Sastras, Stotras, Sutras _ _

Life will always be a mix of the Good and the bad, the Divine and the evil. Choosing one over the other does not enrich. We need to complete and go beyond both!

Arjunaviṣāda Yogaḥ

dhṛtarāṣṭra uvāca dharmakṣetre kurukṣetre samavetā yuyutsavaḥ I māmakāḥ pāṇḍavāś caiva kim akurvata sañjaya II 1.1

1. 1 Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: O Sañjaya, assembled on this righteous holy land of pilgrimage at Kurukṣetra, what did my sons and those of Pāṇḍu, eager and ready to fight, do?

sañjaya uvāca dṛṣṭvā tu pāṇḍavānīkaṃ vyūḍhaṃ duryodhanas tadā I ācāryam upasaṅgamya rājā vacanam abravīt II 1.2

2. 2 Sañjaya said: O king, looking at the Pāṇḍava army in full formation, Duryodhana went to his teacher and spoke.

pasyai 'tāṃ pāṇḍuputrānām ācārya mahatīṃ camūm I vyūḍhām drupada putreṇa tava śiṣyeṇa dhīmatā II 1.3

3. 3 O my teacher, behold the great army of the sons of Pāṇḍu, arrayed for battle by your intelligent disciple, the son of Drupada

atra śūrā maheṣvāsā bhīmārjunasamā yudhi I yuyudhāno virāṭaś ca drupadaś ca mahā rathaḥ II 1.4

4. 4 Here in this army there are many heroes wielding mighty bows, and equal in military prowess to Bhīma and Arjuna– Yuyudhāna, Virāṭa, and the great chariot warrior Drupada.

dhṛśṭaketuś cekitānaḥ kāśirājaś ca vīryavān I purujit kuntibhojaś ca śaibyaś ca narapuṅgavaḥ II 1.5

5. 5 There are courageous warriors like Dṛṣṭaketu, Cekitāna, the couragious Kāśīrāja, Purujit, Kuntibhoja and Śaibya, the best of men.

yudhāmanyuś ca vikrānta uttamaujāś ca vīryavān I saubhadro draupadeyāś ca sarva eva mahārathāḥ II 1.6

6. 6 There are the mighty Yudhāmanyu, the brave Uttamauja, Abhimanyu, the son of Subhadrā and the sons of Draupadī, all of them great chariot warriors.

asmākaṃ tu viśiṣṭā ye tān nibodha dvijottama I nāyakā mama sainyasya saṃjñārthaṃ tān bravīmi te II 1.7

7. 7 O best of the brāhmaṇas, let me tell you, who are the powerful warriors on our side—the generals of my army; for your information, I mention them.

bhavān bhīṣmaś ca karṇaś ca kṛ paś ca samitiṃjayaḥ I aśvatthāmā vikarṇaś ca saumadattis tathai 'va ca II 1.8

8. 8 Your goodself, Bhīṣma, Karṇa, Kṛpa, who are ever victorious in battle, an even so Aśvatthāma, Vikarṇa and the son of Somadatta.

anye ca bahavaḥ śūrā mad arthe tyakta jīvitāḥ I nānā śastra praharaṇāḥ sarve yuddha viśāradāḥ II 1.9

9. 9 Many other heroes there are who are prepared to lay down their lives for my sake; all are well-equipped with different weapons, and well experienced in warfare science.

aparyāptaṃ tad asmākaṃ balaṃ bhīṣmābhi rakṣitam I paryāptaṃ tvidam eteṣāṃ balaṃ bhīmābhi rakṣitam II 1.10

10. 10 The strength of army of ours, protected by Bhīṣma, is invincible whereas the strength of their army carefully protected by Bhīma is limited.

ayaneṣu ca sarveṣu yathā bhāgam avasthitāḥ I bhīṣmam evā bhirakṣantu bhavantaḥ sarva eva hi II 1.11

11. 11 Stationed in your respective divisions on all fronts, all of you must give full protection to Bhīṣma.

tasya sañjanayan harṣaṃ kuru vṛddhaḥ pitāmahaḥ I siṃha nādaṃ vinadyoccaiḥ śaṇkhaṃ dadhmau pratāpavān II 1.12

12. 12 Then Bhīṣma, the mighty patriarch of the Kuru dynasty, their glorious grandfather, roared like a lion and blew his conch, giving Duryodhana joy.

tataḥśaṇkhāś ca bheryaś ca paṇavānaka gomukhāḥ I sahasaivābhyahanyanta sa śabdas tumulo 'bhavat II 1.13

13. 13 Then, conches, bugles, trumpets, drums and horns were all suddenly sounded, and the combined sound was tumultuous.

tataḥ śvetair hayair yukte mahati syandane sthitau I mādhavaḥ pāṇḍavaś caiva divyau śaṇkhau pradadhmatuḥ II 1.14

14. 14 Then, seated on a magnificent chariot drawn by white horses, both Mādhava (Kṛṣṇa) and Arjuna sounded their divine conches.

pāñcajanyaṃ hṛṣīkeśo devadattaṃ dhanañjayaḥ I pauṇḍraṃ dadhmau mahā śaṅkhaṃ bhīma karmā vṛkodaraḥ II 1.15

15. 15 Then, Hṛṣikeśa (Kṛṣṇa) blew His conch, called Pāñcajanya; Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) blew his conch, called Devadatta; and Bhīma blew his mighty conch called Pauṇḍra.

anantavijayaṃ rājā kuntī putro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ I nakulaḥ sahadevaś ca sughoṣa maṇipuṣpakau II 1.16

kāśyaś ca parameṣvāsaḥ śikhaṇḍī ca mahā rathaḥ I dhṛṣṭadyumno virāṭaś ca sātyakiś cāparājitaḥ II 1.17

drupado draupadeyāś ca sarvaśaḥ pṛthivī pate I saubhadraś ca mahābāhuh śaṅkhān dadhmuḥ pṛthak-pṛthak II 1.18

1. 16, 17, 18 King Yudhisṭra, the son of Kuntī, blew his conch, the Anantavijaya, and Nakula and Sahadeva blew theirs known as Sughośa and Maṇipuṣpaka. The excellent archer, the king of Kāśī, the great chariot-fighter Śikhaṇḍī, Dhṛṣṭadyumna, Virāṭa and the invincible Sātyaki, Drupada, the sons of Draupadī , and the mighty-armed Abhimanyu, son of Subhadrā, all of them, O king, blew their own conches.

sa ghoṣo dhārtarāṣṭrāṇāṃ hṛdayāni vyadārayat I nabhaś ca pṛthivīṃ caiva tumulo vyanunādayan II 1.19

1. 19 The terrible sound echoing through the sky and the earth rent the hearts of the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra.

atha vyavasthitān dṛṣṭvā dhārtarāṣṭrān kapidhvajaḥ I pravṛtte śastrasaṃpāte dhanur udyamya pāṇḍavaḥ I hṛṣīkeśaṃ tadā vākyam idam āha mahīpate II 1.20

1. 20 Seeing the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra arrayed in the battle field, Arjuna, the son of Pāṇḍu, who was seated in his chariot, bearing the flag marked with Hanumān, took up his bow.

arjuna uvāca senayor ubhayor madhye rathaṃ sthāpaya me 'cyuta I yāvad etān nirīkṣe 'haṃ yoddhu kāmān avasthitān II 1.21 kair mayā saha yoddhavyam asmin raṇasamudyame II 1.22

2. 21, 22 Arjuna said: O Acyuta (Infallible One), please place my chariot between the two armies while I may observe these warriors arrayed for battle and with whom I have to engage in fight.

yotsyamānān avekṣe 'haṃ ya ete 'tra samāgatāḥ I dhārtarāṣṭrasya durbuddher yuddhe priyacikīrṣavaḥ II 1.23

1. 23 Let me see these well wishers in this war of the evil-minded Duryodhana, who have come together here to fight.

sañjaya uvāca

evam ukto hṛṣīkeśo guḍākeśena bhārata I senayor ubhayor madhye sthāpayitvā rathottamam II 1.24 bhīṣma droṇa pramukhataḥ sarveṣāṃ ca mahīkṣitām I uvāca pārtha paśyaitān samavetānkurūniti II 1.25

2. 24, 25 Sañjaya said: O descendant of Bhārata, being thus addressed by Guḍākeśa (Arjuna), Hṛṣīkeśa (Kṛṣṇa) then drew up the fine chariot to the middle of both the armies in front of Bhīṣma, Droṇa and all the kings and said, 'Arjuna, behold the Kauravas assembled here.'

tatrā paśyat sthitān pārthaḥ pitṛ-n atha pitāmahān I ācāryān mātulān bhrātṛ-n putrān pautrān sakhīṃs tathā I śvaśurān suhṛdaś caiva senayorubhayorapi II 1.26

1. 26 There Arjuna saw, stationed there in both the armies his uncles, grand uncles, teachers, maternal uncles, brothers, sons, grandsons, and friends, as well as his fathers-in-law and well-wishers.

tān samīkṣya sa kaunteyaḥ sarvān bandhūn avasthitān I kṛpayā parayā 'viṣṭo viṣīdann idam abravīt II 1.27

1. 27 Seeing all those relatives present there, Arjuna was overwhelmed with deep pity and spoke in sadness.

arjuna uvāca

dṛṣṭvemaṃ svajanaṃ kṛṣṇa yuyutsuṃ samupasthitam I sīdanti mama gātrāṇi mukhaṃ ca pariśuṣyati II 1.28

vepathuś ca śarīre me romaharṣaś ca jāyate I gāṇḍīvaṃ sraṃsate hastāt tvak caiva paridahyate II 1.29

2. 28, 29 Arjuna said: Kṛṣṇa, seeing my friends and relatives present before me, eager to wage war, my limbs are giving way, my mouth is parching and a shiver is running through my body, my hair is standing on end.

na ca śaknomy avasthātuṃ bhramatīva ca me manaḥ I nimittāni ca paśyāmi viparī tāni keśava II 1.30

1. 30 My bow gāṇḍīva is slipping from my hands and my skin is burning all over. My mind is whirling as it were, and I am now unable to stand here any longer.

na ca śreyo 'nupaśyāmi hatvā svajanam āhave I na kāṅkṣe vijayaṃ kṛṣṇa na ca rājyaṃ sukhāni ca II 1.31

1. 31 I foresee only evil omens, O Kṛṣṇa, I do not see any good coming out of killing one's own kinsmen [svajanam] in this battle. I do not covet my dear Kṛṣṇa, victory or kingdom or pleasures.

kiṃ no rājyena govinda kiṃ bhogair jīvitena vā I yeṣām arthe kāṅkṣitaṃ no rājyaṃ bhogāḥ sukhāni ca II 1.32

ta ime 'vasthitā yuddhe prāṇāṃs tyaktvā dhanāni ca I ācāryāḥ pitaraḥ putrāḥ tathaiva ca pitāmahāḥ II 1.33

mātulāḥ śvaśurāḥ pautrāḥ śyālāḥ saṃbandhinas tathā I etān na hantum icchāmi ghnato 'pi madhusūdana II 1.34

api trailokyarājyasya hetoḥ kiṃ nu mahīkṛ te I nihatya dhārtarāṣṭrān naḥ kā prī tiḥ syāj janārdana II 1.35

2. 32—1.36 Of what use will kingdom or happiness or even life be to us? For whose sake we desire this kingdom, enjoyment and happiness, they stand in battle staking their lives

and property. Teachers, fathers, sons as well as grandfathers, maternal uncles, fathers-inlaw, grandsons, brothers-in-law and other relatives. Madhusūdana (Kṛṣṇa), even if I am killed (by them) I do not want to kill these ones even to gain control of all three worlds, much less for the earthly lordship. What pleasure will we get by destroying the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Janārdana? Only sin will overcome us if we slay these wrong doers.

pāpam evāśrayed asmān hatvaitān ātatāyinaḥ I tasmān nārhā vayaṃ hantuṃ dhārtarāṣṭrān svabāndhavān I svajanaṃ hi kathaṃ hatvā sukhinaḥ syāma mādhava II 1.37

1. 37 Therefore, it is not proper for us to kill the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra and our relations, for how could we be happy after killing our own kinsmen, Mādhava?

yadyapyete na paśyanti lobhopahata cetasaḥ I kulakṣayakṛtaṃ doṣaṃ mitradrohe ca pātakam II 1.38

1. 38 O Janārdana, these men, blinded by greed, see no fault in killing one's family or being treasonable to friends, incur sin.

kathaṃ na jñeyam asmābhiḥ pāpād asmān nivartitum I kulakṣaya kṛ taṃ doṣaṃ prapaśyadbhir janārdana II 1.39

1. 39 Why should we, who clearly see the sin in the destruction of a dynasty, not turn away from this crime?

kulakṣaye praṇaśyanti kuladharmāḥ sanātanāḥ I dharme naṣṭe kulaṃ kṛ tsnam adharmo 'bhibhavatyuta II 1.40

1. 40 With the destruction of the dynasty, the age-old family traditions die and virtue having been lost, vice overtakes the entire race.

adharmābhibhavāt kṛṣṇa praduṣyanti kula striyaḥ I strīṣu duṣṭāsu vārṣṇeya jāyate varṇasaṃkaraḥ II 1.41

1. 41 When non-righteous practices become common, O Kṛṣṇa, the women of the family become corrupt, and with the degradation of womanhood, O Descendant of Vṛṣṇi, ensues intermixture of castes.

saṃkaro narakāyaiva kulaghnānāṃ kulasya ca I patanti pitaro hyeṣāṃ lupta piṇḍodaka kriyāḥ II 1.42

doṣair etaiḥ kulaghnānāṃ v arṇa saṃkarakārakaiḥ I utsādyante jātidharmāḥ kuladharmāś ca śāśvatāḥ II 1.43

2. 42, 43 A mixture of blood damns the destroyers of race and the race itself. Deprived of offering of oblations of rice and water the departed souls of the race also fall, the age-long caste traditions and family customs of the killers of kinmen become extinct.

utsannakula dharmāṇāṃ manuṣyāṇāṃ janārdana I narake 'niyataṃ vāso bhavatītyanuśuśruma II 1.44

1. 44 O Janārdana, we hear that those who have lost family traditions dwell in hell for an indefinite period of time.

aho bata mahat pāpaṃ kartuṃ vyavasitā vayaṃ I yad rājya sukha lobhena hantuṃ svajanam udyatāḥ II 1.45

1. 45 Alas, we are prepared to commit greatly sinful acts of killing our kinsmen, driven by the desire to enjoy royal happiness.

yadi mām apratīkāram aśastraṃ śastrapāṇayaḥ I dhārtarāṣṭrā raṇe hanyuḥ tan me kṣemataraṃ bhavet II 1.46

1. 46 It would be better if the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, armed with weapons, killed me in battle while I am unarmed and unresisting.

sañjaya uvāca

evam uktvārjunaḥ saṃkhye rathopastha upāviśat I visṛ jya saśaraṃ cāpaṃ śokasaṃvignamānasaḥ II 1.47

1. 47 Sañjaya said: Arjuna, whose mind was agitated by grief on the battle field, having spoken thus, cast aside his bow along with the arrow and sat down at the rear portion of the chariot.

iti śrī mad bhagavadgītāsūpaniṣatsu brahmavidyāyām yogaśāstre śrīkṛṣṇārjuna saṃvāde arjuna visāda yogo nāma prathamo 'dhyāyaḥ II

In the Upaniṣad of Śrimad Bhagavad Gītā, the scripture of yoga dealing with Brahmavidyā Yogaśāstra, the science of Brahman, in the form of Śrī Kṛṣṇārjuna saṁvād, dialogue between Śrī Kṛṣṇa-Arjuna, this is the first chapter named, Arjunaviṣāda Yogaḥ**,** 'The Yoga of Arjuna's Dilemma.'

Śrimad Bhagavad Gītā is the ultimate spiritual book that has penetrated human consciousness so deeply. No other book has prepared so many Enlightened Beings on Planet Earth. Gītā is directly from Bhagavān, God Himself, Pūrṇāvatār – the perfect, complete Incarnation, Śrī Kṛṣṇa.

Spiritual literature can be classified into three categories: Śāstras, Śtotras, Sūtras.

Śāstras give us clarity about the goal of human life and the Truth of man and God. Śāstras are the scriptures that guide us to have the right cognitions of life. Stotra is the expression of one who had the glimpse of divine love. When such a person expresses his joy, the expression is stotras. Śāstras give us intellectual understanding, stotras give emotional feeling connection, sūtras give the being level experience. Our cognition is not complete cognition till the śāstras of integrity, authenticity, responsibility and enriching become the basis of our cognition.

Learning śāstras means bringing integrity and authenticity to our mind. Going around and practicing śāstras is living authenticity and being responsible. Being in integrity with the Master or God is feeling connection and being enriched with Enlightenment.

Bhagavad Gītā is the only book that is a combination of śāstras, stotras and sūtras, and something more! Gītā is śāstra; it gives a clear intellectual understanding about life, death, soul, about the 'great why of life' as well as the 'what of life.'