BHAGAVAD GEETA – 6 : Swami Advayanandaji.
Chinmaya International Foundation (CIF) :
“Policy is not a neutral or abstract concept, it reflects the values, beliefs and norms of the people who create it. Therefore, policy should be rooted in culture.”
Nitividhana, the immersive residential camp organised by Brhat Education Trust and Chinmaya International Foundation explored political philosophy from both Eastern and Western traditions and contextualised them for the pressing issues of today.
Eminent speakers including Dr. Gauri Mahulikar, Academic Director, CIF, Swami Advayananda, Shri Raghav Krishna (policy expert), Dr Indradeep Ghosh (Executive Director, Dvara Research) and noted scientist Prof. Subhash Kak, brought out the nuances of public policy in Indian texts like the Arthashastra and Srimad Bhagavatam.
The Brhat team led by Sri Raghava Krishna, Dr. Pankaj Saxena and Dr. Anurag Shukla mentored the participants sharing their insights on Public Policy with the foundation of IKS.
Other distinguished speakers such as Smt. Suparna Diwakar (Co-founder of ISDM), Dr. Mala Kapadia and Sushant Gangoli shared their knowledge and perspectives on various topics related to Bharatiya itihasa and culture.
Four days of fruitful group discussions concluded with the participants gaining a unique perspective of public policy, its inherent linkages with politics and culture and deep insight into the Bhartiya beliefs about it.
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Chapter-1.
Arjuna Vishadha yogam (“Yoga of Arjuna’s Despondency” )
Sri Veda Vyasaji
Discourse – 1 (47 Slogas)
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Thursday, 25 May , 2023. 08:00.
Post - 6,
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THE KAURAVA FORCES
Most of the Army-Generals on both sides were trained by Dronacharya, and some by
Kripacharya. Both these Acharyas fought on the Kaurava side, as their allegiance was to King
Dhritarashtra who provided them their livelihood. The same applied to Bhishma, the
grandsire of the Pandavas and the Kauravas. Of course, the moral issue at stake in the battle
was known to them but that was not a deciding factor. For them livelihood took precedence
over righteousness in determining which side they fought for.
Slogam - 7: The Kaurava Army
1
Asmaakam tu vishishtaah ye = Those who are the most distinguished amongst us,
2
taan nibodha dvijah uttama; = know their names also, O Best among Brahmanas;
3
naayakaa mama sainyasya = the leaders of my army,
4
samjnaartham taan braveemi te. = these I name to thee for thy information.
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Throughout these eleven verses of Duryodhana’s speech at the threshold of war, we
observe that Dronacharya keeps totally silent. Perhaps he feels the pinch of the painful irony
of having to take orders from his own pupil who has so clearly fallen far from righteousness.
Indeed, the situation is very hard to bear. How could he give his loyalty so cheaply!
1
Duryodhana continues inflicting the pain. He turns to his own formidable army.
2
Dvija, “twice-born”, i.e. a Brahmana. Duryodhana commits another blunder. He
addresses Dronacharya not as a Kshatriya warrior, but as a Brahmana. It sounds as if he is
telling Dronacharya, “I wonder if you are the right person for this job of leading our army?
We need a tough Kshatriya for this, not a soft Brahmana.”
2-4
Protocol dictates that Dronacharya should be introducing his army generals to
Duryodhana, not the other way round. We see in Duryodhana an utter disregard for
protocol by which he betrays his lack of trust in the intelligence and courage of his
Commander-in-Chief. The absence of trust is becoming alarmingly obvious.
*****
Next
Slogam - 8: The Kaurava Commanders & Generals – Nos. 1-7,
To be continued
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