The Bhagavadgita in a Nutshell: 1. Swami Krishnananda

Chinmaya Mission: 

The 20th Annual Prize Night at Chinmaya Vidyalaya, South Park, Bistupur, Jamshedpur was a grand celebration filled with inspiration and cultural performances. 

The evening began with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by the esteemed Chief Guest, Mr. Sanjay Kumar Sinha, Head of Technical Services at Tata Motors, along with members of the Managing Committee and the respected Madam Principal. 

The program commenced with a graceful Ganesh Vandana, invoking blessings for a successful event. 

This was followed by a captivating dance performance depicting Lord Ram’s return to Ayodhya, symbolizing joy and celebration. 

A heartfelt skit highlighting the role of a mother moved the audience, while a dynamic Durga dance showcased the power and grace of the Goddess. 

The felicitation ceremony honored students for their outstanding academic achievements, notable performances, and perfect attendance, applauding their hard work and dedication. 

In addition, teachers were recognized for their long-standing service and commitment to the institution. 

The evening concluded with a heartfelt vote of thanks, expressing gratitude to all those who contributed to making the event a resounding success.

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Wednesday 20, November 2024, 06:45.
Article
Scriptures
The Bhagavadgita in a Nutshell: 1.
Swami Krishnananda.
(Spoken on November 3rd, 1973.)

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Salutations, humble prostrations to the Supreme Almighty God, Bhagavan Sri Lakshmi Narayana! May we, on this auspicious occasion, invoke the abundant grace of Bhagavan Sriman Narayana that his all-compassionate eye may look upon all of mankind with a benignant, gracious compassion. May this be a sacred opportunity for all of us to contemplate and pray to his all-pervading form as the Viratsvarupa in this visible shape of creation. May we be endowed with that understanding and power of wisdom to recognise his presence in all this manifestation as this world, this cosmos, this universe.

May we not be tempted into the false belief that this world is an object of enjoyment for the senses. May we not be led astray into the erroneous notion that this world is our property, that it belongs to us, that this is a field of physical enjoyment and personal aggrandisement in any manner whatsoever. May we be blessed with that knowledge with which we can look upon this vast world as the field of dharma, the field of work and duty and training for the chastening of our spirits for the realisation of God ultimately. May we pray to Bhagavan Sriman Narayana that he dispel the ignorance of our hearts due to which mankind is likely to mistake God for the world and the world for God in an erroneous superimposition of values. May we look upon this world as the body of God, and may we recognise all our activities as worship of God.

I am reminded here of two important, pertinent, pointed teachings of Bhagavan Sri Krishna in the Third Chapter of the Bhagavadgita – how we can live a happy life of knowledge and understanding in this world. The Third Chapter of the Bhagavadgita is precisely a gospel to mankind in its aspect of work, duty and effort in every one of its forms.

Arjuna's question in the very beginning of the Third Chapter of the Gita was, “Why do you confuse my mind, Lord? You say understanding is all right, and then you say work is all right. If understanding is all that is necessary, why should there be work, and if you want me merely to work, why do you stress upon understanding?” In one place, in one chapter of the Bhagavadgita, Bhagavan cursorily made a statement that action is inferior to the motive behind it, and motive, or understanding of the nature of action, is superior to action. 

Dureṇa hy avaraṃ karma buddhiyogad dhananjaya, buddhau saraṇam anviccha kṛpaṇaḥ phalahetavaḥ (BG 2.49): 

Resort to understanding. Action is inferior to understanding. Arjuna asks, “If this is the case, then understanding only is necessary. Why do you want me to work? Why do you compel me, impel me, force me to do this gory deed of war, a work which you say is inferior to understanding? I shall have only understood.” 

Jyayasi cet karmaṇas te mata buddhir janardana, tat kiṃ karmaṇi ghore maṃ niyojayasi kesava (BG 3.1): 

“If understanding is superior, well, I will understand and keep quiet. Why do you want me to work? And if work is all that is essential, why comes understanding?” This quandary, this doubt which was in the mind of Arjuna, is in the mind of every one of us. This is the great war between knowledge and action, jnana and karma, as it is usually put. Everywhere this war goes on, and even now it is not ending. Some say jnana is supreme, some say karma is supreme, some say knowledge is needed for moksha, others say work is also necessary, and some say neither of them is sufficient and both have to be combined. There are so many confusions.

The answer Bhagavan Sri Krishna gives to this question of Arjuna is an answer to all of mankind – to me, to you, to everyone, at all times, for all purposes, under every circumstance.

 What is our duty? How are we to look upon creation and God in their relation to our individual existence and performance?

*****

Continued

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