Chapter 2.1 Samkhya Yoga (Yoga of Knowledge) - Slokas 1-19
Hari Om!
There are three fundamental aspects of Hinduism:
1) The law of karma (what we sow, we will reap),
2) Reincarnation (born again and again until we reach our source),
3) Self Realization (Realizing our true nature that we are The Atman (the Self) and not the body or the mind or the intellect).
In Chapter 2, Bhagavan Sri Krishna enumerates to Arjuna the different methods that a spiritual aspirant should follow to reach the goal of Self Realization. So, chapter 2 is one of the most elaborate chapters which encompasses many of the spiritual paths and details the three aspects we mentioned above. We will divide it into many parts for discussion.
The first nineteen verses:
Lord Krishna asks Arjuna how he became so dejected and weak in his heart, and tells him that he should stand up and fight. Arjuna replies, “How shall I fight Bhishma and Drona, who are fit to be worshipped? It is better to eat the bread of begging rather than kill them and if I do, I cannot enjoy the victory and kingdom since it’ll be stained with blood.”
Arjuna then changes the tune and in this surrendering tone, says to Bhagavan Krishna
Sloka 7
Arjuna Uvaca:
“Karpanya – doshopahata-svabhaavaha prcchaami tvaam dharma-sammudha-cetaaha
Yaccreya syaan nishchitam bruuhi tan me shisyaste ham saadhi maam tvaam prapannam “
Arjuna said:
“My heart is overpowered by the taint of pity; my mind is confused as to duty. I ask You, tell me decisively what is good for me. I am Your disciple. Instruct me who has taken refuge in You. “
Arjuna then said, “I will not fight “and became silent.
When the devotee thus surrendered completely, the Lord starts his upadesham (advice).
Sri Krishna said “you speak words of wisdom but you grieve for those who should not be grieved for since the wise do not grieve for the living or the dead “
One may ask “Why don’t the wise grieve?”
Because, the wise (those who have identified themselves with the Atman and not the body) know that the Atman is indestructible and does not die when the body dies.
Sloka 13
Dehinosmin yathaa dehe kaumaaram yauvanam jaraa
Thathaa dehaantara praptihir dheeras tatra na muhyati
Sri Krishna continues “Just as in this body the embodied atman (the Self) passes into childhood, youth and old age, so also does he pass into another body. The firm man does not grieve at it “(sloka 13)
In this sloka, the Lord is basically describing reincarnation and later, we will see how he decides which womb the individual is born in the next birth (based on their actions in this birth).
Sloka 14
Maatra sparshas tu kaunteya sitoshna sukha dukhadaaha
Aagamapayino anithyaaha taams thithikshasva bhaaratha
“The contact of the senses with objects, O son of Kunti, which cause heat and cold, pleasure and pain, have a beginning and an end: endure them bravely, O descendant of Bharatha “
This is such a glorious sloka that I am tempted to discuss at some length.
This sloka describes the transitory nature of life as we know it. Nothing in life is permanent. (Anithyam = impermanent). Everything we see perishes, if not now, later. Also, new planets and stars are born in the cosmos while others are in the process of disintegration. So, this is not a negative statement. It is a plain fact of life that hits you if you look around. The plants in our yard, our pets, a beautiful cup (your favorite cup that you enjoy drinking water or coffee with), our friends, colleagues and relatives, young and old, they all perish in course of time. At the same time, children and grandchildren are born, new plants and animals are born, and new friendships develop. When we think deeply about this, we start appreciating everything that the Lord has created around us, and enjoy them, fully grasping the fact that they are impermanent.
To emphasize this serious point, Swami Chinmayanandaji humorously used to say,
“Where are our great, great grandfathers and their parents? They are gone.”
“Where are we? We are Goinnghu” with an emphasis on unnghu” in a funny tone.
In this Sloka 14, Sri Krishna simply reminds Arjuna that what he is seeing in front are people, who are going to shed their body over time and his job is to fight and be firm in his resolve.
The question arises, “what is permanent?”
Sri Krishna then goes to a higher level and describes what is permanent by describing the qualities of The Self (The Atman) in the next few slokas.
Sloka 19
Ya enam vetti hantaram yascainam manyate hatam
Ubhau tau na vijaanito naayam hanti na hanyate
“He who takes the Self (Atman) to be the slayer, and he who thinks He (Atman) is slain, neither of these knows. He (Atman) slays not, nor is He (Atman) slain “
The meaning of this verse is that the Self (Atman) does not die when the body dies. Sri Krishna is also telling Arjuna that he does not have to be sad about killing his relatives since he is not killing them, and they are not being killed. Only their body will die but the Atman in them is indestructible.
Mother Bhagavad Gita answers every question a sincere devotee may have. Let us be patient. We will find out what happens to the Self when the body dies, (even at a younger age), in later slokas and chapters.
Hari Om!
Dr.Shanmugam