good work, we can do it boldly and without fear. But when we commit a crime, no matter how big we are, we will be scared. This is what we have to derive from this sloka. Honesty, truth and steadiness, with God's blessings will make us do any work successfully.
Duryodana went near the Acharya. Acharya means well learned and capable of giving proper directions. After going near the Acharya, Duryodana spoke some words. What he said will come up later. Since he was frightened, Duryodana spoke those words which did not carry much intelligence. This happens when one is in a fear mode. So he starts blurting. His fear was on seeing a smaller army and on seeing Sri Krishna on the Pandavas side. Anyone who thinks that God is on his side, need not be afraid of others.
So Gita did not start in the beginning of the war. If only both armies had engaged in fight right at the start, perhaps we would not have got this precious Gita. So it is good for us that Duryodana went near Drona.
We can derive great benefits when two great men converse. Thus in the conversation of Sage Parasara and his disciple Maitreya, we were blessed with Vishnu Puranam. From the conversation of Sage Sukhacharya and King Parikshit, we got Bhagavatam Puranam. The great Tiruvaimozhi emerged from the conversation of Nammalwar and Madurakavi Alwar. In the conversation between Bheeshma and Yudishtra, we got Sri Vishnu Sahasranamam. Therefore, if great people talk with each other, we get good things as outcome. If we also speak with each other with purpose, good things could emerge. Silence is better than mere gossiping. By being silent, we reduce our speech and that makes us greater. A chatterbox is never respected. So our words have to be minimum and carefully selected. Therefore, one expected very potent words from Duryodana, a King; but he, on seeing the Pandavas army, got frightened and so started blurting.
Thus Sanjaya replied Dridarashtra that a (frightened) King Duryodana drove near Acharya Drona and started speaking some words. We will see what Duryodana told in the next lecture.
(continued)
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