In the previous episode, we had witnessed the continuation of the important accord that is going on between Arjuna and Bhagawan Krishna at the Kurukshetra battlefield. We’ve witnessed Arjuna pouring out his feelings and lamenting his fate that he has to stand in between all his family members in a battlefield, for which, Bhagawan is going to reply to Arjuna’s doubts. These are doubts that are pertinent in today’s context as well, wherein all of us have several similar doubts in our everyday life too. Thus, as Bhagawan Krishna is about to begin His accord, He laughs at Arjuna a bit. As per the commentaries of several “Aachaaryas”, this laugh of Bhagawan Krishna has several meanings and in-depth understandings. One such meaning here is that, anyway whatever Bhagawan Krishna is going to say now is going to be extremely tough and hard to digest, and Arjuna is not even going to have a clue of how to go about it! Thus, since Arjuna is already crying, and Bhagawan is going to to talk about some philosophies that are extremely hard-hitting, He has to atleast have a smile while doing so. Secondly, Bhagawan Krishna indirectly tells Arjuna through His laughter that He has successfully made Arjuna as His divine instrument to gift the divine Bhagawad Gita to the entire world. Had Arjuna not bogged down emotionally, we would not have obtained the Bhagawad Gita, would we? If Arjuna was so emotionally strong at that moment, he would have immediately taken his Gaandeepa in hand and would have started going on a rampage. Thus, everything in this world has a reason and an apt timing as well! This is what we’ve to understand as we move forward from here on. So from now on, we shall see Bhagawan’s reply. Bhagawan says thus,
“Shri Bhagawan Uvaacha!!
Ashochaananvachovasthvam pragnyaa vaadaam cha bhaashate!
Gathaasoona gathaasoonscha naanushosanchi pandithaaha!!”
As Bhagawan commences His reply, He once looks at Arjuna deeply with His divine eyes! So the first assignment for Bhagawan Krishna here is to make Arjuna understand that the “Deham” and the “Atman” are two different entities altogether. Currently, Arjuna is of the opinion that both these parameters are the same. This is why he is thinking that if he hits Bhishmachaarya, his “Atman” also would leave from here! He doesn’t understand that Bhishmachaarya’s “Deham” will only be destroyed during the war. This is what we call as “Deha-Aatma-Viveka-Gnyaanam”. This simply means that the “Deham” (Physical body) is completely different from the “Atman” (Soul). This is the basic from where we’ve to start and this is exactly what Bhagawan is also going to teach Arjuna.
Now if we see what Bhagawan is going to tell Arjuna, the logic is very simple. Bhagawan says thus, “Oh Arjuna! If you do not release your arrows and kill Bhishmachaarya and Co., do you think that their “Dehams” will never get destroyed? The “Deham” is something that is going to be definitely destroyed some day or the other, if not today. Just because you’re not destroying the “Deham” of these people today, do you think you’re doing a great favour of protecting them all through the future permanently? Even if you do not fight the war today, do you think Bhishmachaarya is going to live in this world permanently? Some day or the other he has to leave this world! Thus, even if you do not hit him with your arrows, Bhishmachaarya is going to die! This means, Bhishmachaarya’s “Deham” is going to die! However, even if you release your arrows and kill Bhishmachaarya’s “Deham”, his “Atman” will remain forever. The “Atman” is something that cannot be destroyed at all!”
Thus, the first philosophy is very simple here – If Arjuna doesn’t release his arrow on Bhishmachaarya, even then his “Deham” will get destroyed. However, even if Arjuna releases his arrows on Bhishmachaarya, his “Atman” will never be destroyed. Thus, we can understand here that the “Deham” is a temporary entity and the “Atman” is a permanent entity in all living beings in this world! So for today, let us understand up to this point and in the next episode, we shall continue this discussion further with a further in-depth explanation! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 