Gita : Ch-4. Slo-2.

Srimad Bhagavad-Gita :


Chapter-4. ( Jnana-karma-sanyasa-yogam )


Slokam-2. ( Following   the first slokam, the great knowledge transfer  from Lord Krishna-to Surya-toMsnu-to Ikshaku- Sri Krishna continues in this slokam this great knowledge transfer chain was broken in the course of time, and we lost the great treasure of knowledge )




parantapa  =  O, Arjuna;

evam   parampara-praptam   =  this   way   acquired   by   generations (in  succession);

imam  rajarshyah  viduh  =  this  yogam  (science)   Raja-Rishies   ( Saintly  Kings )  too  understood;

sa  yogah  mahata  kalena  =  that  yogam  (Knowledge)   in the  long  run /  in the course of time;

iha  nashtah   =  here  (we/ to us )  lost.

Thus was transmitted from Lord Krishna a distinguished parampara or disciplic succession from illustrious father to illustrious son. This knowledge was passed onto the saintly kings and royal sages like Nimi and Sagara; but its origins are without beginning because its roots are in the eternal Vedas. By great efflux of time and degradation of human intelligence limiting qualified recipients this great knowledge disappeared into oblivion due to a break in parampara causing a discontinuation of the tradition in this world.

This eternal yoga or the science of the individual consciousness attaining communion with the ultimate consciousness. The saintly kings such as King Nimi as well as royal sages at court all were knowledgeable of this yoga as instructed by their ancestors Ishvaktu and others. The reason why the kings of the day were not knowledgeable of this yoga was because it was lost to parampara or authorised disciplic succession due to great passage of time.

This supreme science was thus received through the chain of disciplic succession, and the saintly kings understood it in that way. But in course of time the succession was broken, and therefore the science as it is appears to be lost.

This  yogam  which  was  continued  by  the  Guru  (Rishi)  Sishya  parampara, sustained  by  this  tradition  maintained  for  long,  meanwhile  this  tradition  had  to  face  the  bad  effects  of  time.  In  the  ancient  history  this  knowledge  was  easily  available  for the  benefits  of  human  race.

Later  this  golden  period  came  to  end  and  the  birth  of  dark  yugam  "adharmam"  took  place.

The  demonic  materialism  in  that  period,  because  of  burden  of  own  adharmic  deeds,  the  people  were  in  suffocation  ( of  this  burden ),  when  this  happened  some  or  other  Mahatma took  birth,  began  to  guide  them  in  right  path  and  gave  the  cultural  nourishment.

The  yugam  of  Mahabharatham  and  Lord  Krishna  belonged  this  period,  hence  Lord  had  to  mention  the  loss  of  great  tradition  in  this  slokam,  read  and  study  this  slokam  with  the  previous  one  too.

To be continued  ..