Ch.2: Communion through Knowledge
Listen to the Sanskrit Verses
Arjuna’s lamentation continues in verses 1 to 10. The lamentation and confusion continue despite Krishna’s few strong words to rouse him. Finally he surrenders to the feet of the lord and becomes a disciple.
In verses 17 - 25 the Lord explains the Nature of Soul and Body. The Lord says that birth and death are only of the body and not of the aatman.h or soul. The body in relation to the soul is only like a cloth which one puts on and throws away when it becomes old. All the stages like boyhood, youth and old age are only passing stages of the body. The body is perishable while the soul cannot be destroyed and a wise man understands this.
In verses 26 - 39 the Duties of a Kshatriya are explained. The lord says that a Kshatriya welcomes Righteous war because it opens the doors to heaven. He says that there cannot be any loss in war for a Kshatriya because if he wins and lives, he gets all earthly joys, and even if he dies, he gets the pleasures of heaven. On the other hand, if he refuses to fight, he will lose his reputation and be called a coward.
Verses 40 - 53 tell about Karma yoga. In these verses the Lord says how a person must act in this world. He says that actions must be done without an eye on the fruits of action. As long as persons are motivated by selfish gains in this world, they become attached to the worldly objects, while all actions that are performed without desires and dedicated to God lead a person to spirituality.
In verses 54 - 68, a stitapraGYa or a man of steady wisdom is defined as one who has abandoned all his desires, remains unperturbed by sorrow and happiness, who is free from passion, anger and greed. He withdraws all his senses from their objects like a tortoise withdrawing into a shell.
dhyaayato vishayaan.h puMsaH saN^gasteshupajaayate
sangaat.h saMjaayate kaamaH kaamat.h krodhobhi jaayate
krodhadbhavati sammohaH sammohat.h smrtivibhramaH
smrtibhramsad.h buddhinaasho buddinasat.h pranashyati
Dwelling in sense objects a person develops attachment, which then leads to desire, anger, infatuation, confusion of memory, loss of reason, finally ruin. Control of senses leads to spiritual advancement while lack of it causes ruin. True happiness therefore comes from sense control and not sense indulgence.
