Bhagavad Gita 3

Ayaneshu Cha Sarveshu
Yatha-bhagam avasthitah
Bhismam evabhirakshantu
Bhavanta sarva eva hi

Meaning: All of you must give your support to Grandfather Bhishma, as you stand at your respective strategic points of entrance into the phalanx of the army.

Tasya sanjanayan harsam
kuru-vrddah pitamahah
simha-nadam vinadyoccaih
sankham dadhmau pratapavan

Meaning: Then Bhishma, the great valiant grandsire of the Kuru Dyansty, the grandfather of the fighters, blew his conchshell very loudly, making a sound like the roar of a lion, giving joy to Duryodhana.

Tatah sankhas cha bheryas cha
panavanaka-gomukhah
sahasaivabhyahanyanta
sa shabdas tumulo bhavat

Meaning: After that, the conchshells, drums, bugles, trumpets and horns were all suddenly and together played. And the sound of it all was uproarious.

Tatah svetair hayair yukte
mahati syandane sthitau
madhavah pandavas caiva
divyau sankhau pradadhmatuh

Meaning: On the other side, both Lord Krishna and Arjuna, stationed on a great chariot drawn by white horses, sounded their transcendental conhshells.

Pancajanyam hrsikeso
devadattam dhananjayah
paundram dadhmau maha-sankham
bhima-karma vrkodarah

Meaning: Lord Krishna blew his conchshell, Panchajanya; Arjuna blew his, the Devadatta; and Bhima, the voracious eater and the performer of herculean tasks, blew his terrific conchshell, the Paundra.

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.