THE MAHABHARATAM : 18. - Swami Advayananda

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Friday, May 27, 2022. 21:00.

Prelude to the Bhagavad Geeta :

Meditation on the Bhagavad Geeta.

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18 Episodes : 

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Episode 1: How the Writing Began

Episode 2: The Story of Bhishma

Episode 3: Amba Seeks Revenge on Bhishma

Episode 4: The Story of Vidhura

Episode 5: The Story of Queen Kunti

Episode 6: The Young Princes Grow Up Together 

Episode 7: The Development of Karna 

Episode 8: The “Wax Palace”

Episode 9: The Pandavas Enjoy Some Peace!

Episode 10: Draupadi’s Swayamwaram

Episode 11: The Pandavas Settle in Indraprastham

Episode 12: The “Gambling Match”

Episode 13 : The De-Robing of Draupadi 

Episode 14: The Twelve Years in Exile 

Episode 15: The Thirteenth Year Incognito 

Episode 16: Krishna’s Peace Mission

Episode 17: The Choice – Krishna or His Army 

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Episode 18: Karna & Kunti :

Kunti Tells Karna of His Birth: 

Sri Krishna advised Kunti to call her son, Karna, to her

and tell him the truth about his birth. He also said that in doing so, she should ask for his

forgiveness. Karna was surprised that he was getting a call from the Queen of the Pandavas,

from King Pandu’s wife. That is the only relationship he had with the Queen.

Kunti then told Karna the whole truth about how it came that he was born as Surya

Devata’s son. When she finished, Karna was in tears, “Mother, why have you hidden this

from me for so long?”

Kunti also was in tears for her eldest son’s misfortune. “You are my eldest son, the

eldest among the Pandavas.”

And they both wept again. Karna was filled with sorrow, “Why did you not tell me

this before? Now how can I leave Duryodhana when it was he that protected me from all

the taunts of the Pandavas in childhood. I have given my word to Duryodhana. I cannot go

back on it.”

Kunti Mata asked only one thing, “Son, please don’t kill any of the Pandavas.”

Karna gave her this promise, with the exception of Arjuna.

Kunti and Karna then wiped their tears once again.

“Mother, please do not tell this to anyone else, at least till the war is over.”

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THE START OF THE MAHABHARATA WAR:

Krishna and Arjuna blow their conches.

The above story gives the background to the Mahabharata War. By the time Sanjaya

gave his report to Dhritarashtra in the First Discourse of the Geeta, the war had already

entered its tenth day, i.e. half the battle was already over. Bhishma had already fallen and

Dronacharya was in charge of the Kaurava army.

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GEETA DHYANAM - Meditation on the Bhagavad Geeta : Sri Madhusudana Saraswati (9 Slokas)

Saraswati, as a prelude to the study or reading of the Bhagavad Geeta, have

all the elements of the perfect Mangalacharan to this great scripture.

This text has the following qualities to be a Mangalacharan for the Geeta:

i) It contains all the 3 types of Mangalacharan or Invocation, i.e. Vastu Nirdesh

Roopa, Namaskara Roopa, and Ashirvada Roopa;

ii) It speaks of the 3 types of Vighnas or obstacles that we encounter in life, i.e.

Adhyatmika, Adhibhautika and Adhidaivika;

iii) It contains the Anubandha Chatushtaya or the fourfold information which

connects us to the main text, the Geeta. These four are the Adhikari, the Vishaya, the

Prayojan and the Sambandha.

iv) It offers a salutation to one’s Guru;

v) It offers salutations to God, the Supreme Brahman.

vi) It encapsulates the deep desire or yearning for liberation, i.e. Mumukshutwa.

Another special feature of this Geeta Dhyanam is that it is studded with magnificent

metaphors and similes, especially taken from the lifestyle of Bhagavan Krishna’s childhood

days – among the cows of Brindavan, alongside the sacred Yamuna River, with the ideal

surroundings of luscious green vegetation, ponds, colourful and fragrant flower beds,

blooming lotuses, nectarine honeycombs, and so on.

In contrast to this most splendid, beautiful and heavenly setting as a backdrop to this

divine scripture, is the scene of battle on the plain of Kurukshetra. Indeed, it was in the very

midst of this battlefield that this greatest of divine dialogues took place.

This completes a perfect blend of metaphors ranging from the rich beauty of Nature

to the arena of struggle and strife which is man’s lot throughout his life on earth.

The First Milestone:

The first lecture, covering this verse, was delivered by Pujya Guruji, Swami

Tejomayanandaji himself. Guruji had specially made time to be present for the launch of this

text, the highlight of the Sandeepany Vedanta Course. Acharyaji then took up the relay stick

and ran the rest of the distance, despite his severe physical ailment.

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Next - Slokam 1 : Salutations to Mother Geeta

To be continued ....

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