Gitasaar
Essence
of Geeta
Geeta or Bhagavad Geeta is
philosophically and ethically a powerful episode of the great Mahabharata,
written long ago in the Sanskrit language. (The Mahabarata is, in fact, the
longest epic in any language). It uniquely deals with a dialogue between the
charioteer, the man-God Krishna and the
devotee-Pandava-warrior Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra where the
Pandavas ultimately defeated their cousins, the Kauravas. More importantly, the
dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna during the latter’s hesitation to fight his
cousins and Krishna’s advice, is of supreme
significance to all humanity. It enshrines many aspects of worldly philosophy,
religion, ethics and the pursuit of life’s eternal salvation.
The Krishna-Arjuna dialogue
in the Gita is universal and eternal, the literary epitome of which is
applicable to all humanity. An aspect of it can be interpreted as an advice
given to Arjuna by Krishna and can be detailed
in the following way –
- Why are you worried? Who are you afraid of?
Who will kill you? Believe, your soul is immortal.
- What happened to you in the past was good.
What is happening is good. Whatever will happen, will be good. Do not
think about your past and feel guilty. Think of the present happening?
Follow your karma.
- Why are you
crying? You have not lost anything. You did not bring any material things with
you when you were born. You have not created anything after you were born. What
you have with you now are all acquired locally. Whatever, that you have lost,
therefore, was not yours and you have already returned them (material things)
to the world. When you die, you do not take anything with you. Things that you
have now in your possession will be someone else’s tomorrow. Now, you think
that you are happy mainly because you have it or attached to it. Such an
attachment is the main cause for your worry and crying.
- Change is nature’s law. Death changes to new
life. When you forget ideas, such as you and me, big and small,
warm and cold, then you do feel happy and find that you have everything,
and that you will eventually be part of the universal god.
- This body is not yours, and its soul does not
belong to that body, nor attached to it. The body is ephemeral or brief
living, and it is made up of a mixture of 5 ‘elements’ (earth, water,
fire, space and wind). In the end, all will go back to merge with nature.
Then you become that indestructible self or soul.
- You should, therefore, devoutly submit
yourself to god. This is the best way. Whoever follows this path does not
fear worry, sadness, etc. Believe, everything that you are doing is an
offering to the Supreme. By dedicating yourself this way to god, and
recognizing the difference between god and man, you will reach eternal
salvation (moksha).
May the Almighty God bless you always!