TIMELESS WISDOM FROM THE BHAGAVAD GITA
The essence of all the scriptures and divine knowledge is found in the Gita. It is a guide with a practical approach.
The Gita has been the most important influence in my life as it offers a direct, distinct, credible philosophy and strength to sustain the ups and downs of day-to-day life. During the moments of despair and disappointment in life’s struggle, taking refuge in the Gita brings comfort and solace. It has all the solutions to the varied and complex problems faced by humans.
Shrimad Bhagavada Gita is the divine voice of Lord Shri Krishna. It is His song. That is why it is called the Gita. It is a dialogue between two friends which starts with a difference of perceptions, takes the form of questions and answers, and ultimately moves on to present a unique philosophy of life for the human race.
Arjuna, the great archer is the representative of the human soul in its search for the ultimate goal of human life. Lord Shri Krishna, his charioteer in the battlefield of Kurukshetra, culminates in Arjuna becoming a disciple from being a friend. The doubts and dilemma of Arjuna represent the predicament of an inquisitive mind seriously seeking the path to the realization of the eternal truth.
The Gita based on eternal principles is a wonderful bouquet of ethics, psychology, sociology, philosophy, and spirituality.
Here are the most important verses which can easily convey the true message of the scripture:
1) Negation Of Death.
Vasamsi jirnaniyatha vihaya
navanigrihnati naroparani
Tatha sharirani vihaya jirana
nyanyani samyati navani dehi.
The soul casts away old and worn-out bodies and takes up new ones, just as a man sheds off tattered garments and puts on fresh ones.
The soul is timeless, infinite, and eternal. It cannot be pierced by weapons or burnt by fire. Water cannot drench it nor can wind dry it. It is unreasonable to grieve for the dead, for the death of one who is born is inevitable and so is the rebirth of the dead. Therefore, to be anxious about something which is certain and inevitable is unjustified.
Lord Krishna thus indicates that Arjuna’s distress and fear of his kinsmen being slain is unfounded.
2) Fate And Actions.
Karmanyevadhikaraste ma phaleshu kadachana
Ma karmaphalaheturbhurma te sangostvakarmani.
Yogasthah kuru karmani sangam tyaktva Dhananjaya
Siddhyasiddhyoh samo bhutva samatvam yoga uchyate.
You only have the right to action and never to the fruits thereof. Never let yourself be motivated by the fruits of action, nor incline yourself ever to inaction. O Arjuna! Rooted in yoga, perform your duties by renouncing attachment, and being even-minded in success and failure. This state of being balanced in mind is known as Samatvayoga.
This verse has been recognized as the most important of the seven hundred verses of Gita. It symbolizes the essence of Gita’s teachings.
An action performed by treading on the path of Samatvayoga frees one from the bondage of this material existence, since he who performs actions being in the state of equanimity, is not bound by karma or its fruits. Also, as the mind is perfectly equipoised, it enables one to perform his actions more skillfully.
3) Traits Of A Wise Man.
Prajahati yada kamansarvanpartha manogatan.
Atmanyevatmana tushtah sthitprajnstadochyate.
When one thoroughly casts off all cravings of sense gratification within the mind and becomes satisfied by the realization of the self in the pure state of the soul, he is then called a person steeped in wisdom.
As the waters of various rivers flow into the ocean which, though full on all sides, remains undisturbed, likewise, he in whom various emotions and desires merge themselves without causing any disruption, attains peace.
Such a being remains in eternal bliss with oneself.
4)Transcendental Knowledge.
Na hi gyanena sadrisham pavitramiha vidyate.
Tatsvayam yogasamsiddhah kalenatmani vindati.
In this world, there is nothing as purifying as transcendental knowledge. The continuous practice of karma-yoga with no desire for rewards enlightens and elevates the self of a human being, and leads him to experience the light of knowledge within himself.
Lord Shri Krishna has enumerated unwavering faith, firm conviction, and constant efforts as the three basic pre-requisites for attaining absolute knowledge.
Therefore, with the sword of knowledge, slash these doubts of your heart, born of ignorance, and, establishing yourself in Karmayoga, arise for the battle ahead.
5)Best Friend And The Worst Enemy.
Uddharedatmanatmanam natmanamavasdayet.
Atmaiva hyatmano bandhuratmaiva ripuratmanah.
Bandhuratmatmanastasya yenatmaivatmana jitah.
Anatmanastu shatrutae vartetatmaiva shatruvat.
One must elevate not degrade oneself through one’s own efforts.
A person’s mind itself is his friend, as well as his enemy. The soul that has mastered one’s mind, senses and body is its own friend. But, the soul that has been unable to conquer these is its own foe.
The being who has mastered the self and treats dualities like happiness and distress, heat and cold, honor and dishonor alike, has his mind fully established in Him; his inner self has reached the state of supreme tranquility.
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6)The Favourite Devotee.
Chaturvidha bhajante mam janah sukrinto’rjuna.
Arto jijnasur artharti jnanai cha Bharatarshabha.
Tesham jnani nityayukta ekabhaktirvishishyate.
Priyo hi jnanino’tyarthamaham sa cha mam priyah.
O best of Bharatas (Arjuna)! amongst the virtuous, four kinds of people worship Me; the distressed, the materialist, the inquisitive, and the man of wisdom.
The distressed come to Me for relief from pain and suffering.
The materialist implores Me for wealth, power, and other worldly objects.
The inquisitive seek Me out of curiosity.
Those man of wisdom communes with Me to have the knowledge of the Absolute.
Among these, the man of wisdom, owing to his complete devotion and absolute identification with Me is the best. For I am extremely dear to the wise, who knows Me in reality.
Lord Shri Krishna, by way of emphasising the importance of devotion and wisdom (true knowledge) states that amongst the four types of excellent men, it is the wise who is dearest to His heart, since it is the only one who worships Him with absolute faith and devotion.
