GITA 1.36

GITA 1.36

Today we continue with the same slokas. The lecture was from the same Sri SoundaraRaja Perumal temple.

Yesterday it was told that Arjuna did not want to commit the two sins even if Duryodana did not care about it, because of his greed. First sin was the destroying of a dynasty. Though, in our times this sin does not seem to be committed, we should remember that if we do not pass our traditions and good customs properly to the next generation, it will also tantamount to destroying a family or dynasty. Our population is bulging and it is necessary to ensure proper family planning. But there are some, who do not want to have children, or some others who want to remain unmarried. Bheeshma was a bachelor. Among our Acharyas Sri Pillai Lokacharya and Sri Azhagiya Manavala Perumal Nayanar  remained without marriage. At present, some are forced to remain unmarried and that is understandable. But there are a few, who deliberately do not get married. They should think that they are losing an opportunity to serve the society. Because, both sanyasins and brahmacharis depend on married person's family for support. Also, by not marrying, they are cutting off the further growth of their heredity. 
The second sin of mitra droha or enmity among friends, Arjuna never wanted to commit. In Sanskrit, mitra means a person who helps the other in distress. A person thus trusts a friend. Betrayal of this trust is mitra droham and is considered as a great sin. Arjuna feels that he may have to kill some of his friends in Duryodana's side. That will be breach of trust.   So how Sri Krishna who is addressed as Janardana or who removes or cuts off rebirth can be helping to commit this sin and ensure rebirth?

Here an incident in Ramayana has to be remembered. When Sri Rama on exile left Ayodya and came to the banks of Ganges to enter Chitrakoot, Guha, the chief of the hunters, helps Him by giving directions and by providing boat to cross the river. Though Sri Rama stayed with Guha only for a night, their friendship became so great and made Sri Rama to declare that with Guha they were five brothers. Later, after Sri Rama was staying in Chitrakoot, Sri Bharata comes to Ayodya unaware of the happenings. His father Dasaratha had died, and comes to know that Sri Rama was exiled to forests for fourteen years. His sorrow was immeasurable and he with a determination to bring back Sri Rama and make Him the king goes in search of Sri Rama. To ensure that Sri Rama, at least, listens to anyone, he goes in search with all the population of Ayodhya including the troops. He also reaches the banks of the river Ganges and comes across Guha. Here, Guha doubts the motive of Bharata and he misunderstands that Bharata has come to drive away Sri Rama further or to kill Him. This is the essence of friendship, that when Guha thinks that Sri Rama would be harmed further, he is unable to bear that and wants to fight with Bharata.

Yet another incident from Ramayana is, when Sri Vibheeshana comes to the shores of the ocean [at Thiruppullani, near Rameswaram] to surrender to Sri Rama. At that time Sugreeva and other monkeys caution saying Vibheeshana was coming in the guise of a friend from their enemy Ravana and so Sri Rama should not accept him. Sri Rama replies them that even if Vibheeshana pretended to be a friend [mitra bhave…that is even such pretension] He will accept him. This is also another example as to how one should regard a friend. Unlike others,in a friend we should be able to confide and trust him in our need.  

Finally, in the Sri Prahalada episode, though as Sri Narasimha, the Lord had to kill Prahalada’s father, He makes a promise that He will not kill anyone else in the Prahalada family or dynasty to preserve even that Asura kula. This is told by Vibheeshana to Ravana while advising him to release Sri Sita , in Kamba Ramayanam in Tamil. That is the Lord Himself does not want to wipe out any race or dynasty. So Arjuna’s query is how Sri Krishna can induce him to kill his relatives and friends.

                                                        (continued)