Gita Simplified & with stories: Chapter 1

What is this chapter about 

• Observing the armies on Battlefield
• Arjun Vishad

In this Chapter the great war is about to begin, as a result of the various wrong choices & actions over the years of the many people involved. This chapter is all about Arjun's last minute doubts and confusion regarding the war.

Summary of chapter

• An introduction to all the many warriors assembled there and what they represent. 
• At the battle ground Arjun sees family in the enemy side and is confused. 
• A bit of ego : wants to see who I am going to fight.
• There is Arjuna's confusion, of what is right? What will he gain from doing what is right, ref the war??
• Finds excuses for not fighting. Pleads all kinds of reasons ranging from don't want kingdom, war will cause destruction, will not be able to live with the guilt and so on & on
• Wants to withdraw from the war!
• We learn how we can be distracted from our goal or from doing what is right. How attachments cause us to move away from what is right.  

Shlokas references

• 46 in all, and mostly Arjun talking except a couple by Sanjay 
• 1-11 : about armies & 12-19 about conches
• 20 -27 : Arjun's reasons for not fighting 
• 1.31 - 1.46 : Arjuna gives various reasons not to fight. as he is overcome by attachment
• Emotional imbalance lead physical dis orientation (1.36) and inability to act rightfully 

Key message from the chapter

• Its Arjuna whining & trying to find an excuse not to fight (Like kids trying to bunk school when not ready for a test, or young girls saying will not leave her parents to get married ever!!)
• He talks intellectually that why have war, death & the misery will come from it. He is deluding from the fact that why the situation for war came about? and why it is important to punish and terminate, eliminate the sinners. (Can a country really run without Police & Army to take corrective & protective actions?!)
• In attachment & confusion, ability to take correct decisions is lost
• Attachment wrecks duty

Summary in poetry 

Everything is in vain

Arjun cried out in pain      

How do I kill my kith and kin?

Oh my God, it is a sin

I do not want to play this game

It will only bring me shame

Let me not indulge in this war

I cannot take this any far

A story related to the message

Once there was a saint who always spoke truth. A wealthy man being chased by a thief hides near his cottage in the forest. The thief asks the saint about the wealthy mans location.

Now this is a story of a saint who in keeping his vow (& image) to always speak the truth tells the robber (who kills & steals) the location of a wealthy man;  who is then killed & robbed. Was the truth worth it?

In Gita there is a reference to what is true & what is right. Knowing what is right has variables of past or impact on future.

The Mahabharat episode about Ashwathama dying & Yudhistir saying part of the truth loud and clear and rest in a whisper ....was that lies? white lies? truth????

One needs to understand that between Dharma's which is the higher principle. As in the case of the saint Truth or Ahimsa? As for Yudhistir, a mixed up truth to Guru versus winning the war to establish Dharma in the world.

Think about it ...

Related posts on this blog

• Honesty 
• 2*2=4 and TRUTH