Introduction

[Krishna Jaya]

Before getting into the text of the Gita, perhaps some introductory material might be appropriate.  Please feel welcome to contribute questions and/or comments to these posts. 

 

The setting of The Bhagavad Gita is ancient India about 5,000 years ago.  This is before the record of human history, so there is a legitimate question about how much of it really happened.  Is it myth or some combination of “fact” and myth?  “Fact” is put in quotation marks because the word itself, in association with the word “myth” implies that in some way a myth is not true.  A myth is true; it expresses timeless human values.  “Use of the term implies neither the truth nor the falseness of the narrative.” (Wikipedia) 

 

At the outset of The Bhagavad Gita, a civil war is about to commence.  Members of a family are arrayed on each side of the battlefield.  One of the two main characters is Arjuna, a virtuous soldier, highly skilled with the bow and arrow, perhaps the most skillful archer of his time.  The other main character is Krishna, whom the Hindus call an Avatar.  An Avatar represents the manifestation of God incarnate in human flesh, a Christ, a Buddha, a Lao Tse (though the Buddhists and Taoists would not use the “God” word).  The Avatar incarnates to teach us mortals that we have a spark of immortality within us; and if we fan this tiny flame, we may find peace amidst the storms of life and be free from suffering once and for all.

 

Krishna the form represents this state of consciousness free from the suffering that life ordinarily brings.  It is the state and not the physical form that is important.  Krishna is peace and that peace is inside of us waiting to bloom and pervade our lives in a steady way if we are able to supply the suitable, inner conditions for this flowering.  There is much conditioning from the past that gets in the way of our progress on this path, and this is where practice comes in.

 

Arjuna finds himself in a dilemma as the war is about to start.  He knows it’s his duty as a soldier to fight, but it’s his family on the other side and he can’t bring himself to fight with them.  It’s an example of what happens when we face a difficult decision in life where the pros and the cons even out.  The thinking mind short-circuits and we need to dig deeper to discover the optimal path.

 

Krishna is Arjuna’s charioteer, and he is there to help Arjuna do the deep digging so that he will know how to proceed.  Krishna is there to help Arjuna get in touch with that still, quiet place inside from which promptings arise that guide us intuitively and optimally.  If we can learn how to break our attachment to the outer chatter and focus within, we can come into touch with this source of steady wisdom.  Krishna is that still, quiet place.

 

[Krishna Jaya]

Regarding "the purpose of humans," what follows is a story from The Mahabharata (of which The Bhagavad Gita is a tiny part). The great war is over...

GANDHARI'S CURSE AND ARJUNA'S DREAM

From Kamala Subramaniam's rendering of The Mahabharata:

“All the women of the palace walked with the blind king to see their dear ones on the battlefield. Gandhari (queen) could see it all in her mind’s eye. She had been granted that boon because of all her penance. Even from a distance she could see the gruesome scene. She saw the wives of the warriors, or their mothers, falling on the dead forms of their dear ones and weeping bitter tears. The women were lamenting the deaths of their lords. The scenes were heart-rending.

Gandhari went to the spot where her son Duryodhana was lying. She fell down in a dead faint. She regained consciousness and wept bitter tears over the form of her dead son. It was terrible to behold her grief. She smoothed his brow and tried to untangle his locks which were matted with blood. Krishna stood by silently. He heard her lamentations and those of the wife of Duryodhana. It was altogether the most horrible scene that was ever enacted.

Suddenly Gandhari’s anger flared up. She turned on Krishna and said, ‘Krishna, all this is a result of your indifference. I am sure you could have averted this if you had so wanted. The anger between the Kauravas and the Pandavas could have been prevented by you. If you had been impartial to both the parties, if you had tried to, you could have prevented this annihilation. If it is true that I have performed penances, if I have any power, I will use all that to curse you for the ruin you have wrought on the house of the Kurus. I am cursing you. Because of your indifference, the Kauravas and the Pandavas were bent on destroying each other. This destruction is because of you. Even so, thirty-six years from today, your family, the entire family of the Vrishnis, will be destroyed by itself. Cousins will fight with cousins and kill each other. The women of your House will weep, even as our women are weeping now. This is the curse of Gandhari.’

Krishna smiled his sweetest smile and said, ‘Mother, I am indeed fortunate to have had your co-operation in the extinction of the House of the Vrishnis. I am glad your curse has solved the problem for me. I would have had to kill them if you had not cursed me. You have really blessed us. There is also this to be said. Your anger has now found an outlet. You can never again be angry with Yudhishthira. I am prepared to do anything for the Pandavas. If my House has to die so that they may live, I am only too happy to oblige. I am telling you again, mother, the Pandavas mean my very life to me.’

The Pandavas had been listening to all this. They had just passed through the dreadful experience of killing their cousins, and they were horrified to hear that the same fate was threatening the House of the Vrishnis. But Krishna was taking it all with a smile. He was doing it so that they could live. The Pandavas felt humble in the presence of so much love.

Krishna spoke again to Gandhari, ‘Rouse up your spirit of Dharma, mother. All that has transpired is because of you and not because of me. You were too fond of your son Duryodhana. His pride should have been curbed even at the outset. You knew your brother Sakuni (the dice-cheater). He should not have been allowed into your house. You were indifferent and not I. Duryodhana was encouraged to wallow in sin. All the elders of the court, and you, looked askance when he began to harass the Pandavas. You are responsible for all this, and your indifference is now being pushed on to my shoulders. You know how much I tried to coax Duryodhana to give up his hatred of the Pandavas. Yet you impute the sin of indifference to me. You have no right to do it. You knew about the house of lac (the opulent palace made of flammable materials which Duryodhana gifted to the Pandavas with such fanfare). You could have taken some trouble and stopped your son from that sin. Your husband and you ruined that Duryodhana and now, when the world lies in ruins because of him, you are trying to blame it on me. I am not sorry for the death of the Kauravas. They have actually gotten more than they deserved. Your son deserved the worst hell for his sinful actions, and he has managed to reach heaven. But I am glad about it in a way, since it will comfort you. He has gone to heaven because of your goodness and your penance. Your sons are with the gods now.

‘A little while ago, when you saw the form of your son, you told me, “Duryodhana came to me just before setting out for the battle. He stood with folded palms before me and said, ‘Mother, in this battle between cousins, you must wish me success. If you say it, I am sure to win.’ I knew that he had launched an unjust war. I told him, ‘You cannot win. But I bless you. I say that you will fight gloriously and reach the heavens. You cannot win, my son. But you will have a glorious death.’”

‘You told me all this only a little while ago. And now, because of your sorrow, you are forgetting Dharma and trying to blame it on me. I would not have been surprised if your husband had tried the same thing. But you, mother, are different. You can face the truth.’

Gandhari was speechless…

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Thirty-six years after the great war, Krishna saw dreadful portents written in the sky. He knew that it meant the destruction of his family. Krishna was ready to leave the world. This was the final act of the play before he left the world where he had been born to cleanse it of its sins. The fourth quarter of time, Kali Yuga, had already set foot. Krishna could see that humanity was beginning to lose its sense of Dharma. He would have to be born again when Kali Yuga was about to end. The curse of Gandhari was about to be fulfilled. He looked on his own people. They had lost their righteousness. They were heading for the final quarrel which would destroy them all.

One day, as was their usual custom, the entire family set out on holiday to a familiar place. It was a happy group. The caravan of chariots reached the spot. Tents were pitched, and the next day was spent in games of various kinds. There was great feasting and drinking and it went on for a number of days. One day they were talking about old times. Satyaki was drunk and so were the others. Suddenly Satyaki took it into his head to insult Kritavarma. Ever since he had joined the side of Duryodhana in the great war, Satyaki bore him a grudge. He had never forgiven him for that. He decided to taunt him. It was the drink that made him do it. It was also, of course, Fate. Satyaki brought the conversation around to the war and said, ‘I have yet to see a Kshatriya who kills people who are sleeping (referring to Kritavarma’s raid in the dead of night), who sets fire to the camp like a common thief, and then flees to his own country, afraid to face the consequences of his act.’ These words made Kritavarma wild with fury. He was also drunk. People began to take sides and fight.

It was a drunken brawl. The great House of the Vrishnis had descended to this. Krishna was watching all the while. Satyaki cut off the head of Kritavarma. Krishna then saw Satyaki and his son killed. Finally, all were dead except for Balarama, Krishna, and Daruka. Disgusted with the drunken brawl, Balarama had already left the place for the seashore. He had decided to give up his life. Krishna and Daruka went in search of him. They found him sitting in Yoga trance. Krishna told Daruka to go to Hastinapura to tell Yudhishthira everything. He went on, ‘Tell him about the moral degradation of the Vrishni House. Tell him that a drunken brawl was enough to destroy them. Ask Arjuna to come as soon as possible to take care of the women and children.’ It was with a heavy heart that Daruka set out for Hastinapura.

Krishna went to his father, Vasudeva, and said, ‘I have sent for Arjuna. He will come and take charge of everything. Balarama is waiting for me. I must go to him now.’ Krishna fell at the feet of his father. He then walked away as fast as he could. He would not look back. He reached the spot where his dear brother waited for him, still in trance. Krishna stood by, waiting and watching. An immense white serpent emerged from the mouth of Balarama. It came out and disappeared into the ocean. It is said that Krishna is the incarnation of Vishnu and that Balarama is the incarnation of Sesha, the serpent which is the bed of Vishnu. Krishna saw that Sesha issuing from the mouth of Balarama. He knew that his time had come, too.

It was evening. Krishna wandered about, lost in thought. He had reached the end of his life. He thought of Yashoda, his foster-mother. His thoughts hovered around Radha as a bee would round a flower. The years rolled by like the waves of the sea. His thoughts rested on the Pandavas. He thought of their first meeting. Then came the many incidents of their pain-filled lives. Then came the war and the destruction of the Kshatriyas of the world. Then came the death of Duryodhana and the curse of Gandhari. Krishna had to live to see it all fulfilled. It had taken a great effort to see it accomplished. But he had done it. To the last, he had guarded the Pandavas. There was only one regret. He would not meet Arjuna. Suddenly his face lit up with a sweet smile. He would melt into Arjuna's dream and speak to him. He touched the mind of Arjuna with his own. Arjuna’s mind was drawn by the power of Krishna’s mind. Krishna was glad about it.

Arjuna was alone in his rooms. He was suddenly reminded of Krishna. He felt Krishna speaking to him…‘Arjuna, lie down. I want to talk to you.’ Arjuna did as he was bid. At once he fell asleep. Krishna melted into his dream, taking Arjuna’s hands in his, and saying, ‘Arjuna, do you remember my telling you once that everyone in this world is born to serve a purpose? The next moment after having done so, it will be time to die.’ Arjuna said, ‘Yes, Krishna.’ Krishna said, ‘I said that each person is set on this strange, eventful journey called life with a purpose. Once that purpose is served, the Earth has no more need of that person. It is the case with all of us, even me. I have created myself on this Earth for a purpose. It is not yet over. Something still remains. The moment it is over, I will die, too, and so will you and your brothers. Arjuna, do you remember all that?’ Arjuna said, ‘Yes, my Lord, I do remember it.’ Krishna said, ‘Arjuna, I want to tell you that the purpose of my life has been fulfilled. I am going.’ Arjuna said, ‘Krishna, my Lord, what is this you are saying? I cannot grasp it.’ Krishna laughed gently and said, ‘My dearest friend, I wanted to see you just once before going away. I have seen you. I have no regrets. As for the meaning of my words, you will soon understand.’ A dewy smile was illuminating the face of Krishna. He was smiling that smile when he faded away from Arjuna’s dream.

Krishna walked with slow steps. He could of course die as his brother had died. He could just give up his breath by Yoga. But as he had told Arjuna once, he would die in accordance with the role he was playing. He would die as a human being dies. There would be something to cause his death. Pondering this, Krishna lay down on the ground and went to sleep.

There was a hunter nearby. He passed by with his bow and arrow. He looked at the sleeping form of Krishna. From a distance Krishna looked like some animal sleeping. The hunter thought it was a deer. The hunter took careful aim and sent the arrow. It entered the body of Krishna.

Krishna suffered intense pain and called out in agony. The hunter hurried to his side. Instead of a deer, he found a man. He was horrified at what he had done. But Krishna smiled at him and said, ‘My dear friend, you have done me a great favor. You have solved for me my final problem: how to die. Go in peace. You will reach the heavens for your act.’

The hunter tried his best to nurse the dying man. But it was all to no avail. Krishna was dead. His ascending soul to heaven caused the Earth to glow. Krishna had left this world. He had served the purpose for which he had come. The Earth had no longer any need of him. He went back whence he had come. The world was without Krishna. The Earth was like a flower which had lost its perfume.

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Krishna, the incarnation of the Lord, had asked the gods to be born in the world of men to help him in his work: the destruction of evil and the establishment of Dharma. Indra (Arjuna), Vayu (Bheema), Dharma (Yudhishthira) and the Aswini twins (Nakula and Sahadeva) walked on the Earth for a time. The Earth was to be cleansed of the poisons which were choking her. The Earth was made pure because these gods had walked on her. The seed of Dharma had been planted in the soil which was prepared by the blood of the noblest of men. The purpose of their birth had been served. It was time for them to return to heaven once more. The Pandavas were absorbed into the gods who were their fathers. The world is richer for the few years of glory when Krishna and the Pandavas were here. Their story has become immortal. So long as the world lives, so long as the Sun and the Moon move in their orbits, so long as there is a spark of goodness in the hearts of humans, the story of Krishna and the Pandavas will be told.”