Bhagavad Gita 2

Bhagavad gita 1.6 to 1.10

Yudhamanyush cha Vikrantha
Uttamaujaash cha Veeryavan
Saubhadro Draupadeyaash cha
Sarva yeva Mahaarathaha

Translation: Yudhamanyu the mighty, Uttamauja the valiant, the son of Subhadra (Abhimanyu) and the sons of Draupadi - are all great chariot warriors.

Asmakam tu Vishishthaa ye
Thannibodha Dvijjottama
Nayaka Mama Sainyasya
Samjnartham tan braveemi te

Translation: For your information, O best among Brahmanaas let me tell you about the chiefs of my army.

Bhavan Bheeshmascha karnas cha
Kripas cha samitim-jayah
Ashvatthama Vikarnas cha
Saumadattis tathaiva cha

Translation: There are people like you, Bheeshma, Karna, Kripa, Ashvathama, Vikarna and the son of Somadatta called Bhurisrava who are always victorious in battle.

Anye cha Bahavah sura
Madarthe tyakta-jivitah
Naana-shastra praharanah
Sarve yuddha Visaradah

Translation: There are many brave fighters who are ready to lay down their lives for me. They are all well-equipped with various kinds of weapons and are experts in military science.

Aparyaptam tad asmakam
Balam Bhismabhiraksitam
Paryaptam tv idam etesam
Balam Bhismabhiraksitam

Translation: Our strength is immense and we are protected by our (great) Grandfather Bheeshma. On the other hand the Pandavas are not well protected by our (great) Grandfather Bheeshma.

Bhagavad Gita 1

I want to start with a Vinayaka Sloka.

Vakrathunda Mahakaaya Suryakoti Samaprabha
Nirvighnam Kuru mey deva Sarva Karyeshu sarvadaa
Meaning: Oh! Lord who has long trunk, huge body and the brilliance of Millions of suns - please make all my endeavors free of any obstacles.

Bhagavad Gita starts when King Dhritharashtra (who is blind) asks Sanjaya about the occurrences on the great Kurukshethra battle field. Sanjaya is the charioteer and advisor of King Dhritharashtra. Sanjaya had a boon from Rishi Vyasa which enabled him to see events from a far distance. Here the great Bhagavad Gita starts....

Dhritharashtra uvacha "Dharma kshethre kuru kshethre
                                 Samaveta yuyutsavaha
                                 Mamakah pandavah chaiva
                                 Kim akurvata Sanjaya"

Translation:
Words of King Dhritharashtra "Oh Sanjaya, Gathered in the holy (dharma) field of kurukshethra, are my sons and sons of Pandu. What did they do?"

Sanjaya uvacha "Dristvatu Paandavaneekam
                        Vyudam Duryodhanas tada
                        Achaaryam Upasamgamya
                        Raaja Vachanam abraveet"

Transalation:
Words of Sanjaya "Oh King, after seeing the army of Pandavas in arrayed military formation in the battle field, Duryodhana, the then King of Karinagara approached his Guru and spoke."

                       "Pasyaitam pandu-putranam
                        Acharya mahatim chamum
                        Vyudham drupada-putrena
                        Tava shishyena Dheemataa"

Translation:
"Oh my teacher, behold the mighty army of Pandavas, efficiently arranged by your wise disciple, the son of Drupada."
In the above verse the teacher is Drona acharya and the disciple is Dhristadhyumna (son of Drupada). Drupada is the King of Panchala and Draupadi's father. Dhristadhyumna was appointed as the commander of the Pandava army.

                        "Atra Shoora Mahesv-asa
                        Bheemarjuna-Sama yuddhi
                        Yuyudhaano viratas cha
                        Drupadas cha maha rathah"

Translation: Here arrayed in the battle field are many great warriors, who are equal to Bhima and Arjuna in their valor in the battle field. Also great Maharathas like Yuyudhana, Virata and Drupada stand here.
Maharatha means a great charioteer who is capable of fighting tens of thousands of archers by himself without any aid.

                      "Dhrishtaketus chekitanah
                       Kaasi raaja cha veeryvan
                       Purujit Kuntibhoojas cha
                       Shaibhya cha nara-pungavah"

Translation: There are also great heroic warriors like Dhrishtaketu, Chekitana, Kaashiraja the valiant, Purujit, Kuntibhoja and Shaibya.

Introduction to Gita

It was summer holidays again. And as usual my sister and I were waiting for our Grandmother to come home with her bundles of sweet goods and stories. My Grandmother always had a very interesting way of explaining things to children. Most of the religious, traditional and mythological stuff we know today came from her. It was time for the sandhya (evening) Deeparadhana at home and my mother was making preparations for the same. My grandmother's prayer was mostly "maanasa pooja" which comprised of meditation and naama smaranam. She is a great inspiration to us. 
That evening, mother told us that our grandmother was about to tell us something very interesting. My sister and I sat beside our Grandma with all ears and great curiosity. She started with a brief but, captivating story of baby Lord Krishna followed by a small sloka. 
Kasturi tilakam lalaata palake vakshasthale kausthubham
Nasagre navamaukthikam karathale venum kare kankanam
Sarvange hari chandanan cha kalayan khante cha mukthavali
gopastri pariveshthitho vijayathe gopala choodaamani
The above sloka explains how Lord Krishna looks. Yashoda (foster-mother of Lord Shri Krishna) bathed baby Krishna and dressed him up daily. Shri Krishna is decorated with Kasturi tilakam on his forehead, kausthubham (an ornament) on his Vakshasthalam, navamaukthikam (ornament) on his nose, flute in his hands, kanakanam (bracelet) on his wrist. His entire body is covered with sandal paste. He has an ornament on his neck.  Oh! Shri Krishna, You are the giver of Mukthi. Victory to you.
After explaining the sloka she told us that she wanted to teach us Bhagavad Gita before she left for Hyderabad. I asked her "Ammamma (grandma) what is Bhagavad Gita?" She said "Bhagavad Gita is a nectar of life given by Lord Shri Krishna to us for our welfare. It consists of answers to many questions that arise from time to time in our life. Bhagavad gita means song of God." By then it was dinner time and we planned on starting the lessons from the next day.

Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitaha

We have all come across the famous saying "Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah". But what does it really mean. The most simplest and easiest translation is - "Dharma protects the one who protects Dharma". I first heard this saying from my father when I was about 10 years old. 

While I am still trying to figure out what "Dharma" means - it reminds me of a story my dad told me back then to make it easier for me. It goes something like this... One day when Shri Adi Shankarachaarya was walking along with his disciples, he saw an old man under a tree. Shri Shankarachaarya was surprised on seeing this old man because the tree was bending to provide its fruit to the old man. It was an awe-inspiring sight. Shri Shankaraachaarya approached the old man and asked him about his astonishing power. The old man replied by saying "I have been working under this tree throughout my life. I have been making a living by selling the fruit from this tree. This is my Svadharma. This tree has always been my Aadharam. As Shri Krishna paramathma once said that performing one's duty with utmost dedication and pure intentions is Dharma. And for such a person nothing is impossible. Now since I am old and cannot climb the tree to get the fruit and sell it. The tree bends itself and gives me its fruit. Since I never left my Svadharma and performed my Dharma with dedication and pure intentions my Dharma is saving me now." Showing the example of this old man's life Shri Adi Shankarachaarya said to his disciples "Can there be a better example to say that Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah"
From this, I derive this - "Dharma" may not be a set of rules. It may be more about the duties we perform on a daily basis while following "yamas" and "niyamas". And these duties keep changing at every stage of our life. This is Dharma. And all those who do this, will know how Dharma protects those who protect Dharma. Yamas and Niyamas are ethics and moral values.


Yamas: Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truthfulness), Asteya (non-stealing), Brahmacharya (abstinence when single and faithful when married), Kshama (forgiveness), Dhriti (steadfastness), Daya (compassion), Arjava (honesty), Mitahara (moderate appetite), Shaucha (purity).


Niyamas: Hri (remorse), Santosha (contentment), Dana (giving), Astikya (faith in Guru), Ishvarapujana (worship of God), Siddhanta Shravana (scriptural listening), Mati (developing spiritual will), Vrata (fulfilling religious vows), Japa (chanting mantras), Tapas (endurance).


There maybe a lot more to "Dharma" than my simple derivation here. But that is just my analysis. Any input is welcome. Thank you.

About Starting "Shruti Smriti"

I have always wanted to start a blog of my own. I have seen many people do the same...many of my friends and family. But then I din't know what I should write about. There were many moments when I thought ...."ahh! right I should do that". But those never happened. And finally I recently came across a friends' blog. She inspired me to think about blogging again. I thank her for inspiring me.
With the recent chaos around the world, it suddenly struck me that the person we all turn to when in trouble, would be a good source - which is God. So now, I have something to write about.
I believe that we humans are students throughout our lives. And this blog is my path to learning and sharing.