Arjun’s Disorientation

 

Friends, my last post, the second of the series, was about the “Battle announcement” part of Gita’s First Chapter, and that had left you with the Shloka:

अथ व्यवस्थितान्दृष्ट्वा धार्तराष्ट्रान् कपिध्वजः ।t

प्रवृत्ते शस्त्रसम्पाते धनुरुद्यम्य पाण्डवः ॥ १-२०॥

हृषीकेशं तदा वाक्यमिदमाह महीपते ।

Dhartarashtras (the sons of Dhritrashtra) looked at Kapidhwaja (Arjun) positioned in the middle of the Pandavas with his mighty weapon the huge bow (Gandiva), apparently all set to fight. (Gita 1:20) Prince Arjun then said to Hrishikesha (God) Krishna...

Here starts Gita’s next part, of “Arjun’s Disorientation” the subject matter of my third Post, and here it goes:

हृषीकेशं तदा वाक्यमिदमाह महीपते ।

अर्जुन उवाच ।

सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये रथं स्थापय मेऽच्युत ॥ १-२१॥

यावदेतान्निरीक्षेऽहं योद्धुकामानवस्थितान् ।

कैर्मया सह योद्धव्यमस्मिन् रणसमुद्यमे ॥ १-२२॥

योत्स्यमानानवेक्षेऽहं य एतेऽत्र समागताः ।

धार्तराष्ट्रस्य दुर्बुद्धेर्युद्धे प्रियचिकीर्षवः ॥ १-२३॥

Arjun said to Hrishikesh (God), “Hey Achyut (God), place my chariot at the center in the middle of both the warring armies so that I can see them both and all these warriors gathered here desiring to fight either for us or for these ill-minded Dhartarashtras.” (Gita 1:21 to 1:23).

            Both the warring armies facing each other on the battlefield and the commanders and leading warriors of both having expressed their respective readiness for the start of the battle signify that the battle is now a certainty; it starts only one blowing of conch shell by Bhishma the Supreme Commander of the Assaulter Army. So, Arjun now desires to view both armies.   

सञ्जय उवाच ।

एवमुक्तो हृषीकेशो गुडाकेशेन भारत ।

सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये स्थापयित्वा रथोत्तमम् ॥ १-२४॥

भीष्मद्रोणप्रमुखतः सर्वेषां च महीक्षिताम् ।

उवाच पार्थ पश्यैतान्समवेतान्कुरूनिति ॥ १-२५॥

तत्रापश्यत्स्थितान्पार्थः पितॄनथ पितामहान् ।

आचार्यान्मातुलान्भ्रातॄन्पुत्रान्पौत्रान्सखींस्तथा ॥ १-२६॥

श्वशुरान्सुहृदश्चैव सेनयोरुभयोरपि ।

तान्समीक्ष्य स कौन्तेयः सर्वान्बन्धूनवस्थितान् ॥ १-२७॥

Sanjay Said, “So Hrishikesh (God) drove the Gudakesh (who’d conquered sleep) descendent of King Bharat into the middle of both the warring armies and placed his shining white chariot at the center. (Gita 1:24) And surveying both the armies, Pritha’s son (Arjun) said, “I see gathered here the whole Kuru Clan including all my sires, grandsires, and mentors, Bhishma and Drona prominent amongst them, maternal uncles, bothers & cousins, children, grandchildren, friends, fathers and uncles in law, all the dear and near in these warring armies.” So Arjun saw the whole of his brotherhood, gathered there to fight each other. Gita (1:25 to 1:27).     

कृपया परयाविष्टो विषीदन्निदमब्रवीत् ।

अर्जुन उवाच ।

दृष्ट्वेमं स्वजनं कृष्ण युयुत्सुं समुपस्थितम् ॥ १-२८॥

So Arjun said, “I see that all these who have gathered here to fight each other are those whom I can call my own people. (Gita 1:28)

सीदन्ति मम गात्राणि मुखं च परिशुष्यति ।

वेपथुश्च शरीरे मे रोमहर्षश्च जायते ॥ १-२९॥

गाण्डीवं स्रंसते हस्तात्त्वक्चैव परिदह्यते ।

न च शक्नोम्यवस्थातुं भ्रमतीव च मे मनः ॥ १-३०॥

निमित्तानि च पश्यामि विपरीतानि केशव ।

न च श्रेयोऽनुपश्यामि हत्वा स्वजनमाहवे ॥ १-३१॥

न काङ्क्षे विजयं कृष्ण न च राज्यं सुखानि च ।

किं नो राज्येन गोविन्द किं भोगैर्जीवितेन वा ॥ १-३२॥

येषामर्थे काङ्क्षितं नो राज्यं भोगाः सुखानि च ।

त इमेऽवस्थिता युद्धे प्राणांस्त्यक्त्वा धनानि च ॥ १-३३॥

आचार्याः पितरः पुत्रास्तथैव च पितामहाः ।

मातुलाः श्वशुराः पौत्राः श्यालाः सम्बन्धिनस्तथा ॥ १-३४॥

एतान्न हन्तुमिच्छामि घ्नतोऽपि मधुसूदन ।

अपि त्रैलोक्यराज्यस्य हेतोः किं नु महीकृते ॥ १-३५॥

निहत्य धार्तराष्ट्रान्नः का प्रीतिः स्याज्जनार्दन ।

पापमेवाश्रयेदस्मान्हत्वैतानाततायिनः ॥ १-३६॥

तस्मान्नार्हा वयं हन्तुं धार्तराष्ट्रान्स्वबान्धवान् ।

स्वजनं हि कथं हत्वा सुखिनः स्याम माधव ॥ १-३७॥

यद्यप्येते न पश्यन्ति लोभोपहतचेतसः ।

कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं मित्रद्रोहे च पातकम् ॥ १-३८॥

कथं न ज्ञेयमस्माभिः पापादस्मान्निवर्तितुम् ।

कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं प्रपश्यद्भिर्जनार्दन ॥ १-३९॥

कुलक्षये प्रणश्यन्ति कुलधर्माः सनातनाः ।

धर्मे नष्टे कुलं कृत्स्नमधर्मोऽभिभवत्युत ॥ १-४०॥

अधर्माभिभवात्कृष्ण प्रदुष्यन्ति कुलस्त्रियः ।

स्त्रीषु दुष्टासु वार्ष्णेय जायते वर्णसङ्करः ॥ १-४१॥

सङ्करो नरकायैव कुलघ्नानां कुलस्य च ।

पतन्ति पितरो ह्येषां लुप्तपिण्डोदकक्रियाः ॥ १-४२॥

दोषैरेतैः कुलघ्नानां वर्णसङ्करकारकैः ।

उत्साद्यन्ते जातिधर्माः कुलधर्माश्च शाश्वताः ॥ १-४३॥

उत्सन्नकुलधर्माणां मनुष्याणां जनार्दन ।

नरके नियतं वासो भवतीत्यनुशुश्रुम ॥ १-४४॥

अहो बत महत्पापं कर्तुं व्यवसिता वयम् ।

यद्राज्यसुखलोभेन हन्तुं स्वजनमुद्यताः ॥ १-४५॥

यदि मामप्रतीकारमशस्त्रं शस्त्रपाणयः ।

धार्तराष्ट्रा रणे हन्युस्तन्मे क्षेमतरं भवेत् ॥ १-४६॥

The sight of all my people gathered to fight one another chokes my throat and dries my mouth, tightens my body stiff with the hair standing up electrified (Gita 1:29) My shoulder fails to hold Gandiv (Arjun’s famous bow), my hands burn with the heat of my passions and my mind is confused with disbelief, (Gita 1:30) and I feel all the adverse signs and symptoms, O Keshava (descendant of King Kishu, viz. Krishna) and I see no good in killing my own people. (Gita 1:31) Neither do I desire victory over them, nor will I be happy ruling the earth without them O Govind (Krishna) (Gita 1:32) All those who desire mu rule and would be happy in my rule have abandoned their wealth and gathered here to shed their lives fighting this battle, (Gita 1:33) with my teachers, seniors, juniors, grandsires, maternal uncles, fathers in law, grandchildren, brothers in law, and other relatives; (Gita 1:34) who’s slaughter amounts grave sin O Madhusudan (Slayer of the Demon named Madhu, viz. Krishna) that I cannot commit even for the empire of the Trilok (The three worlds, viz. the Earth, Heaven, and the Universe) (Gita 1:35) Even the slaughter of these sinner sons of Dhritrashtra will beget me only sin because they are my cousins and belong to the same family O Janardan (Krishna), and it cannot make me happy (Gita 1:36 -1:37) Their avarice has blinded them to the grave sins of finishing the whole of own family and of sinful friend-betrayal (Gita 1:38), but we do understand the grave sin involved in finishing our own clan in mutual battle, O Janardan, how can you expect me to commit such awful sin? (Gita 1:39) Slaughter of own kinsmen leads to the erosion of the Sanatana (eternal) Family Dharma, and leads to the growth of adharma (anti-Dharma) (Gita 1:40) Growing adharma ultimately enforces immoral pollution of the women, O Krishna the descendant of King Vrishni, leading to Varnasankara and the erosion of Jatidharma also along-with eternal erosion of Kuldharma starting an evil chain that soon pervades whole mankind hurling everyone into sinful hell (Gita 1:41 to 1:44) I cannot commit such sinful slaughter of own people; so I surrender my weapons, and I would consider it better if the Dhartarashtras slay me unarmed. (Gita 1:45 & 1:46)

            It is pertinent to note here Arjun’s amazing awareness and understanding of the religious Dharma or uprightness, of sins and piety, of the paths leading to hell and heaven, and all the relevant matters better than most of the modern-day sanyasis, saints, sages, spiritual preachers, Brahmins, and/or priests of all the religions of the world.

सञ्जय उवाच ।

एवमुक्त्वार्जुनः सङ्ख्ये रथोपस्थ उपाविशत् ।

विसृज्य सशरं चापं शोकसंविग्नमानसः ॥ १-४७॥

Sanjay said: saying so, Arjun dropped his bow, with arrows, and slumped into the rear seat of his chariot. (Gita 1:47)

            The original text has a chapter break here, but considering that irrelevant to the continued context of Arjun’s Disorientation and the content of Arjun’s immaculate comprehension of the religious Dharma of sins and penances, far surpassing the knowledge of most modern-day sanyasis, Brahmins, saints, holy men, and priests of all the religions of the world, I’m continuing without a break…

तं तथा कृपयाविष्टमश्रुपूर्णाकुलेक्षणम् ।

विषीदन्तमिदं वाक्यमुवाच मधुसूदनः ॥ २-१॥

So seeing tears of penance in Arjun’s eyes, The Benevolent Madhusudan God Krishna mercifully said: (Gita 2:1)

श्रीभगवानुवाच ।

कुतस्त्वा कश्मलमिदं विषमे समुपस्थितम् ।

अनार्यजुष्टमस्वर्ग्यमकीर्तिकरमर्जुन ॥ २-२॥

क्लैब्यं मा स्म गमः पार्थ नैतत्त्वय्युपपद्यते ।

क्षुद्रं हृदयदौर्बल्यं त्यक्त्वोत्तिष्ठ परन्तप ॥ २-३॥

God said: How come such cowardice to overwhelm you the brave-heart accomplisher, O Pritha’s son Arjun, abandon this weakness of the heart, and rise O Paramtap (world’s greatest accomplisher of penance) Arjun, and do your duty. (Gita 2:2 & 2:3) 

अर्जुन उवाच ।

कथं भीष्ममहं सङ्ख्ये द्रोणं च मधुसूदन ।

इषुभिः प्रतियोत्स्यामि पूजार्हावरिसूदन ॥ २-४॥

गुरूनहत्वा हि महानुभावान् श्रेयो भोक्तुं भैक्ष्यमपीह लोके ।

हत्वार्थकामांस्तु गुरूनिहैव भुञ्जीय भोगान् रुधिरप्रदिग्धान् ॥ २-५॥

न चैतद्विद्मः कतरन्नो गरीयो यद्वा जयेम यदि वा नो जयेयुः ।

यानेव हत्वा न जिजीविषामस्-तेऽवस्थिताः प्रमुखे धार्तराष्ट्राः ॥ २-६॥

कार्पण्यदोषोपहतस्वभावः पृच्छामि त्वां धर्मसम्मूढचेताः ।

यच्छ्रेयः स्यान्निश्चितं ब्रूहि तन्मे शिष्यस्तेऽहं शाधि मां त्वां प्रपन्नम् ॥ २-७॥

न हि प्रपश्यामि ममापनुद्याद् यच्छोकमुच्छोषणमिन्द्रियाणाम् ।

अवाप्य भूमावसपत्नमृद्धं राज्यं सुराणामपि चाधिपत्यम् ॥ २-८॥

Arjun said: Tell me O Madhusudan (Slayer of the Demon Madhu) how can I strike Bhishma or Drona; so honorable for me, O Arisudan (slayer of the enemy) (Gita 2:4). I would prefer begging for my livelihood the rest of my life rather than enjoying a realm stained with their blood. (Gita 2:5) There’s no way to know for sure whether I will win this battle or my enemies, prominently led by Dhritrashtra’s evil sons will vanquish me and establish their evil rule. (Gita 2:6) I’m unable to control my senses, and I’ve lost sense of what is my Dharma in these conditions; so I surrender before you O Krishna, kindly guide me. (Gita 2:7 & 8)

            Arjun with as much wealth as to be called Dhnanjaya (extremely wealthy) in the extremely rich Indian Society of the times of the Mahabharat, and all that much knowledge and understanding of religion and religious Dharma and as pious as to be annointed by God Krishna with adjectives such as Paramtapa and Anagh (one who never sins) proposing to live the rest of his life भोक्तुं भैक्ष्यमपीह लोके (begging for living in the world) is no joke because he understands that he must abandon all his wealth and become a pennyless pauper before he turns a Sanyasi to live the rest of his life भोक्तुं भैक्ष्यमपीह लोके (begging for living in the world), and he is willing to do so, rather than sin by fighting that battle of family fued. So, hearing that Krishna is compelled to give him a lesson, and so the stage is set for Krishna’s lecture in main of the Gita, the subject matter of my next post, the most central post of the whole series.

सञ्जय उवाच ।

एवमुक्त्वा हृषीकेशं गुडाकेशः परन्तप ।

न योत्स्य इति गोविन्दमुक्त्वा तूष्णीं बभूव ह ॥ २-९॥

तमुवाच हृषीकेशः प्रहसन्निव भारत ।

सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये विषीदन्तमिदं वचः ॥ २-१०॥

Sanjay said: Saying so to Hrishikesh (God Krishna), Pramtapa (World’s greatest performer of penance) Gudakesha (who’d conquered sleep) (Arjun) declared before Govind (Krishna the protector of cows) “I will NOT fight.” (Gita 2:9) Then for the pleasure of (Arjun) the glorious descendant of King Bharat, Hrishikesh (God Krishna) thus spoke there in the middle of the two warring armies all set and ready for the start of their battle. (Gita 2:10)

            So, friends bye for the present, and continue the work you’re doing without bothering how good or bad it is; Not fare well but fare forward voyagers, and find me and turn your back on heaven.

 

I thank Google for the title picture.

I’m a common man like you, and I believe in:

योगिनामपि सर्वेषां मद्गतेनान्तरात्मना ।

श्रद्धावान्भजते यो मां स मे युक्ततमो मतः ॥ ६-४७॥

Karmyogis, my true followers finally become one with me. Gita: 6:47

          So, I am destined to one day become Krishna, and so can you. All you have to do is keep reading my posts here, keep discussing them to thoroughly understand them, and keep applying them to your actions in whatever you do in your routine life; to improve your chance of greater success, and keep earning money – and in case my advice enables you to earn sufficiently more than before, keep sharing some of the extra earnings with me through donations.

I am no Sanyasi, viz. I’ve NOT renounced the world; I can earn, and accept payments or donations to accumulate wealth; rather, it’s my duty to earn and amass wealth to the extent. The study of the Gita is a never-ending work of extensive research needing lots of funds, and it also adversely affects my business. Anybody desiring to support my cause may please send me money by UPI, online bank transfer, RTGS, or Cheque/DD. Rameish Agrawaal is my literary pseudonym while my official name is Ramesh Kumar Agrawal and my particulars are given below.

          Thank you, my friends

-      Ramesh Kumar Agrawal

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