Observing the Armies on the
Battlefield of Kurukṣetra
Verses 31-46
Verse 31
Translation
I don't understand how killing my own relatives in this conflict can be beneficial, and I don't want any future victory, kingdom, or pleasure, my dear Krishna.
Purport
Conditioned souls are drawn to corporeal interactions,
seeking to be pleased in such conditions without realising that their
self-interest is in Visnu (or Krishna). They have such a distorted view of life
that they overlook the sources of monetary enjoyment. Arjuna seemed to have
lost his ksatriya moral precepts. It is believed that two types of men are
eligible to enter the sun globe, which is so powerful and bright, namely the
ksatriya who dies directly in front of the battlefield under Krishna's personal
orders and the person in the renounced order of life who is completely devoted
to spiritual culture. Arjuna is wary of even killing his adversaries, let alone
his relatives. He believes that killing his kin will bring him
no happiness, and hence he is unwilling to fight, just as a person who is not
hungry is unlikely to cook. In frustration, he has decided to retreat into the
wilderness and live a quiet life. However, as a ksatriya, he needs a kingdom to
survive because ksatriyas are unable to work in any other occupation. However,
Arjuna does not have a kingdom. Arjuna's only chance of winning a kingdom is to
struggle with his relatives and brothers and retake the kingdom inherited from
his father, which he dislikes. As a result, he feels himself fit to travel to
the forest and live a solitary life of solitude.
Verse 32-35
Translation
O Govinda, what good are a kingdom, pleasure, or even life
itself when all those we desire are now arrayed on this battlefield? O
Madhusdana, why should I wish to kill teachers, fathers, sons, grandfathers,
maternal uncles, dads-in-law, grandsons, brothers-in-law, and other relatives
who are willing to give up their lives and properties and come before me? O
keeper of all living things, I am not willing to fight them even for the three
planets, let alone this one. What pleasure will we receive from killing Dhritarashtra's
sons?
Purport
Arjuna refers to Lord Ka as Govinda since he is the source
of all delights for cows and the senses. Arjuna suggests to Ka that he should
grasp what will satisfy Arjuna's senses by utilising this key word. Govinda, on
the other hand, is not intended to fulfil our senses. However, if we endeavour
to fulfil Govinda's senses, we inevitably satisfy our own senses. Everyone
desires to fulfil his senses materially, and he wants God to be the order
supplier for such satisfaction. The Lord will fulfil the living creatures'
senses to the extent that they deserve, but not to the amount that they desire.
However, when one follows the other approach - that is, when one tries to
fulfil Govinda's senses without intending to
Specifically, when one seeks to fulfil Govinda's senses
without desiring to satisfy one's own senses, all desires of the living thing
are satisfied by the grace of Govinda. Arjuna's strong love for his community
and family members is evident here, thanks in part to his natural compassion
for them. As a result, he is not prepared to fight. Everyone wants to exhibit
his luxury to his friends and relatives, but Arjuna is afraid that all of his
relatives and friends would be slaughtered on the battlefield, and he will be
unable to show off his wealth after victory. This is a typical material life
calculation. The transcendental life, on the other hand, is distinct.
Because a devotee wishes to meet the Lord's demands, he can accept all kinds of
wealth for the Lord's service, and if the Lord is not willing, he should not
receive a farthing. Arjuna did not want to kill his relatives, and if they had
to be killed, he preferred that Krishna do so personally. At this point, he had
no idea that Krishna had already slain them before they arrived on the
battlefield, and that he would just serve as a Instrument for
Krishna. This reality is revealed in the next chapters. rjuna, a natural
devotee of the Lord, disliked retaliating against his misbehaving relatives and
siblings, but it was the Lord's purpose that they all be killed. The devotee of
the Lord does not retaliate against the wrongdoer, but the Lord does not
tolerate evil committed by miscreants against the devotee. The Lord might
forgive someone on His own account, but He never forgives someone who has
harmed His believers. As a result, the Lord was determined to slay the
miscreants, notwithstanding Arjuna's desire to excuse them.
Verse 36
पापमेवाश्रयेदस्मान्हत्वैतानाततायिनः ।
तस्मान्नार्हा वयं हन्तुं धार्तराष्ट्रान्सबान्धवान् ।
स्वजनं हि कथं हत्वा सुखिनः स्याम माधव ॥ ३६ ॥
pāpam evāśrayed asmān
hatvaitān ātatāyinaḥ
tasmān nārhā vayaṁ hantuṁ
dhārtarāṣṭrān sa-bāndhavān
sva-janaṁ hi kathaṁ hatvā
sukhinaḥ syāma mādhava
Translation
If we kill such aggressors, sin will triumph over us. As a
result, killing the sons of Dhritarashtra and our friends is improper. O Krishna, husband
of the goddess of fortune, what should we gain from killing our own relatives,
and how could this make us happy?
Purport
Vedic regulations state that there are six different types
of aggressors: (1) those who provide poison; (2) those who set fire to the
house; (3) those who assault with lethal weapons; (4) those who steal wealth;
(5) those who occupy another's land; and (6) those who kidnap a a wife.. Such
aggressors must be immediately put to death, and doing so is sinless. Arjuna
was not an ordinary person, but such slaying of the aggressors is quite
appropriate for any regular man. He desired to interact with them in a saintly
manner because of his inherent goodness. A ksatriya, however, is not suited for
this level of piety. Even while a responsible individual in a state's
administration must be saintly, he shouldn't be a coward. For instance, Lord Rama
was so pious that people still yearn to reside in his realm (rama-rjya), yet
Lord Rama never displayed timidity. Ravana attacked Rama because Ravana had
taken Rama's wife, Sita, but Lord Rama taught him enough lessons that were
unmatched in human history.
However, in Arjuna's situation, one should take into
account the unique category of aggressors, such as his own grandfather,
teacher, friends, sons, grandkids, etc. They led Arjuna to believe that he
shouldn't take the drastic measures required to defend himself against common
aggressors. Saintly people are also counselled to forgive. Such instructions
for holy people are more crucial than any political crisis. Arjuna reasoned
that it would be better to pardon them for their religious and charitable deeds
rather than slaughter his own kinsmen for political purposes. Therefore, he did
not view such killing as profitable just for the sake of momentary bodily
fulfilment. Because kingdoms and the joys they bring are transient, why should
he jeopardise his life and salvation by murdering his own kin ? The fact that Arjuna referred
to Krishna as "Madhava," the husband of the goddess of luck, is also
relevant in this context. Because
kingdoms and the joys they bring are transient, why should he risk losing his
life and his chance at heaven by murdering his own kin? The fact that Arjuna
referred to Krishna as "Madhava," the husband of the goddess of luck,
is also relevant in this context.
Verse 37-38
यद्यप्येते न पश्यन्ति लोभोपहतचेतसः ।
कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं मित्रद्रोहे च पातकम् ॥ ३७ ॥
कथं न ज्ञेयमस्माभिः पापादस्मन्निवर्तितुम् ।
कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं प्रपश्यद्भिर्जनार्दन ॥ ३८ ॥
yady apy ete na paśyanti
lobhopahata-cetasaḥ
kula-kṣaya-kṛtaṁ doṣaṁ
mitra-drohe ca pātakam
kathaṁ na jñeyam asmābhiḥ
pāpād asmān nivartitum
kula-kṣaya-kṛtaṁ doṣaṁ
prapaśyadbhir janārdana
Translation
O Janrdana, even though these men's minds were
consumed by avarice and they saw nothing wrong with killing one's family or
fighting with friends, why should we, who can understand that doing so is
wrong, engage in these sinful behaviours?
Purport
A ksatriya is not supposed to decline an invitation
from an opposing group to engage in combat or gambling. Arjuna was obligated to
fight because the Duryodhana party had challenged him, and he could not
decline. Arjuna speculated that the other party might not be aware of the
repercussions of such a challenge in this context. Arjuna, however, was unable
to accept the challenge since he could see the negative effects. When an
obligation has a positive outcome, it is binding; nevertheless, when it has a negative
outcome, no one can be bound. Arjuna made the decision not to engage in combat
after weighing all of these advantages and disadvantages.
Verse 39
कुलक्षये प्रणश्यन्ति कुलधर्माः सनातनाः ।
धर्मे नष्टे कुलं कृत्स्नमधर्मोऽभिभवत्युत ॥ ३९ ॥
kula-kṣaye praṇaśyanti
kula-dharmāḥ sanātanāḥ
dharme naṣṭe kulaṁ kṛtsnam
adharmo ’bhibhavaty uta
Translation
With the
destruction of the dynasty, the eternal family tradition is vanquished, and
thus the rest of the family becomes involved in irreligion.
Purport
Numerous
religious traditions are incorporated into the Varnasrama institution's
structure to aid in the healthy development and attainment of spiritual
qualities in family members. From conception to death, these family
purification procedures are the responsibility of the senior family members.
However, these family purifying customs may stop after the passing of the
elders, and the younger family members who remain may adopt irreligious
practises, forfeiting their opportunity to attain spiritual salvation.
Therefore, killing the family's elders should never be done for no reason.
Samsakaras are
purificatory process, which are total 40 in numbers out of which 16 are major
as follows mentioned in manu samriti
1.
Garbhadhanam
-Before Conception
2.
Pumsavanam-3rdMonth
of Pregnancy
3.
Seemantam
- For Protection of Mother before Child birth
4.
Jatakarmam
- For Intellectual development of Child
5.
Namakaranam
- Name giving ceremony
6.
Nishkramanam
- Taking child first time out of house
7.
Annaprasanam
- First time feeding Solid food
8.
Choodakaranam
- First time cutting Hair
9.
Karnavedham
- Piercing Ear
10. Vidyarambham - Child is taught to write
first time
11. Upanayanam - Wearing Sacred Thread
12. Praishartham - Before and after each
year of study
13. Kesantham(Boy) -First Shave : Ritusuddhi(Girl)
- First Menstrual Cycle
14. Samavartanam - End of Student Life
15. Vivaham Marriage
16. Anthyeshti AntimSanskara -Last Rites
Verse 40
अधर्माभिभवात्कृष्ण प्रदुष्यन्ति कुलस्त्रियः ।
स्त्रीषु दुष्टासु वार्ष्णेय जायते वर्णसङ्करः ॥ ४० ॥
adharmābhibhavāt kṛṣṇa
praduṣyanti kula-striyaḥ
strīṣu duṣṭāsu vārṣṇeya
jāyate varṇa-saṅkaraḥ
Translation
When irreligion is prominent in
the family, O Kṛṣṇa, the women of the family become polluted, and from the
degradation of womanhood, O descendant of Vṛṣṇi, comes unwanted progeny.
Purport
The fundamental
tenet of human society that underpins wealth, peace, and spiritual advancement
is a healthy populace. The tenets of the Vararama religion were constructed in
a way that the good people would outnumber the bad people in society, hence
advancing the state and community's overall spiritual development. Such a community
is dependent on the chastity and loyalty of its females. Women are just as
prone to being degraded as children are to being mislead. As a result, the
family's older members must defend both children and women. Women won't be
lured into infidelity by participating in a variety of religious practises.
Canakya Pandita asserts that women are typically less clever than men, making
them less reliable. Therefore, they should always participate in the many
family religious traditions, which will maintain their chastity. Because of
their chastity and commitment, they should always be involved in the various
family traditions of religious activities, which will result in the creation of
a population that is suitable for the Varnaasrama system. When such varnaasrama-dharma
fails, women are obviously free to interact and mix with men, which leads to
adultery at the danger of an unwanted population. Irresponsible men also
encourage infidelity, which results in an influx of undesired children into
society and increases the likelihood of war and disease.
Verse 41
सङ्करो नरकायैव कुलघ्नानां कुलस्य च ।
पतन्ति पितरो ह्येषां लुप्तपिण्डोदकक्रियाः ॥ ४१ ॥
saṅkaro narakāyaiva
kula-ghnānāṁ kulasya ca
patanti pitaro hy eṣāṁ
lupta-piṇḍodaka-kriyāḥ
Translation
Unwanted
population growth undoubtedly makes life horrible for the family and those who
trample on the customs of the past. Due to the complete cessation of the acts
for providing them with food and water, the ancestors of such corrupt families
fall.
Purport
Offering food
and drink to the family's ancestors on a regular basis is required by the laws
and norms governing fruitive activities. Because eating the leftovers of the
meal provided to Vishnu can save one from all types of immoral emotions, this
offering is made in worship of Visnu. The ancestors may occasionally have
different kinds of immoral reactions, and occasionally some of them are unable
to even gain a gross material body and are compelled to remain in subtle bodies
as ghosts. As a result, when descendants give their ancestors leftovers of
prasadam food, the ancestors are freed from ghostly or other types of terrible
life.
It is customary
for members of the family to assist deceased ancestors, even if they do not
practise devotion. It is not necessary for someone living a devout life to
carry out such deeds. One can free hundreds of thousands of ancestors from all
types of misery by simply conducting devotional service. In the Bhagavatam (11.5.41),
it is written:
devarṣi-bhūtāpta-nṛṇāṁ
pitṝṇāṁ
na kiṅkaro
nāyam ṛṇī ca rājan
sarvātmanā yaḥ
śaraṇaṁ śaraṇyaṁ
gato mukundaṁ
parihṛtya kartam
“Anyone who has
taken shelter of the lotus feet of Mukunda, the giver of liberation, giving up
all kinds of obligation, and has taken to the path in all seriousness, owes
neither duties nor obligations to the demigods, sages, general living entities,
family members, humankind or forefathers.” Such obligations are automatically
fulfilled by performance of devotional service to the Supreme Personality of
Godhead.
Verse 42
दोषैरेतैः कुलघ्नानां वर्णसङ्करकारकैः ।
उत्साद्यन्ते जातिधर्माः कुलधर्माश्च शाश्वताः ॥ ४२ ॥
doṣair etaiḥ kula-ghnānāṁ
varṇa-saṅkara-kārakaiḥ
utsādyante jāti-dharmāḥ
kula-dharmāś ca śāśvatāḥ
Translation
All kinds of
community efforts and family welfare operations are ruined by the bad conduct
of individuals who sabotage the family tradition and produce unwanted
offspring.
Purport
As outlined by
the institution of sanatana-dharma or varnasrama-dharma, community projects for
the four orders of human society along with family welfare initiatives are
intended to help a person achieve ultimate salvation. As a result, when
society's irresponsible leaders violate the santana-dharma tradition, chaos
results and people lose sight of their true purpose in life, Visnu. People who
follow such leaders will undoubtedly be led into turmoil. Such leaders are
referred to as blind.
Verse 43
उत्सन्नकुलधर्माणां मनुष्याणां जनार्दन ।
नरके नियतं वासो भवतीत्यनुशुश्रुम ॥ ४३ ॥
utsanna-kula-dharmāṇāṁ
manuṣyāṇāṁ janārdana
narake niyataṁ vāso
bhavatīty anuśuśruma
Translation
O Kṛṣṇa,
maintainer of the people, I have heard by disciplic succession that those whose
family traditions are destroyed dwell always in hell.
Purport
Arjuna bases
his argument not on his own personal experience, but on what he has heard from
the authorities. That is the way of receiving real knowledge. One cannot reach
the real point of factual knowledge without being helped by the right person
who is already established in that knowledge. There is a system in the varṇāśrama institution
by which before death one has to undergo the process of atonement for his
sinful activities. One who is always engaged in sinful activities must utilize
the process of atonement, called prāyaścitta. Without doing
so, one surely will be transferred to hellish planets to undergo miserable
lives as the result of sinful activities.
Verse 44
अहो बत महत्पापं कर्तुं व्यवसिता वयम् ।
यद्राज्यसुखलोभेन हन्तुं स्वजनमुद्यताः ॥ ४४ ॥
aho bata mahat pāpaṁ
kartuṁ vyavasitā vayam
yad rājya-sukha-lobhena
hantuṁ sva-janam udyatāḥ
Translation
Alas, how
strange it is that we are preparing to commit greatly sinful acts. Driven by
the desire to enjoy royal happiness, we are intent on killing our own kinsmen.
Purport
Driven by
selfish motives, one may be inclined to such sinful acts as the killing of
one’s own brother, father or mother. There are many such instances in the
history of the world. But Arjuna, being a saintly devotee of the Lord, is
always conscious of moral principles and therefore takes care to avoid such
activities
Verse 45
यदि मामप्रतीकारमशस्त्रं शस्त्रपाणयः ।
धार्तराष्ट्रा रणे हन्युस्तन्मे क्षेमतरं भवेत् ॥ ४५ ॥
yadi mām apratīkāram
aśastraṁ śastra-pāṇayaḥ
dhārtarāṣṭrā raṇe hanyus
tan me kṣema-taraṁ bhavet
Translation
Better for me
if the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, weapons in hand, were to kill me unarmed and
unresisting on the battlefield
Purport
According to
the ksatriya fighting tenets, it is customary not to assault an enemy who is
unarmed and unwilling. However, Arjuna made the decision that he would not
fight even if the adversary assaulted him when he was in such a difficult
situation. He didn't take into account how determined the other side was to
fight. He has a sensitive heart as a result of his intense devotion to the
Lord, which is the cause of all these symptoms.
Verse 46
सञ्जय उवाच
एवमुक्त्वार्जुनः संख्ये रथोपस्थ उपाविशत् ।
विसृज्य सशरं चापं शोकसंविग्नमानसः ॥ ४६ ॥
sañjaya uvāca
evam uktvārjunaḥ saṅkhye
rathopastha upāviśat
visṛjya sa-śaraṁ cāpaṁ
śoka-saṁvigna-mānasaḥ
Translation
Sañjaya
said: Arjuna, having thus spoken on the battlefield, cast aside his bow and
arrows and sat down on the chariot, his mind overwhelmed with grief.
Purport
Arjuna got out
of the chariot to survey the situation of his adversary, but lamentation
overcame him and caused him to sit back down, putting his bow and arrows away.
Such a compassionate and soft-hearted person is suitable to obtain
self-knowledge in the devotional service of the Lord.
The
Bhaktivedanta Purports to the First Chapter of the Mahabharata regarding
Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kurukshetra come to an end at this
point.
Dwell your mind
in Hare krsna Mahamnatra and see how obstacles of life are removed from your
way in smoothening manner. Keep Chanting
Hare Krsna
,Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare
Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare
){kind=link}
0 Comments