Monday 27 March 2023

'Decoding the Gita' (Contd.)

 Shree Shankaracharya has given a detailed commentary on the 'Spoken Words' of the Lord with a caution that 'one should be careful before venturing into any comments! There is a warning that no one should ever assume that he/she understands the Lord's words and venture to give any comments on it. In fact, no one, as mortals, can ever understand the Lord's words! Hence, the only option is to just meditate on Him and His words. However, nothing prevents us from promoting the study and disseminating the Gita. The Lord only says that He will be glad if anybody wants to know Him, speak abut Him, or constantly think about Him. He, indeed, is the blessed one who thinks about the Lord, always speaks about the Lord!

  Now, it is interesting to note that the entire Gita has been summed up in just seven or eight shlokas by some spiritual thinkers, and just the last one verses is enough to sum up the whole text. At the end, the question asked is: "'Who wins the battle?" The answer is: "Who else but the one who is blessed with the Supreme Lord only is the Charioteer to an able warrior well versed in the skillful art of warfare"? But, This war is not about fighting and killing people! It is fighting the decline of dharma, resurrecting the values, morals, ethics and creating a condition of equity and justice in society. It aims at the welfare of all living beings on this earth. It is also stated that the weaknesses shown by Arjuna are addressed here and the Lord wards off Arjuna's ego, pride, attachment and other qualities unworthy of a descendant of the warrior clan.

  The lesson taught by the Lord to His disciple, friend and philosopher is quite direct and simple. Just do your ordained duty. Do not expect any personal benefit from your actions. The fruits of action follow in right proportion at the appropriate time. Thus, it is certain that all will enjoy or suffer the fruits of their action and there is no time limit. The fruits of action (karma-phala) may be immediate, carried over or just credited to one's account ,, but never denied (the Blessed Lord declares)! So, what we are enjoying or suffering may be due to the carry over (from past several lives) as prarabhda, or what is accumulated over time since birth (sanchita), or may be even what is in store for us (agami) to enjoy or suffer in future! 

   It is this prarabhda karma that the humans have to understand and be careful not to acquire it at all, or suffer and dispense with as early as possible, in order to be liberated once and for all. Ultimately, it is essential for every jiva to realize that there is nothing to desire for existence on this earth, a death-knell (mrutyu loka), where everything will deteriorate, dissect and disappear over time. It is only a fool that desires for enjoyment in this sensuous world where time erases all that happiness and causes immense suffering, misery, and unhappiness (even when one's desire is fulfilled!). Time is ma ya that which is measurable, an illusion that takes off the shining, wears out, and leaves everything in its true color that is disgusting! Learned saints warn us of all these and say, "Don't be carried away by the illusory world" Nothing is real here. Close your account (of prarabhda karma), prepare a balance sheet (sins or good deeds committed), get a CA's certificate i.e., from the Agents of Yamadharma Raya to the effect that there is nothing to declare- assets or liabilities, papa or punya, and return with pristine purity of mind, body and soul, never to return to this mrutyuloka. 

  Thus, we may conclude, "surrender to Lord and be redeeemd!" The Lord only assure redemption, liberation (mukti, moksha), to all those who surrenders to Him, or redeems all those who seek redemption. maam upetya tu kounteya, sarva paapebhyo  mokshayishyami, ma sucha....punarjanma na vidyate||

(concluded)

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