Read Reflect Reap: My Understanding of Bhagavad Gita

By Mithun Ekbote

About the book:
Read. Reflect. Reap is an honest attempt at understanding Bhagavad Gita from a contemporary point of view.

The original text was not only meant to be read & by-hearted but was meant to be understood. For thousands for years these texts have influenced millions, few understood it, few practiced it literally, few tried to depict the text, few challenged it, & there few looked at these texts as self-help & self-reform manual. According to me this book is for all those who have questions & would like to get some rational & objective answers, & may be find own conclusions based on each ones unique situation & background.

Read it, reflect on it & you will reap its benefit.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pencil
• Release date: Oct 12, 2021
• ISBN: 9789354587917

Book preview

Read . Reflect . Reap

My ken of Bhagavad Gita

BY

Mithun Ekbote

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© Mithun Ekbote 2021

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Author biography

Who are we? And, why are we?

Seems like a question that has been asked a million times by million people? But, do we have answers that make us objectively rationalize every situation we face, every information we come across and every thought that arises in our mind?

I was always driven by these questions from as young as I remember. My grand father lived in a small village, called Tuljapur, in Osmanabad district, of current Indian state of Maharashtra. At a young age, when he was about four years old, his father, my great grand father died. My grand father was raised by my great grand fathers elder brother who had his own family of children and a wife. He was then a small time farmer and was also entrusted with the duty of feeding the devotees.

This was the time when Tuljapur was still under the Nizam of Hydrabad and was not part of India from a governance point of view. My family then was known as Sadavarte, their primary responsibility was to ensure every devotee who visits Tuljapur, gets to eat some food and does not return hungry. Tuljapur is known for the Tulja Bhavani temple of Goddess Bhavani.

During one of the unrest of independence or local political uprising, my great grand fathers elder brother, who was taking care of the family, was killed. A threat was also issued to the entire family to leave the temple town. My grand fathers elder cousin, son of my great grand fathers elder brother, who was killed, eventually decided to come to Mumbai and work in a clothing shop.

My grand father followed and came to Mumbai in around 1930’s and started work in another cotton wholesale shop. In the next few years, business flourished and together they started a Saree trading shop with the help from their previous employers. After successfully running the business for about a decade, my grand father took complete responsibility of the business as his elder cousin brother’s health deteriorated and death came fast. He was not very old, was in his late 40’s when he died.

My grand father fathered 4 sons and 1 daughter from 2 wives. His first wife died soon after giving birth to their first child. My father is the eldest son from the second wife.

My grand fathers business was doing well till about my father entered teens. When his business started the downward momentum. With seven mouths (Grand father, grand mother, step son, three other sons and a daughter) to feed and business showing no signs of improvement and with no other skills known, the family was heading for another break-up.

The first to quit was the stepson, who went to a small village with some money and started selling candies at bus station. My father was next in line; he had grown up to be a handsome boy with strong body and mind. But not inclined towards formal education. He finished his matriculate and tried helping my grand father with his business. He also tried hands at other small business, but to no real success. One day he and his friends got into some fight with not so nice people. I am never told what really happened in that conflict, but my father left Mumbai to stay with his aunt in Pune. He lived there for about a month and finally realized he had acquired a strong body and a determined mind. So he enrolled himself in the Indian Army, as a Combatant. He was about nineteen.

By the time I was born in 1983 after my sister, my father was still trying to reach an officers rank in the Indian Army. In 15 years of formal education, we shifted 5 cities, 7 homes, 8 schools and 2 colleges. By the time I had finished secondary education, my father had relatively settled well in the civil life. But there was never any emotional stability due to constant hand to mouth situation.

It is difficult for most Army men, who join as combatant and rise through the ranks to settle as just another civilian. You get institutionalize, there is strict discipline. Everything is in order and all play by a certain code. For most such ex-army men, life outside the military is a place where chaos rules. And they are not trained to de-code this chaotic and ever changing dynamics of a civil society.

Having come from such an unsettled, turbulent and confused identity, I had no clue of who I really was. The identity I was supposed to get from my grand parent and parent was unclear. Farmers? Traders? May be Warriors? Or may be Brahmins because that is the cast?

My mother, for that period and the place she grew up in which is Solapur, was more than well educated. But no one had an identity synonym with educationist either.

Changing umpteen schools and colleges meant no real friend to share the deepest of the feelings. An elder sister but with just a years difference meant we both were struggling with similar issues. With parents ever trying to just meet that line, which we create in our head, which tells us, achieve this goal and you are settled, it was difficult to share feelings with them as well. So with no real guidance I finished my graduation not sure of who I was and what I was supposed to do.

I started work in 2002, a year before I finished my graduation. This work was more to support my expenses and the luxuries I wanted as a young male. But with the start of doing a job, I also lost interest in formal education. Till this period most things were a reaction to the situation I saw myself in. No decisions were truly my decisions; they were always driven and influenced by circumstances. And money was going to allow me to control every circumstance in the future. After all that I had learnt, may be I was just another rat trying to outrun all other rats.

Post my degree education, I left my parents home in Pune and came back to Mumbai, where it is said, dreams come true.

2021, 18 years of working, where I experienced 8 full time jobs, 1 successful and 1 failed entrepreneurship and many consulting assignments, during which I shifted about 6 locations, fell in love 3 times and was still no where close to my line of goal. Or anywhere close to what I had thought of when I moved to Mumbai.

But I was learning, unlearning and re-learning with every job; with every relationship and most importantly with every new challenge I created for myself. My objective then was surely to win the race, but unknowingly I was creating a new ME almost with every challenge. Emotionally it was a roller costar, but the end result was always a new ME.

Few years back I started writing my thoughts. Something I had never practiced before. And for the first time I had sort of a journal I could refer to and read my feelings. These feelings in summary were fundamental questions about my own existence and purpose. I had become nothing like what my parents and grand parents were or wanted me to be but I was unsure of who I am and was certainly not at peace. The one thing I did realize though was, I had a different belief system. Belief system is more than religious belief or scientific facts or legends that become beliefs due to mass acceptance. This belief system is a combination of multiple elements of an individual’s life and family and the society one lives in.

My journey till now and the fundamental thoughts that kept me dissatisfied, lead me to start studying the one book I was told has all the answers. While studying I started writing my notes based on what I have learnt till date, what I have observed, as well as what science has proven factually.

This book gave me the critical answers and allowed me to truly find peace.

And I know you will find too.

Contents

Chapter 1 - Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kurukshetra

Chapter 2 - Contents of the Gita Summarized

Chapter 3 - Karma-yoga

Chapter 4 - Transcendental knowledge

Chapter 5 - Karma Yoga - Action in Krishna Consciousness

Chapter 6 - Dhyana yoga (Controlling the mind & senses)

Chapter 7 - Knowledge of the Absolute

Chapter 8 - Attaining the Supreme

Chapter 9 - The most confidential knowledge

Chapter 10 - The opulence of the Absolute

Chapter 11 - Universal Form

Chapter 12 - Devotional Service

Chapter 13 - Nature, the Enjoyer and Consciousness

Chapter 14 - The Three Modes of Material Nature

Chapter 15 - The Yoga of the Supreme Person

Chapter 16 - The Divine and Demoniac Natures

Chapter 17 - The Divisions of Faith

Chapter 18 - Conclusion - The Perfection of Renunciation

Preface

Note to the reader:

The original text is not only meant to be read or byhearted but is meant to be understood.

For thousands for years these texts have influenced millions, few understood it completely, few practiced it literally, few tried to depict the text, and few challenged it, yet there are few who truly looked at these texts as self-help and self-reform manual.

This book, according to me is for each one who has questions and would like to get some rationale and objective answers and find own conclusions based on each ones unique situation and background.

Write in it, scribble, doodle in it and use it like a personal thought diary.

It can be called a self-help book, maybe religious or simply Comprehending Gita.

Acknowledgements

This book may not have been possible without the help extended by Mr. Ravi. S. Mula, Media Labs, IIT Kanpur .

I sincerely thank Mr. Mula for sharing the original sanskrit text of the Bhagavad Gita.

Readers may also visit https://www.gitasupersite.iitk.ac.in/ , a wonderful initiative by presitigious IIT Kanpur.

Introduction

One should understand and reflect on her/his current situation that gave rise, to feeling the need to understand self-better and learning the right way to conduct self in this life and why.

For best utilization of the knowledge in Bhagavad Gita and to really understand it with your unique situation, write down your notes in points/verses you relate with.

Highlight the verses that you want to revisit.

At the end of the book revisit your notes with the highlighted verses.

Chapter 1 - Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kurukshetra

The first chapter of the book is understanding existing positions of the armies of opposing sides, ready to fight against each other for what they believe is the right way to live as well as the right way to govern self.

Who are the leaders of these two groups? Who is supporting whom? What is each ones relation with each other and what are their true characters?

धृतराष्ट्र उवाच

धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः ।

मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वत सञ्जय ।।1.1।।

1.1 - Dhrtarashtra said: O Sanjay, after my sons and the sons of Pandu assembled in the place of pilgrimage at Kurukshetra, desiring to fight, what did they do?

Ken:

There comes a time in every person’s life when his identity is challenged. This challenge either comes from within or from the situation the person sees himself in.

Dhritarashtra (a blind king/parent. Blinded with emotions towards his sons and immediate family) asks his minister, Sanjaya, who is a minister of the king and king’s senses, his eyes & ears, which sees all and hears everything, to describe the scenes, where Dhritarashtras sons (who are skillful & proud with false-ego) have assembled to challenge the identity (desiring to fight) of sons of Pandu (Younger brother of Dhritarashtra who’s sons are skillful, humble and intelligent) in the crucial stage of their life (to fight for what each of them believe, about themselves as well as, what is the right principle to live and govern), where the future principles with which one should live has to be established (Place of pilgrimage is a place we reach at a point in life when we question our true identity/self).

सञ्जय उवाच

दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवानीकं व्यूढं दुर्योधनस्तदा ।

आचार्यमुपसङ्गम्य राजा वचनमब्रवीत् ।।1.2।।

1.2 - Sanjay said: O king, after looking over the army arranged in military formation by the sons of Pandu, King Duryodhan went to his teacher and spoke the following words.

Ken: 

Duryodhan (most skillful son of Dhrtarashtra) after checking out the military formation of the sons of Pandu, went to his teacher (who taught all the skills) and said the following.

पश्यैतां पाण्डुपुत्राणामाचार्य महतीं चमूम् ।

व्यूढां द्रुपदपुत्रेण तव शिष्येण धीमता ।।1.3।।

1.3 - O my teacher, behold the great army of the sons of Pandu, so expertly arranged by your intelligent disciple the son of Drupada.

Ken:

Out of fear as well as anger, Duryodhan asks his teacher to check out the formation of the army, which was very well arranged by the intelligent disciple of the teacher, Dronacharya.

Son of Drupada was brother of Draupadi/Arjuns wife. Drupada and the teacher Dronacharya couldn’t get along well, yet teacher Dronacharya impartially taught Dhristadyumna/brother of Draupadi, son of Drupada all the skills, which gave anxiety to Duryodhan.

अत्र शूरा महेष्वासा भीमार्जुनसमा युधि ।

युयुधानो विराटश्च द्रुपदश्च महारथः ।।1.4।।

1.4 - Here in this army are many heroic bowmen equal in fighting to Bhima and Arjuna: great fighters like Yuyudhana, Virata and Drupada.

Ken:

Duryodhan acknowledges and gauges the opposition, speculating that there are many fighters who are equal to fighting Bhima (who is an emotional person with strong body) and Arjuna (who has conditioned body, mind and is skillful). And other fighters like Yuyudhana, Virata and Drupada.

धृष्टकेतुश्चेकितानः काशिराजश्च वीर्यवान् ।

पुरुजित्कुन्तिभोजश्च शैब्यश्च नरपुङ्गवः ।।1.5।।

1.5 - There are also great heroic, powerful fighters like Dhrstaketu, Cekitana, kasiraja, Purujit, Kuntibhoja and Saibya.

Ken:

Duryodhan acknowledges other powerful fighters like Dhrstaketu, Cekitana, Kasiraja, Purujit, Kuntibhoja and Saibya. Each with stories of their achievements in life (powerful fighters), who are fighting with Arjuna (believing in keeping the sanctity of human society by fighting false-ego).

युधामन्युश्च विक्रान्त उत्तमौजाश्च वीर्यवान् ।

सौभद्रो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्व एव महारथाः ।।1.6।।

1.6 - There are the mighty Yudhamanyu, the very powerful Uttamauja, the son of Subhadra and the sons of Draupadi. All these warriors are great chariot fighters.

Ken:

Duryodhan also acknowledged other warriors who were skilled in the art of fighting, like the mighty Yudhamanyu, the very powerful Uttamauja, son of Subhadra and the sons of Draupadi.

There are two kinds of fights, one competing for supremacy while the other protecting the larger interest of the society.

Acknowledging the opposition and gauging each person’s skills/identity was an indication of competition, while the other side was influenced with the principle of co-operation.

Pandavs and their advisor were not in favor of the fight, and simply asked for 5 villages as part of negotiation to end the conflict. Each Pandav being a Kshatriya (more on various classes, their definitions and their duties in following chapters) would’ve received one village each, allowing them to live life as per their identities. This was a clear sign of co-operation from the Pandavs & Arjuna. Krishna was their negotiator.

अस्माकं तु विशिष्टा ये तान्निबोध द्विजोत्तम ।

नायका मम सैन्यस्य संज्ञार्थं तान्ब्रवीमि ते ।।1.7।।

1.7 - But for your information, O best of the Brahmanas, let me tell you about the captains who are especially qualified to lead my military force.

Ken:

After gauging and acknowledging the opposition, Duryodhan compares his army with pride in his army and its captains.

भवान्भीष्मश्च कर्णश्च कृपश्च समितिञ्जयः ।

अश्वत्थात्मा विकर्णश्च सौमदत्तिस्तथैव च ।।1.8।।

1.8 - There are personalities like you, Bhisma, karna, Krpa, Asvatthama, Vikarna and the son of Somadati called Bhurisrava, who are always victorious in battle.

Ken:

Each of these captains (who had specific skills and knowledge to win) were in their own ways heroes and teachers who had always tasted success. Bhisma (teacher, skillful), Karna (half brother of Arjuna), Krpa, Asvatthama (son of Dronacharya), Vikarna (brother of Duryodhan).

अन्ये च बहवः शूरा मदर्थे त्यक्तजीविताः ।

नानाशस्त्रप्रहरणाः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः ।।1.9।।

1.9 - There are many other heroes who are prepared to lay down their lives for my sake. All of them are well equipped with different kinds of weapons, and all are experienced in military science.

Ken:

Duryodhan, being prideful and egoistic had assembled many heroes who had shown the will to die for him. All these heroes were well prepared and equipped.

अपर्याप्तं तदस्माकं बलं भीष्माभिरक्षितम् ।

पर्याप्तं त्विदमेतेषां बलं भीमाभिरक्षितम् ।।1.10।।

1.10 - Our strength is immeasurable, and we are perfectly protected by Grandfather Bhisma, whereas the strength of the Pandavas, carefully protected by Bhima, is limited.

Ken:

Bhisma, being the grandfather was the most successful and accomplished General of the Army, whose strength was immeasurable (perfect human who has learnt to completely control all the senses of his body). On the other side Bhima (physically strong cousin of Duryodhan) was the main protector of the family. Thinking this Duryodhan assumed he would win the battle of identities and ownerships.

अयनेषु च सर्वेषु यथाभागमवस्थिताः ।

भीष्ममेवाभिरक्षन्तु भवन्तः सर्व एव हि ।।1.11।।

1.11 - All of you must now give full support to Grandfather Bhisma, as you stand at your respective strategic points of entrance into the phalanx of the army.

Ken:

Duryodhan, by carefully putting his captains under moral as well as emotional dilemma and obligation asks for complete support to his General Bhisma. While, each captain standing strategically and controlling their troops.

तस्य संजनयन्हर्षं कुरुवृद्धः पितामहः ।

सिंहनादं विनद्योच्चैः शङ्खं दध्मौ प्रतापवान् ।।1.12।।

1.12 - Then Bhisma, the great valiant grandsire of the Kuru dynasty, the grandfather of the fighters, blew his conchshell very loudly, making a sound like the roar of a lion, giving Duryodhan joy.

Ken:

Bhisma, understanding the anxiety of Duryodhan, blew the conch shell, which made a roaring sound like that of a lion, which gave courage (joy) to Duryodhan and an acknowledgement of support.

ततः शङ्खाश्च भेर्यश्च पणवानकगोमुखाः ।

सहसैवाभ्यहन्यन्त स शब्दस्तुमुलोऽभवत् ।।1.13।।

1.13 - After that, the conch shells, drums, bugles, trumpets and horns were all suddenly sounded, and the combined sound was tumultuous.

Ken:

As a strategy to confuse the opponent, loud noises was made using various instruments like conch shells, drums, bugles, trumpets and horns.

ततः श्वेतैर्हयैर्युक्ते महति स्यन्दने स्थितौ ।

माधवः पाण्डवश्चैव दिव्यौ शङ्खौ प्रदध्मतुः ।।1.14।।

1.14 - On the other side, both Lord Krishna and Arjuna, stationed on a great chariot drawn by white horses, sounded their transcendental conch shells.

Ken:

On the other side there was no noise, there was Lord Krishna (the all knowledgeable and owner/controller of all the senses) and Arjuna (humble, skillful, intelligent) riding on a chariot drawn by white horses (life driven by empathy and strength) blew their eternal conch shell (invoked the true self).

पाञ्चजन्यं हृषीकेशो देवदत्तं धनंजयः ।

पौण्ड्रं दध्मौ महाशङ्खं भीमकर्मा वृकोदरः ।।1.15।।

1.15 - Lord Krishna blew his conch shell, called Panchajanya; Arjuna blew his, the Devadatta; and Bhima, the voracious eater and performer of herculean tasks, blew his terrific conchshell, called Paundra.

Ken:

Conch shell Panchajanya blown by Krishna is an indication of controlling the senses. Arjunas conch shell represents righteousness (purposeful living) and Paundra, is an indication of strength and stamina of Bhima.

अनन्तविजयं राजा कुन्तीपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः ।

नकुलः सहदेवश्च सुघोषमणिपुष्पकौ ।।1.16।।

काश्यश्च परमेष्वासः शिखण्डी च महारथः ।

धृष्टद्युम्नो विराटश्च सात्यकिश्चापराजितः ।।1.17।।

द्रुपदो द्रौपदेयाश्च सर्वशः पृथिवीपते ।

सौभद्रश्च महाबाहुः शङ्खान्दध्मुः पृथक्पृथक् ।।1.18।।

1.16-18 - King Yudhisthira, the son of Kunti, blew his conchshell, the Ananta-vijaya, Nakula and Sahadeva blew the Sughosa and Manipuspaka. That great archer the king of Kasi, the great fighter Sikhandi, Dhristadyumna, Virata, the unconquerable Satyaki, Drupada, the sons of Draupadi and the others, O king, such as the mighty-armed son of Subhadra, all blew their respective conchshells.

Ken:

Arjunas army each with their own specialties and skills and their identities blew their conch shells. Which when heard all together sounded very mighty and as a warning.

स घोषो धार्तराष्ट्राणां हृदयानि व्यदारयत् ।

नभश्च पृथिवीं चैव तुमुलो व्यनुनादयन् ।।1.19।।

1.19 - The blowing of these different conchshells became uproarious. Vibrating both in the sky and on the earth, it shattered the hearts of the sons of Dhritarashtra.

Ken:

The warning made by the conch shells blown by Krishna, Arjuna and his team vibrated both the sky and earth (mind and body) and shattered the hearts (discouraged) the sons of Dhritarashtra.

अथ व्यवस्थितान् दृष्ट्वा धार्तराष्ट्रान्कपिध्वजः ।

प्रवृत्ते शस्त्रसंपाते धनुरुद्यम्य पाण्डवः ।

हृषीकेशं तदा वाक्यमिदमाह महीपते ।।1.20।।

1.20 - At that time Arjuna, the son of Pandu, seated in the chariot bearing the flag marked with Hanuman, took up his bow and prepared to shoot his arrows. O king, after looking at the sons of Dhritarashtra drawn in military array, Arjuna then spoke to Lord Krishna these words.

Ken:

Simultaneously Arjuna prepared himself to shoot an arrow at the sons of Dhritarashtra, paused and spoke the following words to Krishna.

अर्जुन उवाच

सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये रथं स्थापय मेऽच्युत ।

यावदेतान्निरीक्षेऽहं योद्धुकामानवस्थितान् ।।1.21।।

कैर्मया सह योद्धव्यमस्मिन्रणसमुद्यमे ।।1.22।।

1.21-22 - Arjuna said: O infallible one, please draw my chariot between the two armies so that I may see those present here, who desire to fight, and with whom I must contend in this great trial of arms.

Ken:

Arjuna guided by his true friend, Krishna, the owner of the senses and knowledge, who is incapable of making mistakes, requested him to take the chariot, between the two armies (2 opposite sides of understanding the same situation), so that Arjuna can understand who is desiring to fight and with whom he needs to compete (what are the attitudes that are influencing war/fight with whom he should compete to come out victorious).

योत्स्यमानानवेक्षेऽहं य एतेऽत्र समागताः ।

धार्तराष्ट्रस्य दुर्बुद्धेर्युद्धे प्रियचिकीर्षवः ।।1.23।।

1.23 - Let me see those who have come here to fight, wishing to please the evil-minded son of Dhritarashtra.

Ken:

Arjuna wanted to understand and see all those who supported evil-minded (pride, false-ego filled) Duryodhan.

सञ्जय उवाच

एवमुक्तो हृषीकेशो गुडाकेशेन भारत ।

सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये स्थापयित्वा रथोत्तमम् ।।1.24।।

1.24 - Sanjaya said: O descendent of Bharata, having thus been addressed by Arjuna, Kord Krishna drew up the fine chariot in the midst of the armies of both parties.

Ken:

Arjuna (Who had over come ignorance/sleep thus called Gudakesa) was thus taken in the middle of both the armies by Krishna.

भीष्मद्रोणप्रमुखतः सर्वेषां च महीक्षिताम् ।

उवाच पार्थ पश्यैतान्समवेतान्कुरूनिति ।।1.25।।

1.25 - In the presence of Bhisma, Drona and all the other chieftains of the world, the Lord said, just behold, Partha,