Sunday, March 17, 2013

106 - Bhagvat Gita Chapter 1.14


Ram Ram, Namaste, Hare Krishna, Namaskaaram, Sai Ram, Bula, Salaam, Sat Shri Akaal, Hari Bol ! 

Guru Jan Ko Sadar Pranaam !! 


Bhagvad Gita 1.14

तत: श्वेतैर्हयैर्युक्ते महति स्य्नदने स्थितौ।
माधव: पाण्डवश्चैव दिव्यौ शंखौ  प्रदध्मतु :।।14।।

तत: - उसके बाद (After that); श्वेतै: - सफ़ेद (white, pure); हयै: - घोड़ोसे (horses)युक्ते - युक्त (with);महति - महान (great); स्य्नदने - रथ पर  (on the chariot)स्थितौ - बैठे हुवे (sitting); माधव: - लक्ष्मीपति भगवान श्रीकृष्ण (Shri Krishna);   - और (and); पाण्डव: - पांडु पुत्र अर्जुन (Arjun); एव - भी (also, as well); दिव्यौ - दिव्य (heavenly); शंखौ  - शंखो को (Conch shell); प्रदध्मतु : - बड़े जोरसे बजाया (blew it with great gusto).

After the poilitical speech (in the form of Shankh Dhwani) was completed by the evil Duryodhan’s army, the “virtuous” army of the Pandavas led by God Himself, accompanied by Arjun, riding on the majestic and heavenly chariot, drawn by divine looking white horses, blew their respective holy conches with immense passion and enthusiasm. This is to encourage and incite the people of the world to awaken the good inside them. Making a plea to the people to join the morally correct people and help eradicate or subside the evil within us and within our surrounds.
The Shankh is Divye (heavenly) or Alowkik (अलौकिक), which means not from any of the three loks (Mrityulok, Devlok or Brahmalok).
We have “Shankh Alowkik”, “Rath Alowkik”, God himself Alowkik – therefore the proclamation made by sounding the shankh is also Alowkik.
White signifies purity of heart, cleanliness of mind and freedom from fear. Only a person with such qualities will be able to lead us on the correct path.
SEARCH FOR TRUTH – NOT FAME !
Until next time....
Muskuraate Raho !
These are my personal notes and any anomalies in these attempted translations are not meant to confuse you, but an indication of a lack of knowledge on my part.
Please correct and use as you may see appropriate.

105 - Bhagvat Gita Chapter 1.13


Ram Ram, Namaste, Hare Krishna, Namaskaaram, Sai Ram, Bula, Salaam, Sat Shri Akaal, Hari Bol ! 

Guru Jan Ko Sadar Pranaam !! 

Bhagvad Gita 1.13

ततः शंखाश्च भेर्यश्च पंवान्कगोमुखा: 
सहसैवाभ्यहन्यन्त स शब्द्स्तुमुलो अभवत ।।१३।।

Tatah Shankhaashch Bheryashch Panwaankagomukhaah
Sahsaywaabhyahanyant sa Shabdstumulo abhawat

ततः (Tatah ) - उस के बाद (after that); शंखः (Shankhaah) – Conch shell;  (Cha) – और (and or also); भेर्यः(Bheryah) - भेरी (नगाड़े) – like a bugle; ;  (Cha) – तथा (and or also); पंवान्कगोमुखा:(Panwaankagomukhaah) – ढोल, मृदंग और नरसिंघे बाजे – many types of drums; सहसा (Sahsa) -एक साथ (all together); एव – हीअभ्यहन्यन्त (abhyahanyant) - बज उठे (made noises); स: - वह(that); शब्दः (Shabds) – शब्द (noise); तुमुलः (tumulo) - बड़ा भयंकर (extremely noisy); अभवत(abhawat) – हुआ (happened).

पितामह  भीष्म  ने  सिंघनाद  नामक  शंख  बजायाजो  घोषित  किया  की  इस  युद्ध  को  जीतने  के  बाद  हम  आप  को  भय  और  भ्रम  ही  प्रदान  करेंगे .
उन  के  बाद  कौरोवों की  और  से  कोई  विशेष  शंख  या  घोषणा  नहीं  हवी. एक  साथ  अनेक  ढोल,बाजेनागाड़े बजाय  गए. इन  सब  कि  आवाज़  या  ध्वनि  अति  भयंकर  और  डरावनी  थी. हमारे  अंदर  अगर  बुरे  ख़याल  और  कामक्रोधलोभमोह  आदि  विकारों  का  विजय  होगाबढ़ावा  होगा  तो  हम  भी  भयभ्रम  और  दुःख  कि  प्राप्ति  करेंगे .

Pitamah Bhishma ne Singhnaad naamak shankh bajaaya, jo ghoshit kiya ki is yudh ko jeetne ke baad hum aap ko bhay aur bhram hi pradaan karenge.
Un ke baad Kauroyon ki or se koi vishesh shankh ya ghoshna nahi huwi. Ek saath anek dhol, baaje, naagaade bajaay gaye. In sab ka awaaz ya dhwani ati bhayankar aur daraoni thi. Hamaare ander agar bure khayaal aur Kaam, Krodh, Lobh, Moh aadi vikaaron ka vijay hoga, badhaawa hoga to hum bhi bhay, bhram aur dukh ki praapti karenge.

Mahabharat is a continuous fight between good and evil – In our own minds, in our families, in our neighbourhoods, community etc. Only great knowledge will permit you to differentiate between good and evil. If you don’t have the right knowledge, do your best to find someone who does. Pandavas sought the knowledge and experience of Mahaguru and eventually defeated the extremely evil and powerful army. Be careful of imitation – choose your gyandata carefully. It is better to have less knowledge than the wrong knowledge.

Until next time....
Muskuraate Raho !
These are my personal notes and any anomalies in these attempted translations are not meant to confuse you, but an indication of a lack of knowledge on my part.
Please correct and use as you may see appropriate.

104 - Bhagvat Gita Chapter 1 Shlok 12B


Ram Ram, Namaste, Hare Krishna, Namaskaaram, Sai Ram, Bula, Salaam, Sat Shri Akaal, Hari Bol ! 

Guru Jan Ko Sadar Pranaam !! 

Bhagvad Gita 1.12B

What does Shankh Dhwani (sound of the conch shell) mean ?
What does Singhnaad mean and signify ?

This chapter is pretty significant as we see the various political parties forming, or reforming, in preparation for the elections in Fiji next year.

The two mighty armies are facing each other in the battlefield of Kuru Kshetra. One after another, the great and valiant warriors start to blow their respective conches producing huge Shankh Dhwani – sound or speech.

Shankh Dhwani is the equivalent of the political speeches of the various contestants. Just like the speeches of our modern day political leaders, each of the brave and noble warriors blow their Shankh (Conch Shell). Each Shankh has a name and the meanings of the names will determine what each one is promising, should their party win.

Pitamah Bhishma’s shankh is called Singhnaad. Singh means lion and naad means roar. So Singhnaad means roar of the lion. If we’re in a jungle, whether alone or in a group, and we hear the roar of a lion, our heartbeat will increase rapidly, sweat starts to form and hairs stand on all parts of the body. We feel fear even though the lion may be several kilometres away.
Lion signifies fear. Pitamah Bhishm signifies, among many things, bhram – delusion, confusion, fantasy, disbelief.  He chose to stand in opposition to Sri Krishna.
By blowing his conch named Singhnaad, Bishma is promising fear (bhay) and confusion (bhram) - should his army (party) win.

Bhishma kahta hay ki agar may jeetunga to aap ko aur bhi gahri bhay aur bhram mein fasa loonga.

Prabhu to abhay pradaan karta hay. Prabhu is knowledge. He is the light that allows us to differentiate between good and evil. Know why we do what we do. Don’t just do it for the sake of doing it. Knowledge is power, knowledge is freedom.


Very early in the Bhagvat Gita, and very early in our life, we have to choose which side do we want to be on, what kind of a person we want to be, what sort of life do we want to lead – full of fear or free of fear !
Until next time....
Muskuraate Raho !
These are my personal notes and any anomalies in these attempted translations are not meant to confuse you, but an indication of a lack of knowledge on my part.
Please correct and use as you may see appropriate.

103 - Bhagvat Gita Chapter 1 Shlok 12A


Ram Ram, Namaste, Hare Krishna, Namaskaaram, Sai Ram, Bula, Salaam, Sat Shri Akaal, Hari Bol ! 

Guru Jan Ko Sadar Pranaam !! 
Bhagvad Gita 1.12 A


तस्य संजनयन हर्षम कुरु वृद्धः पितामहः।
सिंह  नादं विनद्योच्चै: शंखं दध्मौ प्रतापवान।।

तस्य = उस (दुर्योधन) केहर्षं = (ह्रदयमें ) हर्षसंजनयन = उत्पन्न करते हुवेकुरु वृद्धः = कुरु खानदान में सब से बड़ेप्रतापवान = प्रभावशालीपितामहः = पितामह भीष्म नेसिंघनाद = सिंह के गरज के सामानविंद्य = गरज करउच्चैह = जोर सेशंखं = शंख कोदध्मौ = बजाया।

Tasya Sanjanyan Harsham Kuru Vriddhah Pitamaha.
Singha Naadam Vinadyochchaiha Shankham Dadhmau Prataapvaan.

Before we discuss Shlok 1.12, let us attempt to summarise the story so far.

The valiant, powerful and extremely skillful warrior, Duryodhan, who has so far lived a very carefree and worry free life as a prince, is now faced with war and possible death.

When we are surrounded by opponents bearing guns, spears or knives and our lives are in danger, somehow and from somewhere, the thought of the Almighty God, penetrates our thoughts. Before that we may seem invincible, protected by our immense wealth, power, beauty, etc. – the falsehoods of materialism.

In this moment of truth, faced against the mighty Pandava’s army, Duryodhan recognises Sri Krishna as God. He knows he cannot defeat Him (1.10). His confidence and self-belief starts to waver. His only chance is cowering behind the might and power of Pitamah Bhishma. In 1.11 he orders his generals to protect the Commander-in-Chief, Pitamah Bhishma, at all cost.

Like any skilful leader and king, he sounds optimistic and talks up his chances. Ravan does the same to his army when faced against the mighty monkey army of Sri Ram.
Guru Dron recognises the fear and distress in Duryodhan’s speech to the Generals. He keeps quiet because he is the Guru and their relationship is based on gyan.
Pitamah Bhishma also recognises the pain and anguish is Duryodhan’s discourse. Being the grandfather of the clan he is not able to keep quiet. His relationship is based on love and affection. To uplift Duryodhan’s (and his army’s) morale Pitamah blows his conch shell (Shankh) called Singhnaad.

What does Shankh Dhwani (sound of the conch shell) mean ?
What does Singhnaad mean and signify ?

We have heard the Shankh Dhwani at various Katha and Hawan functions – we will try and see what that means !
Until next time....
Muskuraate Raho !
These are my personal notes and any anomalies in these attempted translations are not meant to confuse you, but an indication of a lack of knowledge on my part.
Please correct and use as you may see appropriate.