GITA 1.25

GITA 1.25

pAdukE yati-rAjasya kathayanti yad-AkhyayA 

tasya dASarathE: pAadav SirasA dhArayAam yaham

This is a sloka on the greatness of one of Sri Ramanuja's disciples, with real name Sri Dasarathi, but more famous as Sri Mudaliyandan. He was considered as Sri Ramanuja's paduka (sandals). Already we saw one other disciple of Sri Ramanuja - Sri Koorattalwan. Today's lecture was given from the house[thiru maligai] of Sri Mudaliyandan. His name was Dasarathi and was the son of Ramanuja's sister ie nephew. This house also is in East Chittirai street. Thousand years back Ramanuja got the authority to administer the temple and he devised the rituals, uthsavams and other functions to be carried out which are followed even today. Ramanuja wanted participation of all . He put Mudaliyandan in charge of administration and the nephew also did the job sincerely.

In the last sloka, we saw Sri Krishna parking the chariot in between the armies and Sri Krishna asking Arjuna to look at the members of the Kuru clan assembled to fight. 

Today the 26th sloka:

tatrapasyat sthitan parthah

pitrn atha pitamahan

acaryan matulan bhratrn

putran pautran sakhims tatha

svasuran suhridas caiva

senayor ubhayor api

There Arjuna could see, within the midst of the armies of both parties, his fathers, grandfathers, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons, friends, and also his father-in-law and well-wishers--all present there.

When we see the list of people assembled, in the sloka, we may be wondering how even such close relatives have gathered to fight with each other. Pitrn = (In both sides Arjuna saw) fathers, pitamahan = grandfathers, acaryan = teachers, matulan = (maternal) uncles, bhratrn = brothers, putran = sons, pautran = grandsons, sakhims = friends, tatha svasuran = and fathers-in-law, suhidas caiva = also well wishers, seneyor ubhayor api = in both armies, tatra pasyat = saw there , parthah = Arjuna. 

Did not Arjuna know before start, who were likely to fight from both the sides? Yes, to some extent Arjuna was aware as to who were all going to be in the war. Bur Arjuna might not have known who were all invited by Duryodana to help him in the battle. But seeing so many relatives assembled, is the start of confusion in Arjuna. Fighting known enemies is not difficult, but fighting friends who have joined the enemy group might be difficult.  

Here it is not important to know who were fathers, or sons etc. but it should be noted that those whom normally we consider as mutual help have all come to fight. This is the start of confusion Arjuna is going to have. In our life, normally we regard friends and close relatives as those who will always standby us. But it is practical that this does not happen and we are shocked to find when they do not support us.
Here an incidence in Srimad Valmiki Ramayana is to be remembered. When Sri Rama decides to fulfill His father's promise to Kaikeyi and goes to forest, He, accompanied by Sri Sita and Sri Lakshmana, is driven in the chariot by the king's one of the ministers Sumanthra. At the banks of Ganga river Sri Rama and the accompanying two are to board the boat brought by Sri Guha and the time for taking leave by Sumanthra comes. With a heavy heart Sumanthra takes leave of Sri Rama and asks what was the message for His father, Dasaratha.Sri Rama replies that His heart was filled with sorrow and wants Sumanthra to tell His father that He would complete the 14 years exile period like 14 days and so Dasaratha should not feel sorry. He further asks Sumanthra to take care of His father. Next Sumanthra goes to Sri Sita and asks for any message. She, being a lady with more tender heart by nature, is unable to say anything. When it is the turn of Sri Lakshmana, Sumanthra asks him as what the message to his father. Sri Lakshmana says the question itself was wrong. Puzzled, Sumanthra replies that he had asked correctly only. Lakshmana said that his message is only to the King Dasaratha. He regarded Dasarath no longer as his father nor did he regard Sumithra as his mother but for him all such close relations was Sri Rama alone.
Sumanthra, after taking leave, arrives at Ayodhya and reports to the king Dasaratha that Sri Rama had entered the forests. Dasaratha enquires what were the messages from them and Sumanthra tells what happened. But Dasaratha on hearing Sri Lakshmana's message that he did not regard Dasaratha as father but Sri Rama as father, is overjoyed and embraces Sumanthra.
Here we should understand that all so called close relatives and friends are neither dependable nor permanent and everyone should regard God as the true relative and friend. This way one can avoid unhappiness if a relative or a friend turned against oneself In fact it should be our endeavour not to expect anything from them so that disappointment never occurs. We should have relations like water on lotus leaf. Absence of this attitude made Arjuna worried, when he saw his relatives and well wishers in the battlefield/

                                                 (continued)