Bhagavad-gita As It Is [Ch. 2 Text 8]

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Bhagavad-gita As It Is [Ch. 2 Text 8]

 

 

Contents of the Gita Summarized

 

Text 8

 

karpanya-dosopahata- svabhavah

prcchami tvam dharma-sammudha-cetah

yac chreyah syan niscitam bruhi tan me

sisyas te'ham sadhi mam tvam prapannam

 

karpanya—miserly; dosa—weakness; upahata—being inflicted by; sva­

bhavah— characteristics; prcchami— I am asking; tvam— unto You;

dharma— religion; sammudha—bewildered cetah —in heart; yat—what;

sreyah— all-good; syat—may be; niscitam—confidently; bruhi—tell; tat—

that; me—unto me; sisyah—disciple; te—Your; aham—I am; sadhi—just

instruct; mam—me; me; tvam—unto You ; prapannam— surrendered.

 

TRANSLATION

 

Now I am confused about my duty and have lost all composure because

of weakness. In this condition I am asking You to tell me clearly

what is best for me. Now I am Your disciple, and a soul surrendered

unto You. Please instruct me.

PURPORT

 

By nature's own way the complete system of material activities is a

source of perplexity for everyone. In every step there is perplexity,

and therefore it behooves one to approach a bona fide spiritual

master who can give one proper guidance for executing the purpose of

life. All Vedic literatures advise us to approach a bona fide

spiritual master to get free from the perplexities of life which

happen without our desire. They are like a forest fire that somehow

blazes without being set by anyone. Similarly, the world situation is

such that perplexities of life automatically appear, without our

wanting such confusion. No one wants fire, and yet it takes place,

and we become perplexed. The Vedic wisdom therefore advises that in

order to solve the perplexities of life and to understand the science

of the solution, one must approach a spiritual master who is in the

disciplic succession. A person with a bona fide spiritual master is

supposed to know everything. One should not, therefore, remain in

material perplexities but should approach a spiritual master. This is

the purport of this verse.

Who is the man in material perplexities? It is he who does not under­

stand the problems of life. In the Garga Upanisad the perplexed man

is described as follows:

 

yo va etad aksaram gargy aviditvasmal lokat praiti sa krpanah

 

"He is a miserly man who does not solve the problems of life as a

human and who thus quits this world like the cats and dogs, without

understanding the science of self-realization." This human form of

life is a most valuable asset for the living entity who can ultilize

it for solving the problems of life; therefore, one who does not

utilize this opportunity properly is a miser. On the other hand,

there is the brahmana, or he who is intelligent enough to utilize

this body to solve all the problems of life.

The krpanas, or miserly persons, waste their time in being overly

affectionate for family, society, country, etc., in the material

conception of life. One is often attached to family life, namely to

wife, children and other members, on the basis of "skin disease." The

krpanas, thinks that he is able to protect his family members from

death; or the krpana thinks that his family or society can save him

from the verge of death. Such family attachment can be found even in

the lower animals who take care of children also. Being intelligent,

Arjuna could understand that his affection for family members and his

wish to protect them from death were the causes of his perplexities.

Although he could understand that his duty to fight was awaiting him,

still, on account of miserly weakness,he could not discharge the

duties. He is therefore asking Lord Krsna, the supreme spiritual

master, to make a definite solution. He offers himself to Krsna as a

disciple. He :wants to stop friendly talks. Talks between the master

and the disciple are serious, and now Arjuna wants to talk very

seriously before the recognized spiritual master. Krsna is therefore

the original spiritual master of the science of Bhagavad-gita, and

Arjuna is the first disciple for understanding the Gita. How Arjuna

understands the Bhagavad-gita is stated in the Gita itself. And yet

foolish mundane scholars explain that one need not submit to Krsna as

a person, but to "the unborn within Krsna." There is no difference

between Krsna `s within and without. And one who has no sense of this

understanding is the greatest fool in trying to understand Bhagavad-

gita.

 

All translations are taken from Srila Prabhupada's original

Unchanged 1972 Edition of The Bhagavad Gita As It Is

 

I will always use this copy in presenting verses from the Gita!

 

You can now get this version of the Gita,By writing to me,for a

donation of 10.00 dollors plus shipping costs,that only covers the

Printing of this Great Book!There are now Limited copies

avalable,with no guarantee there will be more books,any time soon!To

find out about this, go to my web site

Pleasure Unlimited In Krsna Consciousness

http://www.geocities.com/jayakesava2001

 

 

Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

 

Thank You for reading,Your Humble Servant,

Jaya Kesava Dasa