Talks given by Anand S Rao at Chinmaya Mission Boston - Newton on Sundays

1. Maximum Happiness to the Maximum Number of People for the Maximum Time
CHINMAYA MISSION BOSTONCHINMAYA MISSION BOSTON
THe HOlY GeeTATHe HOlY GeeTA
Chapter 1 – The Yoga of Arjuna-Grief

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Chapter 1 – What is a Gita?
• Gita is a song of spiritual knowledge – a dialogue between the Guru and Sishya
• Examples of Gita
 Vidura Gita in Mahabarata
 Rama-Gita in Ramayana
 Hamsa-Gita in Bhagavatam
 Guru-Gita and Siva-Gita in Skanda Puranam
 Ashtavakra Gita
 Avadhuta Gita
 Ramana Gita
• Bhagavad Gita – is a dialogue between Shri Krishna and Arjuna in Mahabarata;
appears almost at the center of the 18 cantos of Mahabarata. Gita consists of 18
chapters and 700 verses – Chapters 25-42 of the sixth canto
• Written by Veda Vyasa

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Chapter 1 – What is Mahabarata?
• Mahabarata facts
Consists of 10,000 verses
So called because it is great, vast and deep
Also called Jaya (Victory) – victory of good over evil
Veda Vyasa was the author
Lord Ganesha was the scribe
• Veda Vyasa is the author of
Mahabarata
18 Puranas
Brahma Sutras
Four Vedas

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Chapter 1 – What does Bhagavad Gita teach?
• ‘Tat Tvam Asi’ – That Thou Art
• Eighteen Chapters correspond roughly to
Tvam – Karma Yoga – First six chapters
Tat – Bhakti Yoga – Second six chapters
Asi – Jnaana Yoga – Last six chapters

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What is Gita?
• Bhagavad Gita is both Upansiad and Yoga-Sastra
Gita as Upanisad – Expounds knowledge about absolute
truth and our essential oneness with it - also called Brahma
Vidya
Gita as Yoga Sastra – Gives practical guidance on how to
attain the Truth and live fulfilled lives
 Sastra has two meanings
o A scripture that teaches us what is good for us
o A science that talks about a subject in its totality
 Yoga means to unite with the higher – Each chapter of
Gita is named a particular Yoga

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Chapter 1 – The Yoga of Arjuna-Grief
1. Dhrtarastra’s Question
2. Duryodhana describes
the Pandava Army
3. Pitamaha blows the conch
4. Arjuna views the two armies 5. Arjuna’s Grief 6. Conclusion: I can’t
Introduction

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Chapter 1 – Topics for the Day
 Story of Mahabharata – Setting for Bhagawad Gita
 Symbolism of the External Battle and the Inner Battle
 Dhrtarashtra’s question
 Arjuna’s Grief
 Excuses
 External and Internal Battle

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Chapter 1 – Mahabharata in a Nutshell (1)
The Mahabharata is the history of the Great War of India between the Pandavas and the Kauravas.
The two brothers Dhritarashtra and Pandu were born through sage Vyasa after the death of
Vichitravirya.
Dhritarashtra being blind, Pandu succeeded to the throne but he entrusted the kingdom to his elder
brother and himself proceeded to forest where his five sons Yudhishthira, etc., were born and were called
the "Pandavas." Dhritarashtra also had one hundred children in Duryodhana and others, who were
called the "Kauravas." Pandu died during the infancy of his sons and Dhritarashtra continued to rule the
kingdom with the help of their granduncle Bhishma, who had pledged himself to lifelong celibacy.
The Pandava and Kaurava princes were brought up together and also educated and trained alike
through Dronacharya. Both sets of princes considered themselves entitled to the kingdom and looked
upon the other with hostility and their feelings and relations grew strained from day to day. On account
of persecution by the Kauravas, the Pandavas left their home and suffered much hardship and pain, but
on their marriage with the daughter of Drupada, king Dhritarashtra sent for the Pandavas and made
over half the kingdom to them.

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Chapter 1 – Mahabharata in a Nutshell (2)
The Pandavas improved their country and established their capital at Indraprastha and then performed
the horse-sacrifice with great pomp. The Kauravas were also invited there but on seeing the good fortune
of the Pandavas and being offended by jokes made at them, they were overcome with jealousy and
resentment and returned home with feelings of enmity and revenge.
They then conspired against the Pandavas and invited them to gamble and thereby they won all their
wealth, kingdom and their person and also insulted and ill-treated their wife, Draupadi, in the presence
of all. In the end, it was settled that the Pandavas should go out in exile to the forest for twelve years
and pass another year in secrecy and on return from the exile be entitled to get back their lost kingdom.
The Pandavas did all this but on their return the Kauravas refused to return the kingdom. This gave rise
to the great battle of Kurikshetra between the Pandavas and the Kauravas.
The setting of the Gita is the scene of the great battle which brings the Kauravas and the Pandavas face
to face in the final trial of strength. Arjuna, the best archer of all, tell Krishna to lead the chariot to a
central point, between the two arrays of hostile forces. As he surveys the field he is overcome with
emotion; the absurdity of war dominates the mind. The answer that Krishna gives forms eighteen
chapters of the Gita. Free of doubt and firm in the mind, Arjuna enters the field and emerges
triumphant.

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Chapter 1 – Discussion: What is significance of Gita in today’s world?
Pandavas
OUTER BATTLEOUTER BATTLE
Kauravas
Battlefield
Krishna - Charioteer
Arjuna - Devotee
Game of Dice
Chariot
Reins/Horses
INNER BATTLEINNER BATTLE
Forces of Righteousness
Forces of Ignorance
Everyday challenges
Wisdom of the Self
Ordinary man – the Ego
Uncertainties in Life
Human Body
Mind/Senses

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Chapter 1 – Kurukshetra – Battle Scene

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Chapter 1 – Dhrtarastra’s Question (Verse 1)
O Sanjaya, What did the sons of Pandu and my people do when,
wishing to fight, they assembled together on the holy field of
Kurukshetra . (1.1)

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Chapter 1 – Battle scene description
Having seen the army of the Pandavas drawn up in battle array, King
Duryodhana then approached his teacher (Drona) and spoke these
words. (1.2)
Behold, O Teacher! this mighty army of the sons of Pandu, arrayed
by the son of Drupada, thy wise disciple. (1.3)
Here are heroes, mighty archers, equal in battle to Bhima and
Arjuna, Yuyudhana, Virata and Drupada, each commanding eleven-
thousand archers. (1.4)

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Chapter 1 – Battle scene description
His glorious grandsire (Bhishma) , the oldest of the Kauravas, in
order to cheer Duryodhana, now sounded aloud a lion's roar and
blew his conch. (1.12)
Then (following Bhishma) , conches and kettle-drums, tabors, drums
and cow-horns blared forth quite suddenly and the sound was
tremendous (1.13)
Then, also Madhava and the son of Pandu, seated in their
magnificent chariot yoked with white horses, blew their divine
conches (1.14)

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Chapter 1 – Battle scene description
Hrishikesha blew the Panchajanya and Dhananjaya (Arjuna) blew the
Devadatta and Vrikodara (Bhima) , the doer of terrible deeds, blew
the great conch, named Paundra. (1.15)
Then, seeing the people of Dhritarashtra's party standing arrayed
and the discharge of weapons about to begin, Arjuna, the son of
Pandu, whose ensign was a monkey, took up his bow and said these
words to Krishna (Hrishikesha) , O Lord of the Earth! (1.21)
In the midst of the two armies, place my chariot, O Achyuta, that I
may behold those who stand here desirous of fighting and, on the
eve of this battle, let me know with whom I must fight. (1.22-23)

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Chapter 1 – Battle scene description
Seeing these my kinsmen, O Krishna, arrayed, eager to fight. My
limbs fail and my mouth is parched, my body quivers and my hair
stands on end. (1.28,29)
The Gandiva-bow slips from my hand, and my skin burns all over; I
am also unable to stand and my mind is whirling round, as it were.
(1.30)

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Arjuna’s rationale for not fighting the war
• War causes destruction of family (1.39)War causes destruction of family (1.39)
• Destruction of the family causes the destruction of family cultures andDestruction of the family causes the destruction of family cultures and
values (1.40)values (1.40)
• Destruction of family cultures increases unrighteousness (1.40)Destruction of family cultures increases unrighteousness (1.40)
• Increase in unrighteousness causes impurity in women (1.41)Increase in unrighteousness causes impurity in women (1.41)
• Impurity in women causes admixture of castes (1.41)Impurity in women causes admixture of castes (1.41)
• Admixture of castes results in fall in family traditions – failure to offerAdmixture of castes results in fall in family traditions – failure to offer
food and water (1.42)food and water (1.42)
• Fall in family values destroys the community (1.43)Fall in family values destroys the community (1.43)
• Destruction of family values brings hell (1.44)Destruction of family values brings hell (1.44)

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Arjuna’s rationale for not fighting the war
WarWar
Destruction of familyDestruction of family
Destruction of family culture and valuesDestruction of family culture and values
Increases unrighteousnessIncreases unrighteousness
Impurity in womenImpurity in women
Admixture of castesAdmixture of castes
Fall in family traditionsFall in family traditions
Destroys communitiesDestroys communities
Leads us to hellLeads us to hell

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Exercise #1 – Debate on Arjuna’s Rationale
 Is Gita instigating ‘war’ and ‘violence’?
 Would Krishna’s response been any different if it was not the
‘battle scene’?
 Is there an ‘absolute’ truth or is everything relative to the context?

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Key Messages
 Look from multiple angles – context determines action
 Reactions to ‘stressful’ situations
 Turning excuses into resolutions and actions

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Key Messages of Chapter 1
 Contrast between ‘external’ battle and ‘internal’ battle
 Physical & Mental reactions when you are under ‘stress’
 Look from multiple angles – context determines action
 Practical Tips:
 How to face a stressful or difficult situation
• Escape
• Suffer
• Change (yourself not your surroundings)
 Turning excuses into resolutions