GITA 4.42

GITA 4.42

Dharmakshetre Kurukshetre Samavetayuyutsavaha |

Maamakaah paandavaashchaiva kimakurvata sanjaya ||

This is the First sloka of Gita, which was born in Kurukshetra, which means it is the Kshetram of Kurus. Or, it may also mean that duties are to be performed here (kuru = to do) 

Today's [9th November,2007] lecture is from the large pond Brahma sarovar in Kurukshetra, Haryana State. Here, simultaneously thousands can take bath. Sri Krishna is Parabrahmam, and He has bathed in this along with Pandavas and His other relatives. There are many ghats, and the rites for deceased persons are done here. It is believed that a bath in this would fetch Moksham. Dhridharakshtra called this, Dharma kshetram, as he hoped his wicked sons might turn good. Or, Yudhishtra, already righteous, might further do good and may discard the claim for Kingdom, and hence abandon the war. Anyway, this place will convert bad into good. Devotion to God will be kindled and direct into Atman sakshatkaram. This place was in the ancient times very large and could accommodate millions during the war. We will see 39th sloka:

shraddhaval labhate jnanam
tat-parah samyatendriyah
jnanam labdhva param shantim
acirenadhigacchati

A faithful man who is absorbed in transcendental knowledge and who subdues his senses quickly attains the supreme spiritual peace.

"A faithful man who is dedicated to transcendental knowledge and who subdues his senses is eligible to achieve such knowledge, and having achieved it he quickly attains the supreme spiritual peace."

Sri Krishna further tells about the greatness of Atman gyana. In our good actions, three stages can be imagined. The first stage is like going to temples, singing His names or chanting Sri Vishnu sahasranamam. These are done without the knowledge about soul or Atman gyana. The actions are good. In the second stage all these actions are done with Atman gyana. Atman is servant to God, it is eternal, etc., are all learnt and with this the actions are done. This is better. But blessings or anugraha of Bhagavan is the best. To put it in another way, these three are pavitram [sacred],pavithrataram [more sacred] and pavitratamam [most sacred]. In Srimad Ramayana, Sri Rama and Lakshmana came to Risyamooka mountain, in search of Sri Sita. In sage Sarabanga's ashram, Sabari was there. She offered fruits plucked specially for the Lord. After saluting Sri Rama, she said that Sri Raghunandana's grace alone would sanctify all in all the worlds. She said that the look of Sri Rama cleared her of all her sins and as Sri Rama was seeing, she left for Moksham. In Sri Krishnavatara, Bheeshma tells Yudhishtra that He is sacred among sacred and auspicious among auspicious [pavitranam pavitrm yo mangalanam mangalam] . We consider turmeric, lamp, mangala soothram, etc., as sacred. All these attained auspiciousness because of the Lord. Shraddhavan= one who is steadfast in reaching Atman sakshatkaram, tat para = always remembering that, samyatendriya = and so has controlled all his sense organs, or mind not wandering, labhate jnanam = acquires knowledge [of Atman]. Jnanam labdva = after acquiring that knowledge, param shantim adi gacchati= reaches pinnacle of peace, acirena = within a short span of time. Pinnacle of peace does not mean he is asleep or in deep meditation, but he is farther away from the worldly sorrows and happiness, and nothing disturbs him. Earlier, Sri Krishna told that in the course of time, the person practicing Karma yoga would get Atman sakshatkaram. Arjuna got doubt whether that would take long time. Here, it is answered that it will be short, though not immediate. 

                                                                                               (continued)