GITA 1.23
We are to see sloka 25 of Chapter 1. Appropriate to this sloka, we are at a place. We are at Sri Periya Nambi Tirumalikai (house) in East Chittirai Street, Srirangam. Sri Ramanuja was taught by Five Acharyas. Among them the First is Periya Nambi (Mahapoorna). He was born in the star Kettai (Jyeshta), in the Tamil month of Margazhi (December-January). The Deity of Kanchipuram, Sri Devaraja, only instructed Sri Ramanuja to approach Sri Periya Nambi as Acharya. On that order, Sri Periya Nambi became Acharya of Sri Ramanuja. Many Acharyas had lived in Srirangam. Periya Nambi, who lived in Srirangam, was the disciple of Sri Alavandar. Through Sri Periya Nambi, Sri Alavandar had passed on the policy of equality and universality, to impart knowledge of Gita, to Sri Ramanuja. Sri Ramanuja learnt many important topics from Sri Periya Nambi, in Madurantakam. Sri Periya Nambi also performed the pancha samskaram for Sri Ramanuja, in Madurantakam. Sri Ramanuja arranged for a dwelling house for his Acharya, Sri Periya Nambi, in Srirangam. It is also understood that Sri Ramanuja arranged houses for his disciples, Sri Koorattalwan and Sri Mudaliyandan jn the same street but in the opposite row. Sri Periya Nambi had a daughter Athuzhai. Sri Ramanuja got her married. It is our great fortune that we are at this house of Sri Periya Nambi. In Srirangam, every inch is backed by history. East side has the greatness, that the Divine Feet of Sri Ranganatha are in the East direction, only! We will see the sloka from here. An incident in Sri Periya Nambi's life and Gita are closely connected. First the sloka.
In sloka 24, we saw Sri Krishna parked the great chariot in between the two armies. In the 25th sloka, we will see, in front of whom, did Sri Krishna park the vehicle:
bhisma-drona-pramukhatah
sarvesam ca mahi-ksitam
uvaca partha pasyaitan
samavetan kurun iti
In the presence of Bhisma, Drona and all other chieftains of the world, Hrsikesa, the Lord, said, Just behold, Partha, all the Kurus who are assembled here.
Uvaca = ( Sri Krishna) spoke, bhisma-drona-pramukhatah = (after parking the chariot) in the presence of Bheeshma, Drona, sarvesam ca = and near all, mahi-kshitam = great heroes Here Two types of interpretations are possible. How can the chariot be parked in front of so many? So, it can be said that Sri Krishna, without caring for all the other heroes watching, parked the chariot in front of Bheeshma and Drona. Or, it is possible He parked the chariot in front of all of them. Arjuna did not ask Sri Krishna to park the chariot in front of them, but Sri Krishna parked in front of these persons, with a purpose. He foresaw that Arjuna would be declining to fight and would drop his bow and arrows. So, to provoke a situation, He deliberately parked in that spot! Sri Krishna could have parked the chariot in front of Duryodana or Dussasana or Karna. If He had done so, perhaps Arjuna would have been aroused to fight! Arjuna would have recalled all the misdoings of these people and Arjuna would have started to fight. But we would have missed Gita! To make Arjuna refuse to fight, the chariot was parked in front of Bheeshma and Arjuna. That way, Arjuna would get confused as to whether it was right to fight grandfather and Acharya, and possibly, kill them. Only when confused, clarity can emerge. That is why Sri Krishna parked the chariot in front of Bheeshma and Drona.
Another interpretation is that Bheeshma was the Chief Commander, and if Arjuna wanted to speak, he should do to Bheeshma only. Another interpretation is that instead of saying Drona and Bheeshma, it was mentioned Bheeshma and Drona. This may look not an issue for us. But our elders and great scholars, attach importance to every word mentioned. Drona was teacher for Arjuna and taught him archery. That is all. But Bheeshma was a great gyani (wise man). Bheesma was a superior warrior, eldest in the clan and possessed great character. That is why this order of mentioning the names here. It is also possible that Sri Krishna parked the chariot in front of these persons, with a hope, at least then, would they take efforts to halt the war. So far both Bheeshma and Drona had sided with evil. Now, Sri Krishna gave a last opportunity to them to correct their approach.
One more opinion is also there. Bheeshma was a silent spectator. when Dussasana tried to disrobe Draupati, in the royal assembly. He should have then and there punished Duryodana and his brother for the misdeed. None could dare Bheeshma. Why did he remain silent at that time? Bheeshma considered Draupati as an object used in gambling, which was basically wrong. Such a great man slipped in an evil incident. Here, we may get a doubt. Sri Krishna could have appeared there, when Draupati cried 'Hey! Krishna! Dwarakanatha! Achyuta!', for help. He could have personally consoled Draupati. But, instead, He arranged for the sarees on the spot and prevented any humiliation for her. Sri Pillai Lokacharya says that had Sri Krishna appeared there, He would have chopped the heads of Bheeshma, Drona and others. Not only that, He might have chopped the heads of Yudhishtra, Arjuna and others also. It was wrong to play gambling with humans as stakes, and most condemned for staking women, who are to be honoured. In Vedas or Upanishads, women have never been disgraced. The moment she cried Govinda, He was responsible for her protection. There was no question of she being the stakes held by anyone else. It was wrong for Yudhishtra, Bheema and Arjuna to have remained mute spectators. When a woman was being disgraced, then there is no question of seeing dharma in gambling. Had he punished that way all including the Pandavas, Draupati would have become a widow, and considering that alone, Sri Krishna did not appear in Person during that incident. So, now Sri Krishna offered the last opportunity to Bheeshma to test his wisdom.
Partha = O! Arjuna, pasyaitan = look at. That is Arjuna should look at them after knowing who they were and what their strength and weakness were. We will see further in the next lecture.
(continued)
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