Geeta Chapter 2 Verse 36

Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2 Verse 36

अवाच्यवादांश्च बहून्वदिष्यन्ति तवाहिताः ।
निन्दन्तस्तव सामर्थ्यं ततो दुःखतरं नु किम् ॥२-३६॥

avachyavadamshcha bahun vadishyanti tava ahitaha
nindantas tava samorthyam tato dukhataram nu kim ॥ 2-36 ॥

Transliteration

In Bhagavad Gita chapter 2 verse 36 Srikrishna highlights to Arjuna demerits of non-indulgence in war of dharma (righteousness). As per Lord Krishna when evil bared its fangs, it was duty of every Kshatriya to indulge in war wholeheartedly. In such times prime duty of a Kshatriya warrior like Arjuna was re-establishing dharma (righteousness) by defeating evil forces of nature forever. Such happenings did not occur in day-to-day life. It was after many millennia, such a Dharma yuddha got necessitated.

If Arjuna refused to fight this war of dharma (righteousness) then his arch enemies, the evildoers who knew nothing about truth would indulge in mudslinging and evil mongering... destroying reputation of Arjuna forever. Such would be the impact of their vituperation towards Arjuna that for times to come people would think of Arjuna as a coward. Using unkind and scornful words, those who venerated Arjuna in present and past would now belittle him in books of history forever.

Such would be the impact of these venomous words that you would cry in your heart all the time. Unable to bear burden of such scornful, venomous words... you would prefer dying than practicing cowardice. Your sworn enemies unable to comprehend your love for your brethren arrayed in the enemy camp; would call you, a born maharathi... a coward! Those who feared your might in present or past would now openly declare you a coward, one who left the battlefield midway.

It was not for Arjuna to keep lamenting all the time. Present in battlefield with Lord Srikrishna, as a Kshatriya it was his duty to realize importance of fighting the battle head-on. If Arjuna thought, by quitting the battle he would feel happier, so was not to be! The slanderous expletives hurled on his character would not let him sleep or live peacefully forever. Arjuna had demonstrated his warrior character in past. As a great Pandava warrior, it was his duty to save his countrymen and army from further harm.


The Explanation


Through Bhagavad Gita chapter 2 verse 36 Lord Krishna practically condemns actions of Arjuna in the battlefield of Mahabharata. His act of not fighting those indulging in evil was not acceptable to Sri Krishna. As was slowly becoming evident, Lord Krishna was not an ordinary mortal... he was god manifest in human form... an avatar, a messiah... saviour of his era. His advice to Arjuna was in interest of all... both Pandavas and Kauravas.

The omnipotent presence of Lord Krishna was in itself a sign of divinity present in battlefield of Mahabharata. It was Arjuna who failed to recognize the divine form of Lord Krishna, considering him only a friend and a relative! All emphasis of Lord Krishna lay in the fact that Arjuna, a Kshatriya of the highest order must prepare self to fight the enemy head-on. As Pandava camp had selected Arjuna as its warrior chieftain... it was not for Arjuna to choose or reject! As a maharathi (great warrior)... Arjuna must agree to fight this just battle of dharma (righteousness) and bring a disastrous end to evil designs of Kauravas.

As per Lord Krishna, in a battlefield arrayed with great maharathis in enemy camp... Arjuna disassociating from battle of Mahabharata was not in the interest of entire mankind. There was no room for compassion of any kind! Compassion towards enemies was an ugly expression of love. When our enemies were hell-bent on killing us, compassion could not be practiced in such times. Such an eventuality was not acceptable to Sri Krishna or even own warriors and countrymen.

As everything contained in Bhagavad Gita was an allegory to spiritual values that support mankind all the time... Geeta chapter 2 verse 36 confirms that once we decide to undertake spiritual journey in present life, chances of reverting back were nil! We had sufficient time at our disposal in forming an absolute goal of present life. But once our decision is final, we could not quit under any circumstances! Why? It was for the simple reason that present journey of human life was ordained by God Almighty and not human beings themselves!

Ever since all pure souls’ atmans separated from their source with occurrence of big bang, they desire regaining their lost pure prime pristine primordial form at the earliest. This becomes possible when souls atmans for the first time manifest human form. It was only in human form a soul atman, the spirit within finally reached cosmic end of life when human beings gained enlightenment (kaivalya jnana) and finally moksha salvation. Journey in human form was the highest and most pleasant experience for a soul atman, the spirit within.

All pure souls’ atmans in their cosmic sojourn after occurrence of big bang gathered impurities similar as a rolling ball gathers moss. To cleanse self of dross impurities within all souls atmans wait for life supporting planets like mother earth to evolve further. No sooner life supporting planets like mother earth evolved in cosmic system... souls' atmans start manifesting life form. The first manifestation by a soul atman was form of amoeba (single cell formation). It further evolves into multi-cell formation, then insect life, plant life, animal life and finally forms of human beings!

When our soul atman, the spirit within was all the time governing... the role of human beings in the cosmic journey of life of a soul atman was limited. The human form was just a medium for a soul atman to cleanse self of dross impurities within. It was through complex process of karma and evolution... souls atmans evolved further in cosmic life cycle. Human beings reaching stage of an enlightened one... a bodhi, a Jina... a Mahavira announced cosmic journey of a soul atman coming to an end. The most a human being can evolve on mother earth was reaching stage of enlightenment in present life time.

In the spiritual journey of life, Lord Krishna present in us as our soul atman, the spirit within all the time guided us towards gaining enlightenment in present life. In the circumstances how can an individual, a human being quit spiritual journey midway. God Almighty ordained a long journey of 1.1 million manifestations in human form to reach stage of enlightenment (kaivalya jnana) and finally moksha salvation. There was no hurry for human beings to travel spiritual path to reach god in present life.

However, once decision is taken... once we decide to travel spiritual path to reach god in present life, we could never retract our journey, our goal of life! The journey of spiritual path always was one-sided. We had to burn all our bridges behind to go in search of god. God Almighty was never reached so easily. It needs willpower exhibited by Swami Vivekananda to reach god in present life. Journey of spirituality demands highest level of perfection that could ever be practiced by human beings on mother earth.

As stated by Lord Krishna, if at all we decide to quit spiritual journey midway then consequences were disastrous. I have personally observed people becoming patients of dementia, going into deep depression... even wanting to commit suicide! The results of spiritual journey were always unknown. As when human beings... as many different paths to God Almighty can there be! For all human beings... spiritual results would always differ. Based on our intellect, our intelligence results do vary.

The results of spiritual journey were never linear. There were so many factors involved that every single spiritual seeker had varied experiences of ones spiritual journey. Spiritual journey varied from physical manifest life. Nothing in spiritual field was highlighted in advance. We could never ascertain what befalls us in spiritual pursuit of life. When I started in search of god 13 years of age... I had no inkling what god or spirituality was all about. 25 years of yoga meditation, I finally realized all... reached source of all things cosmic! In the wee hours of third of Aug 1993 I finally came face-to-face with God Almighty.

This is my last manifestation on mother earth... 8.4 millionth manifestation! Moment I leave my mortal frame... I shall but attain moksha salvation! When confronted with love towards our close family members, relatives and friends... we have to quit all! On spiritual path, earthly relationships carried no meaning! People viewed spiritual journey with skepticism only for this prime reason that we shall have to abandon earthly ties forever. Here we failed to realize that for a spiritual seeker whole world becomes one large family. As the journey of life belonged to our soul atman, the spirit within... we were only a trustee in domain of God Almighty!

As a serious seeker of spirituality we must all the time indulge in karma... nishkama karma way! As a true trustee of god, we must offer fruits of karma performed to God Almighty all the time. This is how life of a spiritual seeker truly was. We had nothing we called our own. For a serious seeker of spirituality... nothing other than God Almighty existed in cosmos. All was illusion (effect of Maya) that distanced us from reaching god in present life. The moment we realized this anomaly... all became crystal clear! As detailed in Chapter 2 Verse 36, like Arjuna... all serious seekers of spirituality must dissociate self from bondages or Moha (extreme emotional attachment)... otherwise our predicament in matters ephemeral would-be same as Arjuna.

To overpower five senses and mind... our scuttling feelings of Moha (extreme emotional attachment) towards our parents, brothers and sisters, close relatives and friends was an absolute must. Unless we cut across earthly ties... our travelling spiritual journey would go in vain!



Commentary by: Vijay Kumar "Atma Jnani"... The Man who Realized God in 1993 - query!
 

Bhagavad Gita Study Circle: a meeting point for people from all walks of life interested in knowing anything relating to spirituality, Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads and on a broad platform... life!

 
 Top of page

Subscribe Weekly Newsletter "Spiritual Secrets Unveiled"
Whats more... it is free. You would love you did!