In the previous episode, we had witnessed Bhagawan Krishna explaining a few important traits or “Gunas” that we should develop within us, if we’ve to walk the path of “Bhakti Maargam”. Most importantly out of all the “Gunas”, Bhagawan Krishna talks about how we should shun our ego. Bhagawan explains this through the point that we’ve to see “Sukham” and “Duhkam” (Happiness and sorrow) on the same plane and we should neither get overjoyed by the “Sukham” nor get broken down by the “Duhkam”. We should be able to see both success and failure with equal notion. Bhagawan explains how life is a combination of both happiness and sorrow and if we’re getting carried away by both, we’re only going to boost our ego too much. Even if someone insults us with abusive language, is our ego going to boost up to such an extent that we’re going to equally hurl abuses on the other person, or, are we going to silently move away from that place and move on with other important things in our life? If we’re going to fire back at the other person, it means that our ego is too fat and we’re unable to forgive and forget people and things!
This is where all of us need to work upon as we move further in our lives. Of course, it is easier said than done, and in fact, Arjuna himself points out this only. Arjuna, after listening to all these points from Bhagawan Krishna, slowly replies back thus, “Oh Bhagawan! Whatever you’re saying is all very nice to listen to! But is this practically implementable? You’re saying that we should move away from people who are abusive and hurt our ego. But is it really possible? Our immediate instinct will be to hurl abuses back at that person, isn’t it? Similarly, you’re saying that we’ve to see both success and failure equally! I’m only laughing upon hearing this! Is it really implementable by any chance? How can we just walk away from a failure without getting affected?”
This is a pertinent question that all of us might have in our minds isn’t it? For a long time now, for several episodes now, Bhagawan has been explaining so many points that we’ve to follow, which we might feel are too idealistic in nature! 🙂 But is there a practical side to it? How do we see success and failure equally? How do we maintain ourselves unaffected by success and failure? Bhagawan has a reply here – “Oh Arjuna! Yes! Of course it is implementable! You take my own example – When I was in my previous incarnation of Bhagawan Rama, how many abuses did I have to take? How many people insulted me, including my own mother, Kaikeyi? I had lost my kingdom for fourteen years and still I never reacted in a hostile manner, did I? When I heard that my brother Bharata would be the king of Ayodhya henceforth, just the night before my coronation, did my demeanour change? Did I funk and get bogged down? The answer is “No”! I took that too with a smile on my face! Hence, implementing this is very much possible!”
As Bhagawan Krishna gives this reply, Arjuna laughs and tells back – “Oh Bhagawan! That is you! You can do anything and everything in this world and you are fully capable of changing anything and everything that you want! I’m talking about normal people like me and the others! Can these points be implemented by us? Who asked whether you can implement these points or not?” 🙂 For this, Bhagawan quickly replies back – “Oh Arjuna! Then what about great “Mahatmas” like the “Alwars” and “Aachaaryas”? They are also normal people like you! If they can implement my words, why can’t you? Oh Arjuna! Please stop searching for reasons as to why things cannot be done. Think of ways how things can be done! This approach will give you the light at the end of the tunnel. Only if you develop these characteristics in you, will you be able to walk the path of “Bhakti Maargam” to reach me!”
What a philosophy is Bhagawan explaining here! This is the problem with all of us – We might come up with a thousand reasons as to why we shouldn’t do something, but we will not even think of a single reason as to why we should do something! This is the irony of “Jeevatmas” like us and this irony is represented by Arjuna’s question to Bhagawan Krishna with regards to implementation of whatever Bhagawan says! So for today, let us understand that rather than giving reasons for not performing whatever Bhagawan wants us to perform, we should find ways to implement. With this note, we shall wait till the next episode to commence the thirteenth “Adhyaaya” of the Bhagawad Gita! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 