Friday 5 March 2021

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1 l Shloka 1 l Bhagavad Gītā for Beginners l Bhagavad Gita l Gita in English

 

Is the first Ślōka of Bhagavad Gītā a simple question or it has hidden shades within it? Do the present days Psychology principle of 'the Five Stages of Grief', by Kübler-Ross does hold during the times of Bhagavad Gita? How did 'Kurukshetra' get its name? Why was 'Kurukshetra' also called Dharmkshetra'?

Did Lord Parshuram had any relation with 'Kurukshetra'? Watch this Second Episode of Gita - Bhashya to know all the answers of all such questions along with the explanation of the Shloka 1 of Bhagavad Gita, by Utpal Kant Mishra. 

This is his quest to introduce Bhagavad Gita with fresh perspectives. As we progress further, many such untouched aspects of Gita will be revealed. 

Stay tuned for such intriguing questions of Gītā and their answers, Subscribe to my Channel and Share it.     

Sunday 28 February 2021

How did we find Bhagavad Gita l Bhagavad Gita for Beginners l Bhagavad Geeta Introduction l



 How did we find Bhagavad Gita? How many Shlokas did Krishna Spoke in Bhagavad Gita? 

In the quest of introducing Bhagavad Gita with fresh perspectives, this episode introduces Gita with few such answers. This introduction to Gita is the first episode among the Bhagavad Gita series, that I am bringing up. As we progress further, many such untouched aspect of Gita will be revealed.

Stay tuned for intriguing questions of Gita and their answers, and Subscribe to my Channel.


Tuesday 12 July 2016

Second Half of Shloka 27 and First Half of Shloka 28

तान्समीक्ष्य स कौन्तेयः सर्वान्बन्धूनवस्थितान ll (श्लोक २७ का उत्तरार्ध)
कृपया परयाविष्टो विषीदन्निदमब्रवीत् l (श्लोक २८ का पूर्वार्ध)

Taansamikshya sa kaunteyah sarvaanbanduunvasthitaan ll (Second half of Shloka 27)
Kripyaa paryaavishtao vishiidannidumbraveet l (First Half of Shloka 28)

Morphophonology (संधि - विच्छेद)

Taan samikshya sa kaunteyah sarvaan banduun vasthi taan ll (Second half of Shloka 27)
Kripyaa paryaa vishtao vishiida nnidum braveet l (First Half of Shloka 28)

Commentary


Seeing all his kith and kin (in the line of both the army), Son of Kunti (kaunteyah - Arjuna) was overwhelmed by the utmost compassion and sorrowing and (with these emotion) said

Monday 11 July 2016

Shloka 26 and First Half of Shloka 27

तत्रापश्यत्स्थितान् पार्थः पितृनथ पितामहान्
आचार्यान्मातुलान्भ्रातृन्पुत्रान्पौत्रान्सखीन्स्तथा  ll (श्लोक २६)
ससुरान्सुहृदश्चैव सेनयोरुभयोरपि l (श्लोक ७ का पूर्वार्ध)

Tartaapashyatstisthaan parth pitrinath pitaamahaan
Achaaryaanmaatulaanbhraatriputraanpautraansakhinstathaa
Sasuraan suhridayaschaaiv senyo rubhayo rapi ll

Morphophonology (संधि - विच्छेद)

Tartaa pashyat stisthaan parth pitrinath pitaamahaan
Achaaryaan maatulaan bhraatri putraan pautraan sakhin stathaa ll (Shloka 26)
Sasuraan suhridayaschaaiv senyo rubhayo rapi ll (Shloka 27 – First Half)

Commentary

Shlokas 26 to 35 sets the tone of Gita. These shlokas talk about the characteristics of fool and intelligent persons and about performing ones duty without having any desire or hatred.

Ultimately these facts have been explained in detail by Lord Krishna as “Karm (Action) – Gyaan (Knowledge) and Sanyaas  Yogas”  in further seventeen chapters of Gita making it a 18 Chapter (inclusive of 700 Shlokas) book, which is revered by one and all.

It is said that it was Shankaracharya who has earmarked these 700 shlokas from Mahabharata to identify Gita. Howsoever, there have been several controversies around this hypothesis.  

The meaning of the Shlokas mentioned under this chapter is given below:
There Son of Pritha (Parth –Arjuna) saw standing, fathers, grandfathers, teachers, uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons and friends, (Shloka 26) as well as father – in – law, and loved ones in the rank of two armies (First Half of Shloka 27).  



Wednesday 29 July 2015

Explanation of Pronoun “Parth” and it’s Meaning

Another pronoun by which Arjuna (अर्जुन) has been referred to is “Parth” (पार्थ) in Bhagwat Geeta, Adhyah 1, Shloka 25 and at many other places.

The formation of the word “Parth” (पार्थ) is पृथा + अण् (Pritha + Ana).

Pritha (पृथा) is name of “Kunti” (The second wife of Pandava) who is mother of Yudhisthir (युधिष्ठिर), Bhima (भीम) and Arjuna (अर्जुन).

Further, with the Noun Pritha (पृथा) Ana (Ana) is added to arrive at the word Parth. Here, “Ana” (used in Hindi and Sanskrit Grammar) is Pratyay (प्रत्यय, तद्धित). This addition gives us the Pronoun Parth which means “Son of Pritha”.

Thus, the three Pandavas were also called as “Parth” but later on this became popular Pronoun for Arjuna among three brothers or among three Sons of Pritha (Kunti). 

Tuesday 28 July 2015

Shloka 25

भीष्मद्रोणप्रमुखतः सर्वेषां महीक्षिताम्
उवाच पार्थ पश्यैतान् समवेतान् कुरुनिति ll (श्लोक २५)

Bhismdronapramukhatah sarveshaam cha mahikshitam
Uwach parth pashyaitaan samvetaan kuruniti ll

Morphophonology (संधि - विच्छेद)

Bhism dron parmukhtah sarveshaam cha mahi kshitam
Uwach parth pashya itaan sam vetaan kuri niti ll (Shloka 25)

Commentary


In front of Bhisma, Drona and all other Kings (rulers) he (Krishna; Hrishikesh) said: Parh (Arjuna, Parth is another name of Arjuna) look at these assembled (massed) Kauravas here.

Thursday 30 April 2015

Hrishikesh and Gudaakesh: Meaning, Relevance and Importance of these Names (Pronouns)

Explanation of words “Hrishikesh” and “Gudaakesh”: Their Relevance as Pronoun, their Importance and their Meaning

Different commentators have explained these two words in different ways. In “Narada Panchratra” has explained these two words as

Hrishikesh (हृषीकेश): Hrishika (हृषीक) + Ish (ईश): Here Hrishka means “Indriya” (Sensory Organs) and Ish means Lord. Thus, “Narada Panchratra” has explained Hrishikesh as “One who is the Lord of Indriya” which contextually here means “Krishna”. Similarly “Narada Panchratra” explains Gudaakesh (गुडाकेश): Gudaakaa (गुडाका) + Ish (ईश): Gudaakaa is a word which means “Nidra (Sleep) or Tandra, that also means Alasya (Laziness) and Ish means Lord. Further breaking down the word Gudaakaa gives us the way this word has been formed Gudaakaa (गुडाका) – Gud + aa + kae + k + tap (गुड + + कै + + टाप~). Thus, “Narada Panchratra” has explained Guddaakesh as “One who has won over Alasya (Laziness) which contextually here means “Arjuna”.

Interestingly, when we analyse the word “Gudaakesh” we find that this word is also used as a pronoun for Lord Shiva. This explanation is nowhere mentioned in Geeta but the fact is that Lord Hanuman (who is considered to be Avtaar of Lord Shiva) is (sitting or marked) on the flag which is attached with the chariot of Arjuna (monkey bannered flag – कपिध्वजः Shloka 20, Adhyay 1). Is it merely a co – incidence or is this be one of the reasons of calling Arjuna as Guddakesh?

Ksheer Swami (क्षीरस्वामी) while explaining Amarkosh has defined Hrishikesh (हृषीकेश) by using the literal meaning of Hrishik (हृषीक) which means “Indriya”. Hrishik is a word that has been derived from Hrish (हृष) (Dhatu or the root). Hrish means becoming happy or feeling pleasure. Now, Sanskrit texts has defined that people feel pleasure (or as a matter of fact any feeling) through “Indirya (sensory organs)” and therefore these “indirya” are also called Hrishik. Ish is again the same. Thus, Ksheer Swami has defined Hrishikesh as One who is Lord of Indriya or One (Lord) who gives ultimate pleasure. All texts say that one can attain ultimate bliss and pleasure in the Supreme only. Krishna is Lord or the Supreme himself. Therefore, Hrishikesh is a pronoun for Krishna.  

What we have found that in all these explanations these words are taken as

Hrishikesh (हृषीकेश): Hrishika (हृषीक) + Ish (ईश), and
Gudaakesh (गुडाकेश): Gudaakaa (गुडाका) + Ish (ईश)

But these words can be taken in a different way also

Hrishikesh (हृषीकेश): Hrishi (हृषी) + Kesh (केश), and
Gudaakesh (गुडाकेश): Gudaa (गुडा) + Kesh (केश)

We must note here that the two words Hrishik and Gudaakaa from which Hrishikesha and Guddakesha has been formed neither are common words nor are they words that are frequently used colloquially either at present or at the period of Mahabharata. Therefore, we can doubt on the possible explanations which has been given by taking Hrishik or Gudaakaa as Mool (originating) words.

Let’s now take up the other possible explanation. Hrish and Gudaa are and were common words. Hrishi (हृषी) means Pleasure and Kesh (केश) means hair (बाल). Now what could be the possible relationship between Pleasure and Hair? It can be a simile. In extreme fear or in extreme pleasure one feels goose bumps. In this state hair of people becomes straight. So, Hrishi (हृषी) + Kesh (केश) can mean a person who is having straight hair as it happens in extreme pleasure. Gudaa (गुडा) has three meanings. First one is Plant of Cotton, second is Bati (Tablet) and the third is Goli (again Tablet in English) and Kesh (केश) is the same as explained above. How the three meanings of Gudaa do relate to Kesh? The Cotton grows as circular on the plant and tablets are also circular in shape. In hair Curled hair can be a close replica of these shapes. Therefore, Gudaakesh can mean a person who is having curly hair. Physical structure of Krishna and Arjuna suggests that Krishna was having straight hair while Arjuna was having curly hair. So, this way also Krishna and Arjuna could have been called as Hrishikesha and Gudaakesh respectively.

Further, in Shanti Parva of Mahabharata under Narayaniyopaankhyaan several main names of Lord Vishnu are explained. In this Hrishikesh has been explained as Hrishi (हृषी) which has been explained as One which gives pleasure and Kesha (केश) as Ray (Kiran - किरन) and in this context Vishnu is also prayed as “One who through the rays of Sun and Moon Pleases the entire World or Universe” and so he is called Hrishikesha (हृषीकेश). Similarly, it is also explained here that word “Keshava” (another pronoun for Krishna) is also made out of the word Ray (Kiran - किरन).       

Whichever, meaning we take it is clear that Hrishikesha and Gudaakesha is used respectively for Krishna and Arjuna.

The evolution and development of words always have a contemporary usage which defines their actual meaning in the way it has been used during the time period of concern. Everything apart from the texts of Mahabharata and Gita of that time period has been lost. Hence, whatever explanation any commentator would give, it would be natural to have some difference of opinion among one another or may be from one school of thought to another.

Ref: Some references in this Article has been taken from Narada Panchratra 5.8.17; Shreemad Bhagwat Gita Rahasya; Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Pg 402, Ed. 28 and Mahabharata Shantiparva 341. 47, 342. 64, 65, Udyoga 69.9)