Summarized by Narayan Vishnubhotla:
We recapped the previously discussed shlokas – Chapter 1: Ver 12, 13, 14
Objective Analysis:
Up until now, Duryodhana was desperately attempting to boost the egos of the great warriors and
family patriarchs who have decided to side with him, either due to loyalty or due to compulsions, in the kurukshetra war.
But the very words that meant to boost the confidence was leading to despair among the assembled
warriors. Duryodhana began to sound defensive and was descending into a state of confusion.
Bhisma, sensing the despair, decided to jolt everyone from this state by blowing his war conch. For he knew that, if left alone, each of them would plunge more deep into despair and would eventually
become ineffective.
Subjective Analysis:
We could correlate the state of the warriors with our battle with tendencies. If let unhinged, we easily
get preoccupied with these tendencies and have a constant struggle in satisfying them. We are
compelled to act upon them. This preoccupation would eventually make us unproductive.
Bhisma’s action of blowing the conch can be correlated with our need for deep silence. We need to
silence the tendencies to limit the frequency of its occurrence and the resulting preoccupation. We need to bring out the absolute deep silence.
We continued our discussion by reviewing the verses 15, 16, 17, 18
Objective Analysis:
In these verses, Sanjaya continued to portray the environment that was slowly building up tension.
Krisna and Pandavas, one after the other started blowing their superior conches to let everyone know
that they are ready for the war. Sanjaya was very meticulously mentioning the names of each conch to emphasis pandava’s might.
Hrisikesa (Krisna) blew Pancajayana
Dananjaya (Arjuna) blew Devadatta
Vrkrodara(Bhima) blew Paundra
Yudhisthira blew Anantavijaya
Nakula blew Sugosa
Sahadeva blew manipuspaka
Sanjaya continued to describe a few of other great warriors who aligned with pandavas.
Subjective Analysis:
Sounds from the conches of pandavas can be correlated to mix of five elements
Sahadeva: Smell – Earth
Nakula: Taste – Water
Arjuna: Sight – Fire
Bhima: Touch – Air
Yudhistira: Hearing – Sky
Krisna’s conch sound is the absolute harmony of the elements.
Verses: 19, 20, 21, 22, 23
Objective Analysis:
Up until now, through Sanjaya, Vyasa has set the stage for what is about to come. Sounds emanating
from conch’s of the great warriors sent tremble across. From this point on the main part of Bhagwat
Gita is about to begin.
Sanjaya continued to describe the might of Pandava’s maharathis and saradhis in the hope that
Dhrutharashtra realizes that his sons are no match to this might.
As in the modern days, there were markings that distinguished accomplished warriors from ordinary
soldiers. Chariots of these hero’s had flags with images to distinguish them. Arjuna had Kapi (Hanuman) on his flag.
Now that armies on both sides are ready in their war formations, Arjuna asks Krisna to take him to a position from where he could review the enemy lines.
Subjective Analysis:
Vyasa’s description of each persona was to subtly indicate the state of the mind. For example, Kapi on Arjuna’s chariot flag can be correlated to state of Arjuna’s mind.
Just as kapi, our mind keeps wandering in many directions. This wandering compels us to act on these thoughts. Sometimes these actions give us satisfaction, but most times it leads to unhappiness if
desired outcomes are not realized.
This is where consciousness helps. Just as sound from krisna’s conch is considered absolute harmony,
consciousness helps you to control the kapi (wanderings).
Meditation helps mind to take a witness role to observe the thoughts and not to act on each one of
them or to be overcome by them.
We recapped the previously discussed shlokas – Chapter 1: Ver 12, 13, 14
Objective Analysis:
Up until now, Duryodhana was desperately attempting to boost the egos of the great warriors and
family patriarchs who have decided to side with him, either due to loyalty or due to compulsions, in the kurukshetra war.
But the very words that meant to boost the confidence was leading to despair among the assembled
warriors. Duryodhana began to sound defensive and was descending into a state of confusion.
Bhisma, sensing the despair, decided to jolt everyone from this state by blowing his war conch. For he knew that, if left alone, each of them would plunge more deep into despair and would eventually
become ineffective.
Subjective Analysis:
We could correlate the state of the warriors with our battle with tendencies. If let unhinged, we easily
get preoccupied with these tendencies and have a constant struggle in satisfying them. We are
compelled to act upon them. This preoccupation would eventually make us unproductive.
Bhisma’s action of blowing the conch can be correlated with our need for deep silence. We need to
silence the tendencies to limit the frequency of its occurrence and the resulting preoccupation. We need to bring out the absolute deep silence.
We continued our discussion by reviewing the verses 15, 16, 17, 18
Objective Analysis:
In these verses, Sanjaya continued to portray the environment that was slowly building up tension.
Krisna and Pandavas, one after the other started blowing their superior conches to let everyone know
that they are ready for the war. Sanjaya was very meticulously mentioning the names of each conch to emphasis pandava’s might.
Hrisikesa (Krisna) blew Pancajayana
Dananjaya (Arjuna) blew Devadatta
Vrkrodara(Bhima) blew Paundra
Yudhisthira blew Anantavijaya
Nakula blew Sugosa
Sahadeva blew manipuspaka
Sanjaya continued to describe a few of other great warriors who aligned with pandavas.
Subjective Analysis:
Sounds from the conches of pandavas can be correlated to mix of five elements
Sahadeva: Smell – Earth
Nakula: Taste – Water
Arjuna: Sight – Fire
Bhima: Touch – Air
Yudhistira: Hearing – Sky
Krisna’s conch sound is the absolute harmony of the elements.
Verses: 19, 20, 21, 22, 23
Objective Analysis:
Up until now, through Sanjaya, Vyasa has set the stage for what is about to come. Sounds emanating
from conch’s of the great warriors sent tremble across. From this point on the main part of Bhagwat
Gita is about to begin.
Sanjaya continued to describe the might of Pandava’s maharathis and saradhis in the hope that
Dhrutharashtra realizes that his sons are no match to this might.
As in the modern days, there were markings that distinguished accomplished warriors from ordinary
soldiers. Chariots of these hero’s had flags with images to distinguish them. Arjuna had Kapi (Hanuman) on his flag.
Now that armies on both sides are ready in their war formations, Arjuna asks Krisna to take him to a position from where he could review the enemy lines.
Subjective Analysis:
Vyasa’s description of each persona was to subtly indicate the state of the mind. For example, Kapi on Arjuna’s chariot flag can be correlated to state of Arjuna’s mind.
Just as kapi, our mind keeps wandering in many directions. This wandering compels us to act on these thoughts. Sometimes these actions give us satisfaction, but most times it leads to unhappiness if
desired outcomes are not realized.
This is where consciousness helps. Just as sound from krisna’s conch is considered absolute harmony,
consciousness helps you to control the kapi (wanderings).
Meditation helps mind to take a witness role to observe the thoughts and not to act on each one of
them or to be overcome by them.
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