BHAGAVADGITA

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

GITA 3.26

VASUDEVA SUTAM DEVAM KAMSA CHANURA MARDANAM
DEVAKI PARAMANANDAM KRISHNAM VANDE JAGADGURUM

Like Sri Rama avatar, Sri Krishna Avatar also is magnificent. Devotees remember Sri Krishna's childhood plays, like stealing butter, bonded by His mother, killing of Poothana, protection of people by using the Govardana hill as umbrella, Rasakreeta, etc, The same Sri Krishna is gracing the devotees as Sri Ranganatha. We are at the sannidhi of Sri Vittala Krishna, in the Ranga Vilas Mantapam, near the South gopuram in Srirangam. He stands there with His two hands on the waist. He appears as in Pandarpur Kshetram in Maharashtra. We will see the 26th sloka from here. In the last sloka Sri Krishna told how a leader has to use loka sagraharam for Karma yoga and slowly bring his followers to higher level. The message is that we should continue with our daily chores, and follow Karma yoga. But with the feeling, that all these are not done by us, and these are done for attaining Moksham. Now the 26th sloka:

na buddhi-bhedam janayed
ajnanam karma-sanginam
josayet sarva-karmani
vidvan yuktah samacaran

Let not the wise disrupt the minds of the ignorant who are attached to fruitive action. They should not be encouraged to refrain from work, but to engage in work in the spirit of devotion.

"So as not to disrupt the minds of ignorant men attached to the fruitive results of prescribed duties, a learned person should not induce them to stop work. Rather, by working in the spirit of devotion, he should engage them in all sorts of activities [for the gradual development of Krishna consciousness]."

Ajnanam= One who has not attained atman gyan fully, karma sanginam = still wanting to perform karma [people like us], because all karmas are related to body, na buddhi bedam janayed= [Arjuna] should not cause intellect confusion. We are doing some karma with dedication to God amidst our daily routines. If we are told that these will not fetch us Moksham, and we should follow Gyana yoga, then only we will attain Moksham, we will get confused. So, Arjuna should not resort to Gyana yoga, abandoning war, as that would confuse his followers and this is told by Sri Krishna. Here, Sri Krishna tells Arjuna that all these He told not because Arjuna had the capacity to perform Gyana yoga. If he had that capacity then after the war he should have abandoned Royal life and gone for meditation, to pursue Gyana yoga. Since he did not do that, it is clear that Arjuna was capable of doing Karma yoga only, and only for an argument Sri Krishna told as though Arjuna was qualified for higher levels. This also has a lesson for all of us, that we should not run away from life and its problems, as that will amount to escapism, and not be considered as following Gyana yoga. We should fulfill our responsibilities with the feeling that it is all for the sake of God and follow Karma yoga, in its true perspective. Sarva karmani josayet = all karma renounced, vidwan =learned person, yuktan=should induce [the importance of Karma yoga], samacaran= by performing karma.

(continued)

GITA 3.25

We are at the Ull(inner) Andal sannidhi in Srirangam. Sri Andal lived at distant Srivilliputhur, but dedicated Her life for Sri Ranganatha. All the 30 songs of Thiruppavai and 143 songs of Nachiyar Thirumozhi are sung in praise of Sri Ranganatha. Accepting Her devotion, on the 6th Day festival, after alighting from the Elephant Vahanam, the Lord stays for sometime in front of this sannidhi before enterings anctum sanctorum. At that time they exchange garlands. There is a connection between, Sri Andal and the 25th and 26th slokas, we are to see now. Unlike in other places, Sri Andal is in a sitting posture with a parrot in Her hand. Her father Perialwar is standing nearby. Both the idols are Utsavamurthy and the idols in Veli(outer) Andal sannidhi, in West Adayavalanjan street, are Moolavar. During the Vaikunta Ekadasi festival, the Perialwar idol here is brought near Sri Namperumal.

We have already seen loka sangraham. Though we may be capable of doing many things, if there are persons following what we do, then we should do only what others can easily follow. This is loka sangraham. Swami Vedantha Desika in his Tatparya Chandrika, says that loka sangraha is that making all the people to follow that principle, which will be taking people forward, and which all people can follow. If a scientist invents a new thing, it should be useful to all and it should be possible to produce that commercially. Suppose his invention could be produced only once in 10 years, none will use it. Or, if the invented thing could be marketed at very high price then also none will use it. Likewise, our methods or ideas should be lofty and at the same time they should be practical for all to follow. This is explained in 25th sloka:

saktah karmany avidvamso
yatha kurvanti bharata
kuryad vidvams tathasaktas
cikirsur loka-sangraham

As the ignorant perform their duties with attachment to results, similarly the learned may also act, but without attachment, for the sake of leading people on the right path.

"As the ignorant perform their duties with attachment to results, the learned may similarly act, but without attachment, for the sake of leading people on the right path."

avidvamsa = those without atma gyana, but having just knowledge to do karma [most of us come in this category], karmani saktah = but are willing to perform duties prescribed to them, yathakurvanthi = what such people could do, kuryad =should be done, vidvams= by learned persons, tatha =who, asakta = have no inclination to do karma [as they have already had atman sakshatkaram or in a position to practice Gyana yoga] , loka sangraham = for the world to follow, cikisrur= if such a desire they [learned people] have. A doubt may arise here. In a school, if in a class there is a student, who is below average, should the teacher be at that student level? But this is not what Sri Krishna told. He says that if there are forerunners, they should do things which the followers could follow and raise their capability. In the student example, the teacher has to come to the level of the mediocre student and raise the standard of the student. If Arjuna follows Karma yoga, then his followers also would practice Karma yoga and he could make them realize atman sakshatkaram. Sri Andal is ranked among the Alwars and so, She was as much learned. Still, in HerThiruppavai, She tells us to do simple things to attain Moksham like vayinal padi [singing in His praise], manathinal sindikka [just think of Him] and thoo malar thoovi [ offering flowers]. Though She knew all the skills of Gyana yoga She advised us to follow what is practical for us. By asking us to do what we daily do, She raised our standards and that is why She is very popular.

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GITA 3.24

Today [14th August,2007] the lecture is from the sannidhi of Sri Venugopalan near the Srirangam Ranga Vilas Mantapam. Here, Sri Krishna is with four arms, and along with His mother Yasodha. This is a unique feature. He is holding a flute and appears as playing. The Lord could have sung, but is playing the flute. According to an Acharya Thiruvaimozhipillai, this has a significance. In his commentary on Perialwar Thirumozhi, he says that if He were to sing, it would be direct from His mouth.But by using a flute, it is like His teachings are from another Acharya. Though Gita has been told by Sri Krishna, we are to learn it through a teacher or guru. We will see the 24th sloka from here:

utsideyur ime loka
na kuryam karma ced aham
sankarasya ca karta syam
upahanyam imah prajah

If I should cease to work, then all these worlds would be put to ruination. I would also be the cause of creating unwanted population, and I would thereby destroy the peace of all sentient beings.

"If I did not perform prescribed duties, all these worlds would be put to ruination. I would be the cause of creating unwanted population, and I would thereby destroy the peace of all living beings.

Sri Krishna is the One, Who created the Vedas and shastras. He is not bound to follow them. Yet, He says that if He did not follow what He prescribed, ordinary people like us, would follow only His way, and that way, Dharma would be corrupted. When Hiranya Kasipu and Ravana were given boons for immortality by Brahma, the Lord found exceptions within those boons to kill them and save the world. He is the Lord of all and there was no necessity nor anyone dare question Him on His doings. Still, He never wanted to violate Brahma's words. In our house, children follow the parents’ behavior. That is why one should not smoke or drink in front of children, as they are likely to pick up these habits. Sri Krishna therefore, says He cannot advise Arjuna to follow Gyana yoga, leaving his dharma of fighting for his country. By going away from one’s dharma, one is likely to tread into another person’s dharma and thereby, mixing up of duties is possible, and this will destroy the society and the world.
(continued)

GITA 3.23

The Lord's Sri Vamana avatar is a great one. He took a dwarf form but in the Sri Trivikrama role in the same avatar He exhibited His gigantic strides. We are not fortunate to get a glimpse of that mammoth image but in the dwarf form we can worship Him at Sri Thirukkuralappan sannidhi at the South Gopuram [tower] of Srirangam temple. With palm leaf umbrella and kamandalam [ a small pot for carrying water] in His hands, He graces the devotees. Sri Kamalavalli Nachiyar is also in this sannidhi. A unique feature of this sannidhi is that when the Lord decided to marry Sri Andal as per Her wishes, and conveyed the same to Her father Periyalwar, who came with all entourage and SriAndal, from Srivilliputhur to Srirangam, it was this sannidhi where they first worshipped and from here proceeded to the main sannidhi of Sri Ranganatha, where Sri Andal mingled with the Lord. The mantapam in this sannidhi has 24 pillars depicting Gayatri mantra, which has 24 syllables. This is because, Sri Vamana is a bachelor and Gayatri is supposed to be chanted by Him in the Sandyavandanam [morning and evening prayers]. We will see what is the connection between 23rd sloka and Sri Vamana:

yadi hy aham na varteyam
jatu karmany atandritah
mama vartmanuvartante
manusyah partha sarvasah

For, if I did not engage in work, O Pārtha, certainly all men would follow My path

"For if I ever failed to engage in carefully performing prescribed duties, O Partha, certainly all men would follow My path."

Aham= (the Almighty God) I am [Sri Krishna tells], yadi = might, jatu=at any time, atandritah = without laziness, karmany na varteyam = do not perform the prescribed duties, mama =my, vartma= actions, anuvartante = will be followed by, manushyah = men, sarvasah = in all respects.
That is, even at any time, due to fatigue or laziness, Sri Krishna were to fail to perform His prescribed duties [in the role He had assumed], all people would follow this action always. SriVamana is the example here. In the 22nd sloka, trishu lokeshu, that is in all the three worlds, was mentioned. The Lord resides in a place far away from all the worlds and so here we have to interpret three worlds as three births He assumed. Whether He was born as deva or human or beast, He has followed the duties prescribed for that birth. When the Lord took the role of a Boar to redeem Sri Bhhoma Devi, He appeared with real boar features and this made other ordinary boars to think that He was one among them, and so played friendly. On the contrary, in Srimad Ramayana, when Mareecha took the form of a beautiful deer, other deers felt the (Mareecha) deer was not of their clan and so ran away, out of fear. The Lord however, fits Himself truly to the form He takes, because He has to set an example to His followers. In the Sri Vamana avatar, He had to beg for land from King Bali. The apt role for this was Bachelor form, says Swami Vedanta Desika. But the Lord is always with Sri Lakshmi, as Consort on His right chest. To be true to the role He had taken, He hid the right chest by a big deer skin, as was the custom followed by bachelors while going for begging [It is to avoid the grace of Sri Lakshmi falling on the King and thereby, His mission might fail, is another reason]. Such a great Lord with nothing needed forHimself, goes for begging means, the Lord is prepared to downgrade His status so as to protect His devotees, and perform His duty in that role.

(continued)

GITA 3.22

We are listening to the lecture from the sannidhi of Sri Appakkudathan. He is there to bless all the devotees. We will now see the 22nd sloka. Sri Krishna is going to cite Himself as an example to follow Karma yoga. Firstly Karma yoga is easy, it is habitual, Gyana yoga is embedded in Karma yoga and Gyana yoga also follows Karma yoga. Only those who have had atman darshan can relinquish Karma yoga. Great Gyana yogis like Janaka have followed Karma yoga. Finally, Arjuna has to practice what his followers could adopt. Otherwise his followers will follow impossible tasks and fail. Now the 22nd sloka:

na me parthasti kartavyam
trisu lokesu kincana
nanavaptam avaptavyam
varta eva ca karmani

O son of Pṛthā, there is no work prescribed for Me within all the three planetary systems. Nor am I in want of anything, nor have I need to obtain anything-and yet I am engaged in work.

"O son of Pritha, there is no work prescribed for Me within all the three planetary systems. Nor am I in want of anything, nor have I a need to obtain anything—and yet I am engaged in prescribed duties."
Sri Krishna tells that He has set aside His other actions and have come to help Arjuna and is functioning as his chariot driver. In this role He takes care of the horses and drives the chariot of Arjuna as required by him. Sri Krishna tells that though He is born as Human being or a Beast or a Deva, there is nothing He, as the Almighty God, has to do anything as duty. In spite of this, is He not performing the duties of the role He has taken in every birth? Sri Krishna has nothing to achieve by doing these duties. He is called avapta samastha kaman - that is One Who has all the desires fulfilled. There is not a single desire He is wanting to get fulfilled. While taking birth, He selects the place, the time and the parents. He has to obey nobody's commands. All commands in Vedas are His commands, and He need not follow those, and they are meant for us. This is different from what we come across in our lives. Our law makers are bound by the laws they make. But in religion, God is not expected to obey the laws He has made for us. Despite all these, Sri Krishna is performing all the duties expected of an ordinary human like chariot driver. So Arjuna should follow Karma yoga, noting such great persons as examples.

(continued)