Shrimad Bhagwad Geeta Shlok Blog -49
Shlok-02
कुतस्त्वा कश्मलमिदं विषमे समुपस्थितम् । अनार्यजुष्टमस्वर्ग्यमकीर्तिकरमर्जुन ॥ 2-2 ||
English Transcription
Kutastwa Kashmalamidam Vishame Samupasthitam | Anaaryajushtamaswagryamkeertikaramarjuna || 2-2 ||
Hindi Translation
Hey Arjun, Ye achanak Yudh ke Maidaan me tumhe aisi kaayarta kaha se prapt hui jiska ki shreshtha purush sewan nahi karte hain, jo swarg ko dene wali nahi hai or keerti karne wali bhi nahi hai?
English Translation
The Lord said, “Why has this foul delusion come over you in this critical hour, Arjuna? It is not noble, it does not lead to heaven and it is disgraceful.
Meaning
In the previous Shlok, we saw how Sanjaya told Dhritrashtra everything Arjun was going through and how Arjun denied taking up the brawl with the Kauravas because he wasn’t happy with everything that had happened. Thus, he was sure he wanted revenge, but the way things turned out, he became doubly sure that his way to seeking revenge did not go through murdering his loved ones, friends, families and teachers and elders, kids, and other nature creations. So he denied taking part in any of this and he decided that he will not fight the war.
In this Shlok, we will see how Shri Krishna tells Arjun how he was a coward as he knew only one phase of the entire episode and he didn’t even try to know more before he quit to make his own decisions faulty. Shri Krishna knew that only the fear of Adharma was keeping Arjun from taking the required step and even if Arjun thinks he will save everyone, he wasn’t bigger than time and also not powerful than the universe’s desires. So there is a certain order of the universe and that had to be maintained in all formats.
Thus, Shri Krishna called Arjun a coward and a failed warrior. He called out to Arjun and said that this was least expected from Arjun because Arjun was never the kind of person who would shy away from a difficult situation. Arjun was a very brave warrior and he was powerful enough to know the better and best for himself and his confidantes, and yet, he was one of those people who could not make a final decision on the battlefield.
Shri Krishna refers to Arjun as a coward because he was shocked that what suddenly instigated this feeling in Arjun when he knew this was going to happen at any moment. It was a moment of weakness and thus, Shri Krishna had to make sure that Arjun wasn’t under any wrong influence.
Shri Krishna even said that this cowardice is not Arjun’s own because he was not the scared type of person. This was definitely stemming from something else and if it wasn’t resolved right then, it will spoil everything that was planned and then the anger of the universe will lead to more destruction than ever.
So Krishna said to Arjun that he was not just freaking out, but he was completely scared this seemed like a cold foot at first but it looks like a weakness and the only thing Arjun can do right then was to make sure that his fear of being alone at the end was not making his own decisions fall back.
Arjun was no more just scared but his emotions were showing in his actions, the way he sat on the chariot giving up before the start of a difficult situation. Arjun was born to make the world a better place to live by establishing certain laws and orders and liaisons who can also make things better for them. Thus, Arjun's decision to go against the same established laws and orders was not appreciated in any way.
Arjun’s birth was to symbolize the bravery needed for the people to face the wrong and yet be the strong-headed supporter of right at all points because there was nothing where Arjun needs to stop at since he was to defeat the Kauravas and establish the victory of good over bad once again at which he was about to fail miserably, had he continued with this behavior only.
Shri Krishna mentioned how this action that Arjun did will not take him to the heavens also because he was messing with the actual order of the world. Arjun’s act was not at all appreciated and he was not working for the benefit of anyone, including himself which means he will be facing the punishment for something that should have happened and he will also be facing the aftermath of the same.
Shri Krishna said that Arjun was running away from his duty and a very important one at that, which meant that he was already committing a crime and he will not even get a place reserved in hell for what he was doing. He will have to stay on Earth again, the same way he was now, or maybe in the worst form, and fulfill the sins he did in this life. Arjun had promised justice to his wife, to his mother, and his people, and now, backing out from there meany Arjun tried to go back on his promise which was not a warrior trait and a big sin if done with an ailing mother and a deserving wife.
Shri Krishna explained how everyone who lives on Earth lives for a specific reason and a fighter lives for winning and the fame of winning. If the warrior goes back on their words then they will get negative fame which will be mistrust of the names and designations of all the fighters. This was why Arjun was the chosen one to do this fight and his backing out meant him breaking laws, which will only be a matter of shame for the Pandavas and everyone related to them as well.
Shri Krishna meant to say that there are three types of good people:
- Those who want fame only and will do anything they think is right to gain this fame in any manner possible and thus they will only think in one direction that can get them fame and recognition.
- Those who want to do better and serve everyone in the best possible manner because they have to make everyone happy as well as everyone should have justice served as well.
- Those who do not have the means to serve justice or gain fame, but have respect for anyone who is of the above two types and thus, they will respect them and try to aid them if they can in any sense.
Shri Krishna was trying to tell Arjun that with his behavior, he was supposed to be the second type of good person but he was trying to be the third one and however he still will be a good person, he will be a coward person also because there are already people at position three and position one, but Arjun, who was creating an imbalance by leaving position three was sinning against the laws of nature, so he will no longer be a good person also.
Shri Krishna was telling Arjun that he was thinking from emotions of love and care, whereas he had to think from the emotions of bravery and courage to face the wrong and tell them that they are wrong, even if it requires a fight to prevent a fiasco.
Conclusion
It is very important to know what needs not to be done, If you think that doing something is devious, always know that not doing that is glorious or not, because otherwise, there is no need for anything that imitates goodness, but has a mask of nothingness on its face. Arjun was thinking to prevent his people and he was thinking because he loved them. What he did not see was that his loved ones were highly troubled with the current routine and thus, it was very important that someone takes the initiative and stop the torture.
That’s it for Shlok-2, Chapter-2 of Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta. We’ll see you tomorrow with Shlok-3, Chapter-2 of Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta. Meanwhile, you can check out Shlok-1, Chapter-2 here.
Follow us:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RudrakshHub
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rudrakshahub/?hl=en
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=6965943605077164032
Youtube: https://youtu.be/nwWPXd4Flrs
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7sAblFEsUcFCdKZShztGFC?si=61a7b9a9e46b42d6
