20 values from Srimad Bhagavd GITA

Sri Gurubyo Namaha

The Twenty Values from Srimad Bhagavad Gita

By: V.Prabhakar Rao Singapore May 2009

The Twenty Values from Srimad Bhagavad Gita Since a long time I have been fascinated by the Twenty Values that Lord prescribes in Ch.13 of Srimad Bhagavad Gita, The Kshethra Kshethragna Yoga. He goes onto categorically declaring them as “Gnanam” (“Yethath gnanamithi proktham”) and that anything which differs from these as “Agnanam” (“agnanam yathatho anyatha”).

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 Twenty Values from Srimad Bhagavad Gita

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 l Acharyopasanam soucham sthairyam athmavinigraha: ll - (BG-13:8)

The Twenty Values from Srimad Bhagavad Gita 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 l Janma mrithyu jara vyadhi dhukkha dhoshanu darsanam ll - (BG-13:9) Asakthi: anabhishvanga: puthratharagruhadhishu l Nithyam cha samachiththathvam ishtanishtopa paththishu ll - (BG-13:10)

The Twenty Values from Srimad Bhagavad Gita Let us look at the next three values. These values prescribed in sloka 11 (mayi ananya yogena bhakthi avyabicharini, viviktha desa sevithvam & arathir janasamsathi) imply a transformation in the sadhaka’s personality. 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 l Viviktha desa sevithvam arathir janasamsathi ll - (BG-13:11)

The Twenty Values from Srimad Bhagavad Gita

The final two values mentioned in sloka 12 (adhyathma gnana 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 l Yethath gnanamithi proktham agnanam yathathonyatha ll - (BG-13:12)

The Twenty Values from Srimad Bhagavad Gita The Pinnacle Two Pinnacle (adhyathma gnana nithyathvam & thathva gnana artha darsanam)

Next Three Values Transformation

(mayi ananya yogena bhakthi avyabicharini, viviktha desa sevithvam & arathir janasamsathi)

Next Seven Values Attitude

(athma vinigraha, indriyartheshu vairagyam, anahankara, janma mruthyu jara vyadhi dhukka dhosha anudarsanam, puthratharagruhadhishu asakthi, anabishvanga & ishta anishta upapadhdhishu nithyam samachiththathvam)

First Eight Values Conduct

(amanithvam, adambhithvam, ahimsa, kshanthi, aarjavam, acharyopasanam, soucham & sthairyam

The Twenty Values from Srimad Bhagavad Gita

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

Sri Gurubyo Namaha

The Twenty Values from Srimad Bhagavad Gita

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 prathamam pushpam pushpam indriya-nigraha: sarva-bhUta-dayA pushpam kshamA pushpam viSeshata: | jnAnam pushpam tapa: pushpam dhyAnam pushpam tathaiva cha satyam ashtavidham pushpam vishno: prItikaram bhavet || - From “Pancharatra”

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 bhavapushpams with 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 “தீயினாற் சுட்டபுண் உள்ளாறும் ஆறாேத நாவினாற் சுட்ட வடு” meaning even physical wounds will vanish over time but not the wounds caused by the lashing of the tongue.

“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

No one personified “honesty” more than King Harischandra

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

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 avathara just 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 (Sodhe mutt). 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 Vadhiraja Swamy), 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 bhakthi I want the blessings of the elders I want to hear Harikatha everyday I want detachment I want to do Vishnu aradhana I want japa and thapas I 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 dhukkha dhoshanu 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’s Vamana avatharam, come to one’s mind when one contemplates on the value “Anahankara”. Anahankara essentially 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 “Illaraththil thuravaram” ( இல்லறத்தில் துறவறம்) 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 nithyam samachiththathvam” Meaning: Equanimity in the face of both positive and negative developments

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

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.

“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 Gnana nithyathvam”

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

REACHING THE PINNACLE!

Dharma Brings Happiness

The Twenty Values from Srimad Bhagavad Gita 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-Sudha Satsangh 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