GITA 1.20

GITA 1.20

gita sugita kartavya, kim anyaih sastra vistaraih

ya svayam padmanabhasya, mukha-padmad vinihsrta

According to this sloka, Sri Krishna preached Gita from His lotus like mouth, and gave it to Arjuna as a medicine. Sri Krishna is Sri Ranganatha and now we are in the 1000 pillars Manatap in His temple. During the Adyayana Utsavam, the Lord graces from here during 'Ira patthu' (Ten nights). During that time, every decade of Nammalwar's Tiruvaimozhi is recited with dancing poses, by Arayars, in front of the Lord. Such is the greatness of Srirangam and everything here is a pleasure to the devotees.

From here, we will see the  sloka 22. Arjuna commands Sri Krishna to park the chariot in between the Two armies. Kauravas had 11 akshauhini army, while Pandavas had 7 akshauhini army. After the chariot is parked, what Arjuna is going to do, is explained in sloka 22. 

yavad etan nirikse 'ham 

yoddhu-kaman avasthitan

kair maya saha yoddhavyam

asmin rana-samudyame

so that I may see who is present here, who is desirous of fighting, and with whom I must contend in this great battle attempt.

Asmin = in this, rana-samudyame = war, maya = by me, kair saha yoddhavyam = with whom  to fight, yavad etan nirikse 'ham = to the extent I can see, yoddhu-kaman avasthitam = those desirous of fighting and present here. In the first half of the sloka, Arjuna tells he wanted to see those who had come to fight, to the extent he could see. In the second half, he is desiring to see with whom he is to associate to fight. Thus Arjuna wants to see who are his foes and who are his supporters. So, he wants Sri Krishna to station the chariot in the middle of the two armies. It may look funny, but once understood we could appreciate the deep meaning. 

This incident is taking place in Dwapara yug. First yug is Krita yug, followed by Treta yug and then Dwapara yug. We are in Kali yug, the last one. It is now 5108 years since the dawn of Kali yug. Kali yug starts at the end of Dwapara yug. Sri Krishna left for Vaikuntam at the end of Dwapara yug. Immediately thereafter, Dwaraka was submerged in ocean. Even today, we visit Dwaraka temple, by travelling in boats to cross ocean. Before Dwapara yug was Treta yug, when Sri Rama was born. During that time, Sri Rama along with His brothers Sri Bharata, Sri Lakshmana and Sri Shatrugna, was learning under Vasishta. At that time Sri Rama's age was 12 years. At that time sage Viswamitra arrives at Dasarata's palace, to request him for assistance to complete the yaga (holy fire ritual), he was performing. Viswamitra entered the Royal assembly. Dasarata was extremely pleased at the arrival of such a great sage. So, he welcomed Viswamitra with due honours. After offering seat, Dasarata, before Viswamitra made any request, offered to grant any request from him! Immediately, Viswamitra grabbed the opportunity, and requested Dasarata to depute his eldest son Sri Rama with him. Viswamitra said that he was to begin one Yaga and Rakshasas were causing disturbance. Though, he could curse them, because he would be performing the Yaga, he had to control his anger. If Sri Rama was deputed, He would guard the Yaga from those Rakshasas. Dasarata then only realised his mistake in volunteering to grant any request from Viswamitra. It is usual for many of us to agree for anything, when we are very happy, without analysing what we should do. But later, we might be repenting for having agreed to do that work. So we should be very careful in promising. Dasarata, then refused to send Sri Rama with Viswamitra, with a plea that Sri Rama was too young to face Rakshasas, and offered himself to defend the Yaga. But Viswamitra would not compromise and he started to depart angrily. Dasarata was embarrassed and at that time Vasishta signalled Dasarata that there must be something more than mere protecting the Yaga and so Dasarata should pacify Viswamitra by agreeing to depute Sri Rama. After the Yaga, Viswamitra would go to Mithila and get Sri Rama married to Sri Sita. Thus, though on the face of it was for Viswamitra to carry out his Yaga, in reality, it was for the good of Sri Rama. Immediately, Dasarata agreed and advised Sri Rama to go with Viswamitra and to carry out his orders. Sri Lakshmana also accompanied Sri Rama. Viswamitra went with Sri Rama and Sri Lakshmana, and entered the forest, where a huge demon, Thataka, was living. She came to kill them, and so, Viswamitra ordered Sri Rama to finish her. Sri Rama accordingly took the bow and when just about to shoot the arrow, got a doubt, whether it was right for Him to kill a woman, that too it was His debut. But Viswamitra told the hesitating Sri Rama, that she should be killed for the benefit of human kind, and then Sri Rama shot the arrow and killed her. So, Sri Rama carried out the order of Viswamitra, as advised by His father, Dasarata. Here also, Sri Rama, the Supreme Being, obeyed the command of an ordinary mortal, Viswamitra. We should always obey our elders like our parents, elder brothers, aged persons, etc. To demonstrate this only Sri Rama practiced in His life. 

In Sri Krishna Avatar also, he obeyed Arjuna and parked the chariot between the armies, without any protest. The Lord thus displays a fine quality in every avatar. He instantly appeared when the Elephant, Gajendra, cried for help. He appeared as Sri Narasimha, to prove the words of child Prahalada, from the same pillar indicated by him. He is bound by the uttering of a child or a devotee. Thus we should obey our seniors. Will that be good or bad? Our parents do not bring us up with any expectation that in future we would take care of them. But the parents might have a small desire that their children are still dependent on them. The children should ensure, therefore, to obey the parents till they live. Paraents' satisfaction ensures the Lord's happiness. By obeying, we will get their blessings and we can lead a care free life. 

We will see further in the next lecture.

                                                                 (continued)