Bhagvad-Gita: Treatise of Self-help by BS Murthy (best summer reads of all time TXT) 📕

at the battleground
Face the sons of my sibling
Eager for the war on hand. 

 

2  
Thus spoke Sanjaya: 

Eyeing Pãndavs there lined up  
So to assess relative strengths
Reached Duryodhan, Dron in time.

 

3  
Find ãchãrya, said the Prince,
Pãndav force thus there arrayed
None other than by Drushtadyumn
Whom thou taught all tricks of war.

4  
Virat ’n Drupad, so Yuyudhãna
With Bhim ’n Arjun they stand out.

5  
Dhrushtaket, the one to dread
King of Kashi and Purujit   
Kuntibhoj ’n Saibyã too
Chekitãn, their force augment.

6  
Uttamouj ’n Yudhãmanyu 
Abhimanyu so Vikrãnta  
Draupadi’s offspring not to speak
Five-star generals all no less.

7 
For thy feel of our own strength
Roll-call heroes of ours O, revered.

8  
Thou with Bhishm, Karn ’n Kripa 
Make all four our Field Marshals,
Bhurisrav, Aswathãm ’n Vikarn  
Our Marshals, near Field Marshals.

9  
With their lives on line for me
Adept at weaponry varied all
Abound valorous in our ranks 
Past masters of group warfare.

10  
Nurses Bhishmã force our vast     
Lot it’s Bhimã’s tend their small.

11

Let’s close ranks in well laid files  
Cover we flanks for Bhishmã’s guard. 

 

 

12  
Words by these moved 
Grandsire Bhishm, 
Warrior verily unrivalled
War cry he gave with his conch.

13  
Egged by Bhishmã, geared Kauravs
War cries their rent, those high skies.   

14  
Krishna ’n Arjun, in their turn
From chariot of white stallions 
Gave in kind they with kindred.

15 
With Panchajanya, Lord Krishna     
Broke sound barriers with Arjun 
Who blew to hilt Devadatta  
As blared Bhima, his Paundra. 

16  
Blew conch Yudhisthir full throated
Anantavijaya in tandem 
With his siblings, Nakul ’n Sahadev,   
Blew who Sughosh ’n Manipushpak. 

17  
King of Kashi, master archer 
Sikhandi Marshal, their formidable 
Sãthyaki, Drushtadyumn ’n Virãt 
Warriors they all never vanquished,    

18  
Drupada as well Draupadi’s progeny 
With their hero Abhimanyu 
Blew, O monarch, at one go
Conchs of theirs to deafening sound.

19  
Tumult that ensued shook the ground 
Bewildered Kauravs, as skies roared.

20  
When came time to join lines
So it happened O my Lord 
With his Gandiv in harness 
Hanumãn’s ensign in flutter
Arjun stared at Kauravs hard  
And thus spoke to Lord Krishna. 

21/22  
Thus spoke Arjuna:
Pray posit chariot ours upfront
So that I can have a look
At those itching for this war.  

23   
Time I discern those backing
Duryodhan the evil minded.  

24  
Thus spoke Sanjaya:  
Upfront Krishna took Arjun
In their chariot drawn by four.

25  
Beseeched Krishna then Arjun  
That he behold Bhishm ’n Dron
As well all those there gathered.

26  
Espied Arjun his clansmen  
Grandads, uncles, brothers and all
Teachers as well friends of note.

27  
At the sight of
His kinsmen,    
He in distress    
Spoke worried.  

28  
Thus spoke Arjuna:
Disturb kinsfolk here gathered
Feel I parched, it nauseates too.

29  
Horrify no end prospects war 
Un-grips Gandiv, looks I’m sick.

30  
Looks like it’s an illusion 
Lord I envision bad omens all.

31  
Crave I not for power or pelf 
What’s it worth to kill Kauravs? 

32  
Know not avails what empire 
What sort pleasures it entails!

33  
Whom all we wish well in life
Here they face us risking same.

34 
Us they oppose
Dads, grand-dads 
Sons, grandsons, so uncles  
Brothers-in-law ’n teachers too!

35  
Were the stakes be sky high like
Ruling earth ’n heaven as well 
Let those Kauravs itch for fight  
I won’t have this war on hand.

36  
Go as they on sinful path
Why earn sin by slaying them.

37        
See I no gain by their end 
Why then kill our kith ’n kin?

38  
Blinded by greed, bent on deceit  
Fail they foresee, war ruins the race.

39  
Wiser for the woes of wars 
Why not Lord we rescind now.

40  
Die aged en masse dharma’s votaries 
Won't that let go youth ours haywire? 

41 
Sex ratio adverse that war ensues
Turns women soft on caste barriers.

42  
Fallen women all go to hell  
What is more their bastards rob
Posthumous rites of forebearers.

43   
Liaisons low of women wanton 
Set our race on ruinous course.

44  
Is it not said, O My Lord 
Fail who dharma are hell bound.

45  
What urge killing kith and kin, 
Why should we sin lusting crown?

46 
Disarm I now on my own 
Let them harm me if they deem.

47  
Thus spoke Sanjaya:  
Thus O Raja
Despaired Arjun 
Arms he threw
And sat distressed.

Ends thus 
Arjuna’s Dilemma,
The First Chapter 
Of Bhagavad-Gita 
Treatise of self-help. 

Chapter 2

All about Life

.

This character defining chapter of the Gita comprising 72 slokas, known as sãnkhya yoga, Realization through Knowledge, is regarded by many, as the peerless part of the great epic. Arjuna’s dilemma, meanwhile, turns into grief, as the horrific prospect of slaying Bhishma, his revered granduncle, and Drona, his venerated guru, sinks into his consciousness. Bogged down by sentiment, Arjuna appeals to Lord Krishna for guidance. The Lord’s response starting with the epoch making eleventh sloka,

‘Averring as knowing

Worried over trivia! 

Reckon never wise 

Dead and alive both,’

is indeed the curtain raiser to the grand discourse.

It is apparent that the sentiment of causing death and destruction plagues Arjuna. Thus, Lord Krishna brings the very issue to the fore to dispel the unwarranted fear of death by stressing upon the trans-migratory nature of the indwelling spirit of all beings. Then the Lord proceeds to enlighten Arjuna about his duty to fight as a warrior besides touching upon the infamy of surrender. 

To enable Arjuna overcome the predicament of attachment, Lord Krishna elaborates upon the precepts and practices of detached action, besides its spiritual and philosophical connotations. As a way of caution, the Lord finally explains to Arjuna how his sensual nature hinders man to act in true detachment. This chapter, indeed, is the spectrum supreme of the kaleidoscope of wisdom that Bhagvad Gita is.

1  
Thus spoke Sanjaya:
In pity Krishna 
Addressed Arjuna,
Bogged in sorrow  
With tears profuse.

2   
Thus spoke the Lord:
Oh, what affliction
At this juncture!
Wholly un-Aryan  
Unholy as well!!

3  
Mind-set impotent that unnerves
Strengthen thou for fight on hand. 

4   
Thus spoke Arjuna:
Adore as I, how dare I  
Make Bhishma ’n Dron target?

5  
Better I go with begging bowl
Than earn disgrace slaying them, 
Would the scepter ever glitter  
In the bloodstained hands of mine?

6  
Those us oppose
We hate hurting,
What use war
Who victors are?

7  
About my duty I’m in doubt 
Tell me kindly what is right.

8  
Beset by doubts,  
Saddled by grief
Would I be joyous
Were I the king?    

9  
Thus spoke Sanjaya:
Bent to rescind 
Arjun had no more to speak.

10 
Make I privy O my Lord
Speaks as Krishna to Arjun
Stood who there in confusion.

11  
Thus spoke the Lord:
Averring as knowing
Worried over trivia!
Reckon never wise 
Dead and alive both.

12  
You and Me    
As well these, 
Have had past 
Future as well.

13  
Wise all realize
Embodies selfsame spirit in one
From birth to death, in every birth.       

14  
Sensual feelings, grief ’n joy 
Transient are like, heat and cold.

15 
Weigh who pain ’n pleasure equal 
Such are those on path freedom. 

16  
What’s not real, it’s never been
And that’s true, it’s ever there  
That’s how wise all came to see. 

17     
Spirit in lay us All-Pervading  
Given that not to destruction, 
What sense doth it make to think
That’s immutable gets destroyed!

18  
Perish all bodies, Spirit not therein 
Know this truth, and take up arms. 

19  
With no slayer, nor one slain        
Whoso feels that he might kill
It's in delusion that he harps.

20  
Unbound being ever unborn
Ageless since it’s endless too  
Goes on Spirit, beyond life-span. 

21  
Spirit as entity hath no birth
How can thou kill what’s not born!

22  
Change as men fade if clothes
So doth Spirit as frames are worn.  

23  
Hurts no weapon the Spirit in thee
Nor scathe elements, wind, water ’n fire.

24  
Unalterable ’n Eternal  
Immovable but pervades all
Permanent ’n so Everlasting        
Spirit thus none can ever destruct.

25  
Can sans form Spirit get bound? 
Get right answer thou won’t burn.

26  
Prima facie if thou feel
Subject Spirit is to rebirths  
Why grieve over end of frame?

27  
Dies as one
For like rebirth,
Why feel sad
Of what’s cyclic.  

28  
Isn’t thy lament over that
Un-manifested to start with 
Gets manifested just as guest  
And bids adieu in due course.

29  
Seen in wonder, spoken in awe 
Spirit none knows that lies in him.

30  
Dies not Spirit as die beings 
What for man then tends to grieve!

31  
Being a warrior dharma thine 
That thee fight with all thy might.

32  
For martyrs of unsought wars
Ever open are heavenly gates.                          

33  
If thee back out from duty
Imperil thou thy own dharma    
And that earns thee infamy. 

34  
What for lead a dishonored life 
Why leave legend dubious behind!

35  
Amiss be taken thine intent 
Treat thee coward thy friends ’n foes.

36  
Count on thou thy detractors  
Besmirch they thy character, 
Damned be thine obituary  
By their campaign of slander.

37  
If slain, heaven; alive, it’s reign  
Resolve to fight with right intent.

38  
Shed thy sentiment, guilt unhinge  
Eye not gain as wage thou war.

39  
It's this knowledge that liberates 
And helps thee act, with no restraint. 

40  
Goes not waste
Effort thine ever, 
Zeal for action
Frees from fear.

41
In their resolve
Succeed firm,  
Mind as wavers
Lose infirm.

42  
Unwise use all enticing
Flowery language to further
Rituals Vedic in their scores 
Not the knowledge of Vedas.  

43  
Eyeing heaven with mind mundane  
Go for ceremonies such in hope
Of having best of both the worlds.

44  
Pursue if thou wants with zeal
Instincts then would spin thy mind.

45  
Aspects three of life, reveal Vedas four
Transcend thou dualities, in them as inherent.

46 
Well-waters draw Veda-dependent 
Banks on reservoir dwell all realized.

47  
Hold as patent on thy work  
Reckon thou not on royalty 
With no way to ceasing work
Never mind outcome but go on. 

48  
It’s but yoga  
If thou strive 
Wants without  
Emotions bereft. 

49  
Work well greedy with motive 
Work wise not with result in mind.

50  
Wise not sentiment bring to work   
That's hallmark of art of work. 

51  
Freed from bonds with mind even 
Act wise regardless ever composed.

52  
Clears if reason one’s illusion  
Bothers he not to what's over 
Or for what might lie in store.

53  
Stands as firm mind thy clear
Steer thou clear of path rituals.   

54  
Thus spoke Arjuna:
How to spot the yogi true   
Were he there ever in the crowd?

55  
Thus spoke the Lord:
Blessed are strong with blissful self
Helps them that slight all that tempts. 

56  
Oblivious of misfortune  
Not the one to crave for fun
Sways not ever by his feelings  
Stays thus yogi ever even.

57  
Unfettered by attachment  
Compliments to indifferent 
Adversity by unshaken
Wisdom thus is personified.

58  
Stimuli those of organs sensory
Tortoise like, wise draw into shell.

59  
Senses reined 
Who so abstains, 
Sans he longing
Turns he godly.

60  
Senses as may tend them rash
Wise as well stray, from right path.

61  
Rein in senses, hone thine effort  
Rely on Supreme, that’s true wisdom.

62  
Leans man on  
Lends what charm, 
Brings that want 
And that’s fault.

63
Despair is what clouds reason  
Brings that ruin through deeds mindless.

64  
Yield to senses sans craving
Cap as thou thy wants dubious.

65  
Calm that offsets woes of life  
And that equable makes thy mind. 

66  
Lacks mind focus as it strays 
Robs that peace ’n joy thereby.  

67
As in seas sans boat rudder
So course sensual man loses.

68  
With tight leash on their senses  
Wise with ease lead poised lives.

69  
Ignoring all ignorant crave
Wise take note what folks not note. 

70  
Subdues as sea, rivers it holds
Wise keep cool while wants taming. 

71  
Freed of ego ’n wants as well 
Blessed are wise who lack longing.

72  
State it’s that of true being 
With no tenseness of being, 
Life ever in that mode being
Makes what one with All-being.

Ends thus: 
All about Life,
The Second Chapter  
Of Bhagavad-Gita
Treatise of self-help.

 

Chapter 3

Theory of Action

This chapter of 42 slokas, known as karma yoga, Theory of Action, covers the whole gamut of action. It is apparent that not all slokas here could be originals. It is pertinent to note that Lord Krishna was unequivocal, in s 42- s45, and s53 of the previous chapter, about the fallacy of the Vedic rituals, and the lack of wisdom