The Indian Dharma

In the previous episode, we had witnessed Bhagawan Krishna continuing His accord with Arjuna wherein He reasserts the point on how the “Atman” and “Deham” are different entities from each other. While the “Deham” is the one that is destroyable in nature, the “Atman” is not destroyable by any means. Bhagawan Krishna also talks about the size of the “Atman”, which is very subtle and cannot be seen with our naked eyes. Moreover, the destruction of the “Deham” is something that is not in our control and it is eventually going to happen some day or the other in future. In similar lines, Bhagawan Krishna talks about things that are to be termed as “uncontrollables”, wherein these things cannot be changed by us. Rather than brooding over these things, it is up to us to adapt ourselves and move on further. For instance, “situation” is something that is beyond our control. On many occasions, we keep worrying about so many situations that are not in our control and waste our time brooding over them. Instead, if we learn to adapt to those situations (wherever we can) and move ahead by brushing up the others, we would be able to succeed in life. 

Thus, the crux of the argument is very simple here – If there is something that we can do and can create an impact, we should go for it, give our best effort and finish it. However, if there is something that we cannot do and at any point in time we can never create an impact, we should never even talk about it and waste our time and effort in it. However, what do we do? We are totally on the contrary! For those things that we can do and create an impact, we never put our 100% effort to make things happen. However, for those other things that we cannot do and which are not in our hands, we keep thinking and brooding over it again and again and keep wasting our time! This is exactly what Bhagawan doesn’t want us to do. Even for those things that are achievable by us, Bhagawan says that we should make a conscious effort towards it and should not worry about the results of our actions. Bhagawan is going to explain this in detail later on very interestingly. However, what we are doing is exactly the opposite! We end up putting effort for those which are uncontrollables, and then brood over the resultant of it! How fair is this! 

For instance, a person is going to take up a tough examination in his life – Maybe a Chartered Accountancy examination. There can be only two options here – Either to go for it or leave it! If we’ve really taken the effort to prepare well for the examination, we should go ahead and give the examination. However, when it comes to the results, we shouldn’t be too worried about it. On the other hand, if we’re so worried and tense about it, it means that we’ve not prepared for the examination properly. Hence, if we do not have confidence in ourselves, it is better not to take the examination, isn’t it? For taking such a decision, we would keep on brooding over! The point here is very clear – Either you take the examination with full preparation, or you miss it! We can’t be in the middle of both, isn’t it? This is exactly what many of us keep doing – We keep floating in the middle and it is because of this reason, we are in a lot of tension and stress! This is exactly what Bhagawan Krishna is talking about to Arjuna – If you’re undertaking a task, do it with 100% perfection and do not worry too much about it thereafter. Whereas, if you’re not in a position to dedicate your 100% to it, don’t do it at all, rather than putting half the effort and keep worrying about it! 

So for today, let us understand this point clearly and in the next episode, we shall continue this discussion further! Stay tuned! 🙂

In the previous episode, we had witnessed Bhagawan Krishna asserting the fact that the “Atman” is something that can never have a beginning and an end. It is not destroyable. However, the “Deham” is something which undergoes destruction over a period of time, and the “Atman” assumes a “Deham” based on the “Karma” that is accumulated. We shall see the associated shlokas on this, as we move on further. Bhagawan Krishna says thus, 

“Antabandha ime dehaaha nityah shokthaah shareerinaha!

Anaasinaha aprameyasya tasmaadyuddhasya bhaarata!!”

Here, Bhagawan establishes the fact that all these “Dehams” standing in front of Arjuna are subject to an end (“Antabandha ime dehaaha”). Once their “Karma” comes to an end, all these “Dehams” will be finished. However, the “Atman” is “Nityam” or permanent in nature (“Nityah shokthaah shareerinaha”). Thus, if one thinks that the “Atman” is destroyable, there cannot be a greater fool than him. Thus, the “Atman” does not have a destruction at any point in time. 

“Nainanchandanti chitraani nainandahathi paavakaha!

Nachainayan klepayan paapaha na shoshayati maarutaha!!”

Here, Bhagawan Krishna candidly explains thus, “Oh Arjuna! You’re of the wrong impression that the “Atman” is destroyable. Please tell me one weapon available in this world to kill and destroy the “Atman”! I shall accept that my entire narrative is false! The “Atman” is in a “Sookshama” form (Subtle and an invisible form). For instance, take a rice grain and split it into a hundred parts. Take one of those hundred parts and again split that into another hundred parts. Once again take one among these hundred smaller parts of the grain and split it into another hundred smaller parts. Oh Arjuna! The “Atman” is smaller than even this minute part of the rice grain! If the “Atman” is so subtle and small, how can water or wind or fire or a weapon destroy it? The “Atman” cannot be destroyed for this particular reason! Oh Arjuna! Please remember one more thing – If an “Atman” has to take up a “Deham”, that “Deham” is always going to be destroyed at some point in time and the “Atman” is going to be let off free from it. It is only a matter of time before such a thing happens. For some beings, the destruction of the “Deham” happens very quickly and for some others, it takes a longer time. However, destruction is something that is always associated with this “Deham”. Hence, please shun the thought that you are the one who is causing the destruction of Bhishmachaarya’s or Guru Dhronachaarya’s “Deham”. Even if you’re not going to cause the destruction of their “Dehams” today, their “Dehams” are anyway going to be destroyed sooner or later!” 

This is a very important philosophy that Bhagawan Krishna is explaining here, which requires an in-depth analysis. We shall commence it today, and continue it further in tomorrow’s episode. To begin with, we keep worrying about so many things that keep happening in this world on a daily basis. However, do we have any sort of control over what is happening? The answer is “No”! But still we keep worrying! For instance, a politician is indulging in corruption, which is of course the typical characteristic of him. However, we would keep worrying that so much money is being looted by this listless fellow and the law is never taking any action on him! We keep thinking about it quite a lot and also keep talking about it as well. However, just because we’re thinking and debating about it, is anything going to change? Is the politician going to stop looting public money, and that too in a country like India? Not at all! Politicians are born to be corrupt and all of us know about it! Hence, if such is the case, why are we worrying so much? Let these listless politicians indulge in corruption and somewhere down the line they would be caught when the right time comes! Why can’t we develop this attitude and move on, rather than brooding over it? I’m taking this example for those people who really have a concern in this regard. 

So for today, let us commence our thought process on this, but there might be a counter question – If we just leave these people to loot today without asking tough questions, won’t this be an incentive for them to loot more? Let’s witness the answer for this in the next episode! Stay tuned! 🙂

In the previous episode, we had witnessed the continuation of Bhagawan Krishna’s accord to Arjuna, pertaining to how one should be able to adapt to various situations and act accordingly. Bhagawan makes this point especially with reference to Arjuna here because he is the one who is struggling to come to terms while seeing his own family members standing in front of him, waiting to have a go at him. Arjuna is getting carried away emotionally and grossly mistakes the understanding between what is his “Dharma” and what is not, in this particular situation. Killing another living being might be considered wrong in general, but it is the situation and the context that decides whether this act is as per the “Dharma” or “Adharma”. Thus, adapting to changing situations and making decisions accordingly is a hallmark of successful leadership. We’ve been seeing the present day’s relevance too in Bhagawan Krishna’s words. If a leader doesn’t know how to find a balance between his / her thoughts, emotions, etc. in maintaining fairness, this itself will ruin the leader sooner or later. So when we say that we need to strike a balance in whatever we do, it also includes taking a neutral stance towards resolving issues. If a leader takes sides and starts supporting one set of employee’s against the other in an organization, bias would creep in automatically and this loss of balance will eventually lead to the downfall and unpopularity of the leader. This is what we’ve to understand as we move ahead from here. 

Now coming back to the context of this discussion, Bhagawan Krishna revolves around the point that we’ve to adapt to the situation that is around us, and we cannot change the situation in our favor. For instance, if there are a lot of mosquitoes where we’re seated, all we can do is to protect ourselves with maybe a mosquito net or something else, to prevent the mosquitoes from biting us. However, can we start saying that we should take an initiative to eradicate the entire species called mosquito? We can’t do that, isn’t it? If we’re travelling from one place to the other and the road that we take is bumpy, all we can do is to either drive slowly on the bumpy road so that our vehicle doesn’t get damaged, or, we should avoid that road and take a different route. However, can we go and take the stones, gravel, road laying machines, etc. and start re-laying that bumpy road by ourselves? Will this be possible? The answer is “No”! If we do so, won’t we get penalized for our actions by the government? This is what Bhagawan says that situations might be uncontrollable in nature. It is we who have to be able to adjust and adapt to the situation and act accordingly. Hence, patience and perseverance is very important in whatever action that we perform. 

Thus, moving further, Bhagawan tells Arjuna thus, “Oh Arjuna! Please understand one thing – This “Deham” that all of us have depends completely on our “Karma”! If the “Karma” associated with this “Deham” is over, it is automatically subject to destruction. Nobody can change this rule of nature. However, if one thinks that the “Atman” is also subject to destruction alongside the “Deham” when the “Karma” is over, this is utter stupidity! The “Atman” can never be destroyed. Thus, we’ve to understand two things here – The “Deham” is subject to our “Karma” and is destroyable. The “Atman” is not subject to “Karma” and is undestroyable. The “Atman” has no concept of destruction. Neither the “Atman” can be cut into pieces, immersed inside water, pinned to the wall and destroyed!” 

So for today, let us understand up to this point and in the next episode, we shall discuss the shlokas associated with this concept and what Bhagawan Krishna explains through the shlokas. Stay tuned! 🙂

In the previous episode, we had witnessed a very important Shloka wherein Bhagawan Krishna clearly explains how we should be able to balance between heat & cold, success & failure, achievement & challenge, happiness & sorrow, etc. This comes at a time when Arjuna is overwhelmed and carried away by the sorrow of seeing all his family members around him, ready to have a go at each other in the battlefield. As Arjuna is emotionally down, Bhagawan tries to motivate Arjuna by explaining how he should develop the balance in handling such ups and downs in life. He explains how heat and cold are two things that keep alternating in this world every now and then, and similarly, happiness and sorrow are two things in life that keep alternating every now and then. One should not get carried away to the extreme contours of happiness and sorrows, if he / she has to become a great leader. We’ve also seen this in our present day management and leadership context too, wherein emotional stability is very important while making decisions in the organization, because the decisions of the leader would have a potential impact on the entire organization in some way or the other. Of course, no decision can be perfect, but having said that, leaders should apply a solid thought process while making decisions, by not getting carried away with just one side of the argument. 

This also points out to yet another important leadership lesson – As a leader, one should always thread the neutral line. A leader should always try to balance between all his / her employees in the organization and be fair to everyone. A leader should never take sides and support the cause of one set of employees in the organization and leave the others in the lurch. This again pertains to how a leader manages to strike a neutral stance. When will the leader be able to strike this neutral stance? Only if the leader is able to balance his / her emotions, isn’t it? This is exactly what Bhagawan Krishna explains here. So when He says that we should be able to strike a balance between happiness and sorrow, He is talking more from an emotional point of view. The problem with many of us is that we tend to get carried away by the heat of the moment and would end up supporting one side by ditching the other! This is where we’ve to be very careful as leaders. Fairness is a very important aspect in leadership – Are we giving fair opportunities to all people in the organization to perform to their best of abilities? Or, are we entering into a more judgemental mode by assuming certain things about people even before we give an opportunity to people? The latter is quite dangerous to do, as the leader might face backlash very badly! Hence, it is always better to give a fair amount of opportunities to people and then take a decision to judge their performance. 

Thus, the lesson here for all of us is that, there might be days when the situations might be favourable to us, and there might be days wherein we would face extremely harsh challenges. So we need to learn to balance between tough challenges and otherwise, and this is a hallmark characteristic of a leader. If the leader gets carried away by the toughness of the situation, he / she might end up making erroneous decisions which might potentially impact the organization in a big way. However, we’ve to understand one important thing here – Even though we understand that the situation is tough and challenging, will we be able to change it? The answer is “No” most of the time! This is what we call in management terms as “uncontrollables”. For instance, heat and cold are uncontrollables – Can we change the sun’s temperature with human intervention? All that we can do is to resist the heat / cold by taking appropriate measures. If it is too hot, we install air conditioners to beat the heat. Similarly, if it is too cold, we install heaters to protect ourselves! Similarly, if the situation at office is challenging, we can only resist it and react as per the merit of the situation. We cannot change the situation completely in our favour to make it conducive, isn’t it? 

Hence, what we need to understand today is that, there might be situations that would be favourable / unfavourable to us. These are uncontrollables. However, the way in which we adapt to these changing situations indicate the hallmark of a successful leader! So for today, let us understand this point very clearly and let us wait till the next episode to continue further! Stay tuned! 🙂

In the previous episode, we had witnessed Bhagawan Krishna’s continued accord on the “Deha-Atma-Viveka-Gnyaanam”, wherein He tries to explain to Arjuna how the “Deham” and “Atman” are different entities altogether, although they coexist with each other. In this way, Bhagawan Krishna explains how the “Deham” is destroyable in nature and the “Atman” is not destroyable at any point in time. This is where Bhagawan adds a connotation to Arjuna by asking a simple, yet a highly philosophical question – Why do people celebrate during birth and mourn during death? The answer is simple – It is because of the unawareness that the “Atman” never has a birth or a death! All of us celebrate birthdays, don’t we? Do we think that our “Atman” has a definitive age? The answer is “No”, because the “Atman” is a permanent entity! Nobody knows when the “Atman” was born and nobody knows when it will cease to exist (if it all it would)! It is only the “Deham” for which the age can be calculated and the birthdays that we celebrate are only for the “Dehams” and not for the “Atmans”. Through this analogy, Bhagawan Krishna is trying to drive home the point that if Bhishmachaarya or anybody is killed in the war today, it is only their “Dehams” that would be destroyed and not their “Atmans”. 

Moving on further, Bhagawan Krishna explains thus: 

“Maathraas sparshaah tu kaunteya sheetoshna sukha dukkhadaaha!

Aagamaa paayinaa anityaaha taan tithikshasva bhaarata!!”

This is a very important shloka wherein Bhagawan Krishna explains yet another point that all of us need to ponder upon. Bhagawan says thus, “Oh Kaunteya (Arjuna, who is Kunthi’s son)! Please understand one thing – Heat and cold are things that keep coming and going every now and then in this world, depending upon the position of Surya Bhagawan and the distance he travels from the earth, isn’t it? In similar lines, “Sukham” (Pleasures / happiness) and “Dukkham” (Displeasures / sorrows) will also keep coming and going. At these times, what do we do normally? Whenever it is cold, we cover ourselves with warm attire and try to protect ourselves, don’t we? Similarly, when it is hot, we cool down ourselves through many different ways. Similarly here also, when we feel the “Sukham”, we tend to jump with joy and celebrate. Whereas, when we feel the “Dukkham”, we tend to sit in a corner of a place and weep bitterly! Oh Arjuna! As spiritual seekers, this is where we should have the balance! Just because you’re undergoing sorrow, it doesn’t mean that you will sit in a corner and cry, and at the same time, just because you’re happy, it doesn’t mean that you will jump up and down and celebrate! You should always maintain a balance and handle both “Sukham” and “Dukkham” equally in a just manner!” 

From this, we can witness a very important lesson for management and leadership here – “Sukham” and “Dukkham” are like achievements and challenges / success and failure for a leader. Of course, in an organisation, all of us experience both success and failures. This is a common feature across the world. However, the important catch point here is how we handle success and failure! Different people have differences in handling success and failure and this is the key factor for evaluating how good / bad a leader is! When Bhagawan says that we need to have a balanced thought process, both during times of “Sukham” and “Dukkham”, He explains to us that as a leader, one should have a balanced thought process while experiencing success and failure. Especially when it comes to decision-making, many of us get carried away by the heat of the moment and we end up making erroneous decisions, which might have a bigger impact later on! This is where, we’ve to be very careful. If there’s an impending problem on the cards, a good leader should always stay calm and composed. The balance starts from here. Further, the leader should consult with experts and others in the know-how of things and brainstorm with all of them collectively. Once the brainstorming session is over, we would always have more clarity in our thought process, isn’t it? Now if the decision is made, the leader would be able to minimise the risk involved and eventually would be able to prepare himself / herself for any adversities that might arise out of the decision. This is the balance that Bhagawan is talking about when He says that we should find the balance between “Sukham” and “Dukkham”. 

So for today, let us understand this important pointer from Bhagawan and as leaders / managers in our own capacities, let us try and reflect upon this point for our professional success! We shall continue this discussion in the next episode as well! Stay tuned! 🙂

In the previous episode, we had witnessed Bhagawan Krishna explaining a beautiful philosophy to Arjuna in His usual riddle-like format! This directly signifies how the “Deham” and “Atman” are two different entities and how the permanent “Atman” gets embedded into the temporary “Deham” during every birth. Thus, if we say that Bhishmachaarya is currently standing in front of the battlefield and is alive, we cannot say that he would be dead if his “Deham” is destroyed by Arjuna. Since his “Atman” is permanently existing, Bhishmachaarya will still be alive, but in a different form! Hence, there is no question of the “Atman” getting destroyed at any point in time. This is what Bhagawan is explaining through His riddle-like point that those who lived yesterday are continuing to live today and will also be living tomorrow as well! We might not be able to make sense directly in what Bhagawan is mentioning here, but the “Sookshama-Artham” (in-depth meaning) is what we’ve witnessed yesterday.
Moving on further, we can decipher many other points from what Bhagawan Krishna had mentioned just now. When we talk of “Atmans” like ours, all of us are “Jeevatmas” and are innumerable in number. However, there is one supreme “Atman” that controls all these several “Jeevatmas”. This is nothing but “Paramatman” or “Brahman”. Thus, we should understand here that not all “Atmans” are the same – It can be classified into two categories – “Jeevatman” and “Paramatman”. The “Paramatman” is none other than Bhagawan who resides in all the “Jeevatmans”. However, both the “Jeevatman” and the “Paramatman” are permanent. The only difference here is that, the “Jeevatman” can search its way through to reach the “Paramatman” at some point in time. 

Moreover, Bhagawan Krishna subsequently asks Arjuna thus, “Oh Arjuna! As a warrior, you should not cry like this! You should get up and wipe your tears! Moreover, I do not understand one thing in this world – If a person takes birth, all the people around that person celebrate with a lot of joy. However, if the same person is dying, all the people around him / her are crying! Why is this happening? Don’t we know that a person taking birth in this world is definitely going to die some day or the other? While some people have a lifespan of around 90 years, many others have significantly lesser lifespans, don’t they? Hence, whenever we celebrate a birthday, aren’t we realizing that we’re going to live one year less in this world? In spite of this fact, why are we celebrating birthdays? We should instead cry that we’ve lost one more year of our lifespan, shouldn’t we? But the opposite is what is happening in this world! Why is this so?” 

As Bhagawan Krishna asks thus, Arjuna replies immediately – “Oh Bhagawan! Why are you asking such a question? Isn’t it normal to celebrate one’s birth and mourn one’s death? Isn’t it normal to celebrate one’s birthday as well? Why are you saying it is abnormal?” As Arjuna asks thus, Bhagawan Krishna laughs internally within Himself! He knows that Arjuna is asking this question without the basic understanding that the ‘“Deham” and “Atman” are different entities. Arjuna is still asking this counter question because he is not able to realize that the “Atman” is undestroyable and the “Deham” is destroyable! So for this, Bhagawan has to give a much detailed explanation to make Arjuna understand. There is no use of giving riddle-like answers to him! Arjuna is not in the mind state of picking things up at the moment easily! So Bhagawan Krishna has to change His strategy a little bit. 

So for today, let us understand up to this point and we shall ponder over what Bhagawan has asked Arjuna today! We shall wait for the next episode for answers from Bhagawan Himself! Stay tuned! 🙂  

In the previous episode, we’ve commenced a detailed discussion on the “Deha-Atma-Viveka-Gnyaanam” wherein Bhagawan Krishna is explaining how the “Deham” and the “Atman” are two different entities, but coexist with each other. The “Deham” is something that is temporary in nature and the “Atman” is something that is permanent. The “Atman” can never be destroyed and it is the “Deham” that will be destroyed at the end of every birth. So, by conveying this fact, Bhagawan Krishna explains to Arjuna that by killing Bhishmachaarya and Co. in the war, he would only be destroying their physical bodies (“Deham”) and not their “Atman”. Thus, Bhagawan Krishna drives home the point that even though it might seem outwardly that Arjuna is destroying all these people, he is actually not. All these people can never be destroyed and this is what Arjuna has to learn here. 

Bhagawan Krishna says thus, 

“Nattve vaaham jaatunaasam nattvanneme janaadhipaaha!

Na chaiva na bhavishyaamaha sarvevayamatah param!!”

Bhagawan Krishna now explains a slightly complex philosophy here, which we shall try and understand. Bhagwan says thus, “Oh Arjuna! Whatever existed yesterday, still exists, and will continue to exist tomorrow as well. Whatever is destroyable, has been destroyed earlier, is being destroyed today and will be destroyed tomorrow! This applies for living beings too! Whoever lived yesterday, still lives today and will continue to live tomorrow as well!” Now we might get confused as to what Bhagawan Krishna is saying here! In fact, Bhagawan Krishna is someone who always likes to talk in the “riddle” form, wherein people wouldn’t be able to easily understand and decipher what He is trying to say! But by the time we try and decipher what He’s saying, He would go far beyond and talk something even more philosophical that we would need another 10 years or so to understand! It is for this same reason why this Bhagawad Gita is being researched worldwide by eminent scholars, and still nobody is able to understand 100% of what Bhagawan has said! We might be knowing that the Bhagawad Gita is around 5000 years old, and if people are still struggling to find a meaning out of it in its entire sense, we can see how Bhagawan Krishna has explained complicated things here! 

Thus, if we’ve to literally decode what is there in the above shloka, it clearly says that whoever might have lived yesterday, it is not a guarantee that they would have died today. Whoever might be living today, it is not a guarantee that they would be destroyed in the future. Now what does this riddle mean? If for instance, there is a person sitting on a chair and we’ve to explain this, we can do it in two ways – Firstly, we can straightaway tell that he is sitting on this chair. However, this can also be told thus, “It is not a guarantee that this person might not be sitting in this chair!” What does this mean? It simply means that this person is sitting in this chair, isn’t it? 🙂 Similar is the riddle here – If Bhagawan says that it is not a guarantee that whoever might have lived yesterday would not be living today, it simply means that people who have lived yesterday are continuing to live today also. Similarly, Bhagawan says that people who are living today will continue to live tomorrow as well! 

Thus, what can we understand here? Our “Atman” is permanent in nature and our “Atman” continues to live on and on since yesterday, today and tomorrow! Even if the associated “Deham” gets destroyed, the “Atman” will get into another new “Deham” at the beginning of the next birth and continue it’s life there. This is the philosophy that we need to understand here! So for today, let us try and make sense of what Bhagawan Krishna is saying here and we shall wait for the next episode to continue with this discussion further! Stay tuned! 🙂

In the previous episode, we had commenced a very important discussion on the “Deha-Atma-Viveka-Gnyaana” as explained directly by Bhagawan Krishna Himself. This context comes at a time when Arjuna is wrongly interpreting that by killing Bhishmachaarya, both his “Deham” and “Atman” would be destroyed. Bhagawan Krishna sorts to clarify this to Arjuna by making him understand that the “Deham” and the “Atman” are two separate entities, but they co-exist with each other. Thus, Bhagawan Krishna’s first point of contention is that, by killing Bhishmachaarya, Arjuna will only be destroying the “Deham” of Bhishmachaarya and not his “Atman”. Bhishmachaarya’s “Atman” is going to live permanently, but it is the “Deham” which is going to be destroyed. Moreover, Bhagawan asks a simple question to Arjuna – If he doesn’t kill Bhishmachaarya today, is he going to live permanently in this world with this same “Deham”? Isn’t the “Deham” going to undergo a natural process of death sooner or later? Hence, what is Arjuna going to achieve by refraining from killing the “Deham” of Bhishmachaarya today? 

Thus, we can understand the philosophy behind what Bhagawan Krishna is saying here – We might be thinking that a living being in this world takes birth and dies in due course. But little do we understand that this living being can neither be created nor be destroyed! It exists permanently in the form of “Atman”, which takes numerous physical bodies (“Dehams”) according to the birth that it is taking. For instance, if this “Atman” has to take a birth of a mosquito, it would get into the “Deham” of a mosquito and live a life in this world. Subsequently at the time of death, the “Deham” of the mosquito undergoes destruction and the “Atman” gets freed from it. Subsequently while taking the next birth, if the “Atman” is destined to take a human birth, it goes into a human body (inside the mother’s womb) and commences its life there. Hence, this cycle continues. Thus, we can clearly see here that the “Deham” is the one which is destroyable and the “Atman” is not! The “Atman” is a permanent entity which assumes different births in different “Dehams” from time to time. 

Now this is what we understand by the term “Deha-Atma-Viveka-Gnyaanam”. Moreover, there is one more point that we should understand here – The “Atman” is the one which possesses the intellect and the “Deham” is something which doesn’t have it. The “Atman” has the “consciousness” and the “consience” embedded into it and this is why any living being has the basic capability to process information. Of course, it is different for human beings as compared to other forms of living beings, but the basics are the same. However, the “Deham” cannot process or assimilate information and is incapable of thinking and making decisions. Thus, we can understand this concept like this – The “Atman” is the commander and the “Deham” is the implementer! The “Atman” can understand and differentiate between what needs to be done and what shouldn’t be done. Once the appropriate command comes from the “Atman”, the “Deham” will commence the implementation. For instance, if Arjuna has to kill Bhishmachaarya in the war – Arjuna’s “Atman” will give the command to go for the kill. Subsequently the “Deham” will take the “Gaandeepa” in hand and start the process of war. However, the “Atman” cannot fight the war on its own. In similar lines, the “Deham” cannot make the decision to go for the war. Thus, we should understand the sequence clearly here – The “Atman” can only decide and command, while it cannot take the arrow and fight. It has to depend on the “Deham” for implementing its commands. Similarly, the “Deham” cannot command, but it can only implement. The “Deham” cannot take a decision to go for the war or not. Thus, we should understand here that the “Atman” and the “Deham” coexist and complement each other in terms of commanding and implementing! This is the next level of understanding with regards to the “Deha-Atma-Viveka-Gnyaanam”! 

So for today, let us understand up to this point and in the next episode, we shall continue this discussion further! Stay tuned! 🙂

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! 🙂

In the previous episode, we had witnessed Sage Vyaasa himself expressing a huge surprise as Arjuna, who is considered to be a strong-minded person, collapses in front of Bhagawan Krishna by putting down the “Gaandeepa” on the ground and weeping bitterly. How can such a person lose his calm and demeanour so easily? The real factor that is playing in Arjuna’s mind is “fear”! What is the fear we are talking about in this context? It is nothing but the fear of losing his own family members and friends. It is not the fear of losing the war that Sage Vyaasa is explaining here. He talks about the fear of whether Arjuna would commit an act of “Adharma” in the name of “Dharma”! In other words, Arjuna is confused between what is “Dharma” and “Adharma” in this context. He is of the thought process that he is going to commit a grave act of “Adharma” by killing Duryodhana and Co. in the war! 

Now this is the fear and confusion that might be running in many of our minds as well. This is why we require the complete clarity which differentiates between “Dharma” and “Adharma”. Bhagawan Krishna is now going to give Arjuna this important clarity, which is grossly applicable to all of us as well. With this important setting up of the context, Bhagawan Krishna is now going to begin His accord. Sage Vyaasa says through Sanjaya thus, 

“Tam uvaacha rishikeshaha prahasanniva bhaarata!!”

Now Bhagawan Krishna is going to commence His lengthy accord and He does so with a beaming smile on His face! We would all be wondering one thing – Why should Bhagawan Krishna smile and laugh here? On one hand, Arjuna is weeping bitterly and is pouring out his emotions and on the other hand we have Bhagawan Krishna smiling and laughing at Arjuna! How can this happen in such a contrasting way? Swami Vedanta Desika, one of the most revered “Aachaarya” in the “Shri Vaishnava Sapradaayam” gives a beautiful accord on this. Why should Bhagawan Krishna laugh? Swami says thus, “Anyway, whatever Bhagawan Krishna is going to say is not something that is easy to understand for Arjuna! He is going to struggle to understand His words and make sense out of it and because of this, Arjuna is going to cry further. Now if Bhagawan also cries or maintains a sober face, Arjuna is not even going to understand what little he might be able to do. Hence, to cheer up Arjuna and make him understand the tough language, Bhagawan Krishna had a beaming smile on His face!”

For instance, if I’m going to write something on Upanishads wherein the meanings and philosophies explained there are extremely tough to decipher, all of us will either sleep off while reading, or will start crying that we’re not able to understand head or tail of what is written, isn’t it? This is why I’ve to present the content with some apt “smileys” that come today along with the writing script! 🙂 This might cheer all of us up and motivate us to understand the seemingly difficult philosophies behind the tough subject. This is not only the reason why Bhagawan Krishna smiled at Arjuna beamingly. There is one more important reason behind it. Bhagawan laughs at Arjuna wittingly because He thinks thus, “Oh my dear Arjuna! See how I’ve made you as my divine instrument and I’m going to present a very important “Gita-Shaastra” to this whole world! If you were not here with me, would I have an opportunity to give this to the world? It is only because you are with me, I’m able to fulfil one of the most important purposes of my divine incarnation in this world! Killing Raakshasas, establishing “Dharma” in this world, etc. are all fine! For this, my presence is not required in this world. I can do it from Vaikunta itself! However, I should also teach the world how to follow the path of “Dharma” and attain the highest “Moksha”, isn’t it?  For this to happen, my divine presence in this world is essential, and that too, if I’m with you, this would materialize!” 

What a great philosophy this is! Now we can understand from here that Bhagawan incarnates in this world, not merely to establish the “Dharma” here, but also to formulate guidelines as to how we follow the “Dharma” and succeed! So for today, let us understand up to this point, and we shall continue this discussion in the next episode as well! Stay tuned! 🙂