20 values from srimad bhagavd gita

Sri Gurubyo Namaha

The Twenty Values from Srimad BhagavadGita

By:V.Prabhakar Rao

SingaporeMay 2009

The Twenty Values from SrimadBhagavad Gita

Since a long time I have been fascinated by the Twenty Values that Lord prescribes in Ch.13 of Srimad Bhagavad Gita, The KshethraKshethragna Yoga. He goes onto categorically declaring them as “Gnanam” (“Yethath gnanamithi proktham”) and that anything

which differs from these as “Agnanam” (“agnanam yathathoanyatha”).

The values by themselves are very profound. More fascinatingly, the way Lord has listed them in the slokas 8 to 12 (or 7 to 11 in

some books) gives one the strong conviction that these values evolve from one tier to the next.


The first eight values contained in sloka 8 (amanithvam, adambhithvam, ahimsa, kshanthi, aarjavam,

acharyopasanam, soucham & sthairyam) are focused on one’s conduct and seem to form the very foundation of this

evolution.

Amanithvam adambhithvam ahimsa kshanthirarjavam lAcharyopasanam soucham sthairyam athmavinigraha: ll

- (BG-13:8)


The next seven values contained partly in sloka 8 and in slokas 9 & 10 (athma vinigraha, indriyartheshu vairagyam, anahankara,

janma mruthyu jara vyadhi dhukka dhosha anudarsanam, puthratharagruhadhishu asakthi, anabishvanga & ishta anishta

upapaththishu nithyam samachiththathvam) seem to be pertaining to attaining control over one’s mind (attitude) and state of being. Lord Krishna perhaps is indicating that the first eight values will

lead one to the next seven.

Indriyarththeshu vairagyam anahankara yeva cha lJanma mrithyu jara vyadhi dhukkha dhoshanu darsanam ll - (BG-13:9)

Asakthi: anabhishvanga: puthratharagruhadhishu lNithyam cha samachiththathvam ishtanishtopa paththishu ll - (BG-13:10)


Let us look at the next three values. These values prescribed in sloka 11 (mayi ananya yogena bhakthiavyabicharini, viviktha desa sevithvam & arathir

janasamsathi) imply a transformation in the sadhaka’spersonality. One can safely assume that Lord holds our hand and leads us through the first 8 values related to one’s conduct, the next seven values related to one’s

attitude ..... leading us to a major transformation through the next three values.

Mayicha ananyayogena bhakthi: avyabhicharini lViviktha desa sevithvam arathir janasamsathi ll

- (BG-13:11)


The final two values mentioned in sloka 12 (adhyathmagnana nithyathvam & thathva gnana artha darsanam) , the very pinnacle of a properly led human life, which can

be said to be the final stage of evolution.

Adhyathma gnana nithyathvam thathvagnanartha darsanam lYethath gnanamithi proktham agnanam yathathonyatha ll

- (BG-13:12)


First Eight Values (amanithvam, adambhithvam, ahimsa, kshanthi, aarjavam,

acharyopasanam, soucham & sthairyam

Next Seven Values (athma vinigraha, indriyartheshu vairagyam, anahankara, janma

mruthyu jara vyadhi dhukka dhosha anudarsanam, puthratharagruhadhishu asakthi, anabishvanga & ishta anishta

upapadhdhishu nithyam samachiththathvam)

Next Three Values (mayi ananya yogena bhakthi avyabicharini, viviktha desa

sevithvam & arathir janasamsathi)

The Pinnacle Two

(adhyathma gnana nithyathvam& thathva gnana artha darsanam)

Conduct

Attitude

Transformation

Pinnacle


It is my humble intention to write about each of these values in the following slides.

Sri Gurubyo Namaha


With a pranam to Guru Sri Raghavendra Rayaru let me start this compilation. I will be referring to his work “Geethartha Sangraha” while

preparing this presentation.

“Amanithvam”Meaning: Humility

Can there be a better example than Sri Anjaneya!

After searching and locating the Divine Mother Sri Sitadevi in Lanka, when he came back to report to Sri Rama along with the Choodamani, he stood along with all the vanaras who accompanied him upto the Mahendra Parvatham (and no more) and said “We did it” .... thus sharing the credit with all of them.

“Adhambithvam”Meaning: Modesty, Quiet Performance

Sri Bhimasena, the quiet but steadfast bhaktha of Lord Sri Krishna, is perhaps the best example for this value.

Arjuna thinking no one can be performing puja to Krishna with more dedication than him, asks for confirmation from Lord Krishna Himself. Krishna points out the superior puja being performed by Bhimasena ..... without any outward sign of it and with intense dedication.

“Ahimsa”Meaning: Non-violence, Not hurting any being

Ahimsa refers to that value which does not hurt any being both physically, emotionally & psychologically. Note that the sloka from “Pancharatra” which describes the eight bhavapushpamswith which one can do manaseeka puja to God,begins withAhimsa as the first pushpam.

Not hurting anyone through spoken/written words is a very important aspect of Ahimsa. In the famous Tamil literature “Thirukkural” Thiruvalluvar says “தீயினாற்சுட்டபுண்உள்ளாறும்ஆறாேதநாவினாற்சுட்டவடு” meaning even physical wounds will vanish over time but not the wounds caused by the lashing of the tongue.

ahimsA prathamam pushpam pushpam indriya-nigraha: sarva-bhUta-dayA pushpamkshamA pushpam viSeshata: |

jnAnam pushpam tapa: pushpam dhyAnam pushpam tathaiva cha satyam ashtavidhampushpam vishno: prItikaram bhavet ||

- From “Pancharatra”

“Kshanthi”Meaning: Forgiveness

Lord Rama forgave even Kaikeyi

“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong” – Mahathma Gandhi

“Arjavam”Meaning: Honesty

Harischandra having lost his kingdom and all the wealth, parting with his only son in an auction

No one personified “honesty” more than King Harischandra

Arjavam is complete alignment of Thoughts, Words & Actions

“Acharyaupasanam”Meaning: Service of Gnanis, Gurus, Acharyas & Elders

Sabhari’s was the hallmark of service to Guru

Her selfless dedication to her Guru (Sri Mathanga Rishi) brought Lord Rama to her door steps

“Soucham”Meaning: Purity (Internal & external)

Soucham refers to both bodily purity and the purity of heart

Pure like snow .... Pure like a towering mountain

“Sthairyam”Meaning: Steadfastness

Sthairyam refers to steadfastness in holding onto one’s svadharma

Be steadfast in faith like Prahlada. Lord Hari took the Sri Narasimha avatharajust to prove Prahlada’s words as true!

“Sathyam vidhatum nija bhrtya bhashitam .....”

“Athma Vinigraha” & “Indriyarththeshu Vairagya”Meaning: Self Control & Detachment from sensual Pleasures

Sri Vadhiraja Swamy is an outstanding example

Right at his birth he was given over to the Mutt (Sodhemutt). He grew up in the Mutt. Even as a little boy he displayed enormous control over self. When he was 6 or 7 years old, Bhoovaraha (purvashrama name of Sri VadhirajaSwamy), was asked by the Guru Sri Vageesa Theetharu, as to what play toys or food delicacies or clothes that he wanted. And the 6 or 7 years old boy replied ......“I want Guru bhakthiI want the blessings of the eldersI want to hear Harikatha everydayI want detachmentI want to do Vishnu aradhanaI want japa and thapasI want the Grace and Blessings of Sri Hayavadana”

No wonder his Guru saw his future successor in him right then ......

He took sanyasa at the age of 8 years and lived as a sanyasi for 112 years. Senior to Sri Raghavendra Swamy, he entered his Brindavana alive, at his age of 120.

“Anahankara & Janma Mruthyu jara vyadhi dhukkhadhoshanu darsanam”

Meaning: Egolessness & being conscious of the birth death cycle and the sufferings of old age and illness

Mahabali and his giving up of his ego to Mahavishnu’sVamana avatharam, come to one’s mind when one contemplates on the value “Anahankara”. Anahankaraessentially refers to not assuming a superior air hiding one’s inadequacies. Ahankara is invariably a consequence of one’s ego.Sri Kanaka Dasa’s famous reply “Naanu hodhare hove”when asked whether he thinks he deserves to go to heaven ,also comes to one’s mind here. On the surface it means he thinks he will . But in a beautiful play of the words he actually says that one will go to heaven if one gives up one’s ego.“Sage of Arunachala” Sri Ramanar’s appeal to Sri Arunachaleswara to root out the ego of those who pray to him (“Ahaththai veraruppai Arunachala” ) in his Aksharamanamalai, is a heart rending appeal on behalf of the human society.

Sri Adi Sankaracharya’s Bhaja Govindam is a beautiful lesson highlighting the value “Janma Mrutyu Jara Vyadhi dhukkha dhoshanu darsanam”

“Putratharagrahadhishu asakthi: Anabishvanga:”Meaning: Avoiding too intense an attachment & affinity to one’s wife,

children & possessions

When we think about this value, the phrase that jumps to our minds is “Illaraththilthuravaram” (இல்லறத்தில்துறவறம்)

ie., staying in and leading a normal grahastha’s life but without serious attachment and affinity. Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Gita (Ch.3) states that King Janaka lived the life of a perfect Karma Yogi and reached mukthi.

“Ishta Anishta Upapaddhishu nithyamsamachiththathvam”

Meaning: Equanimity in the face of both positive and negative developments

Sage Valmiki describes that there was absolutely no difference in Sri Rama’s countenance while going for his “anticipated” pattabishekha and while returning from there with the knowledge that he has been banished to the forest. Moreover, Ramayana goes on to explain how Sri Rama consoled His mother Kausalya Devi and His brother Lakshmana who are more outraged and distressed than Rama himself at this turn of events.

World could not have witnessed a better example for this magnificent value than Lord Sri Rama!

“Mayi Ananya Yogena Avyabhicharini bhakthi”

Meaning: Everlasting and unconditional bhakthi towards the Lord

The love of Gopis towards Krishna

“Viviktha Desa sevithvam”Meaning: Love for solitude

It is interesting that Lord Krishna advises “Love for Solitude” as one of the key values. Further study and

contemplation of the final two values, that He prescribes, indicates that this is one of the logical

steps in the evolution to the pinnacle

“Janasamsathi Arathi”Meaning: Disinterest in being in a crowd

Even though this sounds similar to the previous value it is subtly different. While the earlier one refers to a love for solitude (leading to study and contemplation) this value steers one away from improper

company towards proper human interactions which will enhance one’s sadhana and aid the spiritual journey.

“Adhyathma gnana nithyathvam”Meaning: Constantly seeking the eternal Truth

If we were mountain climbers and attempting to climb Mt Everest, the ultimate peak, all the time won’t we be thinking about the Peak, where are we in relation to the Peak, are we on the correct

track to reach it and what wonderful feeling will be awaiting us when we reach there ... etc?

To my mind, if we consider God to be the Peak, this state represents “Adhyathma Gnananithyathvam”

“Thathva Gnanartha Darsanam”Meaning: Realising The Truth / Attaining Bliss

Dharma Brings Happiness

REACHING THE

PINNACLE!


This work is dedicated to two young men – Rajesh of the Kannada Satsangh for triggering in me the thought of

writing on this subject & Kartik of Sridhar-SudhaSatsangh for the lively discussions on this topic – and the

members of these Satsanghs.

And my thanks to my wife, Sarayu, for the spontaneous enthusiasm she shows for every single one of my projects

and for the meticulous editing.

Sri Krishnarpanamasthu

20 values from srimad bhagavd gita

Documents