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"Death Is
God"
73/07/09 London, Bhagavad-gita 1.2-3
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Pradyumna: (leads chanting, etc.)
sanjaya uvaca
drstva tu pandavanikam
vyudham duryodhanas tada
acaryam upasangamya
raja vacanam abravit
[Bg. 1.2]
Translation: "Sanjaya said: O King, after looking over the army gathered
by the sons of Pandu, King Duryodhana went to his teacher and began to speak
the following words:"
Prabhupada: So Dhrtarastra inquired from Sanjaya, kim akurvata: "After
my sons and my brother's sons assembled together for fighting, what did they
do?" This was the inquiry. So to encourage him... Because Sanjaya could
understand the feelings of his master that he wanted the fight, no
compromise, ksatriya spirit, "Let my sons and my brother's sons
fight..." That is ksatriya spirit. "My sons are one hundred in
number and they are only five, so certainly my sons will come out victorious,
and then the kingdom will be assured." That was his plan. So Sanjaya,
his secretary, could understand the feeling. Of course, at last he would
inform differently. Yatra yogesvarah harih. At last he described, "My
dear sir, you do not expect victory. It is not possible. Because the other
side is Krsna, yatra yogesvarah harih, and the fighter Arjuna, so it is
beyond your expectation of victory." But in the beginning he says,
"Don't be discouraged. There was no compromise. Immediately your son
Duryodhana..." And he is addressing himself (his son) as
"raja." because Dhrtarastra would be encouraged when at least he
thinks of his son becoming the king. Therefore he said "raja."
So drstva tu pandavanikam [Bg. 1.2]. Duryodhana did not expect that the
Pandavas would be able to accomplish military strength so nicely because they
were bereft of all sources. Their kingdom was taken away, their money was
usurped, they were sent into the forest, so many tribulations. But the
foolish Duryodhana did not know that above all, there was Krsna on their
side. That he could not calculate. Therefore when he saw the Pandavas are
well-equipped with good number of soldiers, pandavanikam, he was little
surprised, that "How they could gather are so many soldiers?" So
immediately, to consult the commander-in-chief Dronacarya....
Dronacarya was everyone's teacher, acarya. Acarya means teacher. Acaryam
upasangamya [Bg. 1.2]. The military teacher. So Duryodhana, he was military
teacher of the Pandavas also. When all of them were children, they were given
under the instruction of Dronacarya. Dronacarya was brahmana, but he knew the
military art. Therefore he was appointed teacher for all the boys, the
Kauravas. So... but Acarya, Dronacarya joined with Duryodhana. Bhismadeva
joined with Duryodhana. None of them joined with Arjuna. Because Arjuna or
Maharaja Yudhisthira was not king at that time, the financial control was not
in their hands, and these people, sons of Dhrtarastra, they were on the
government political power. The financial control was in their hands. So they
were giving enough money for maintenance to Dronacarya and Bhismadeva. So
they felt obliged. Of course, they knew everything. But externally, they felt
obligation: "Arjuna, I am getting money from Duryodhana. So in this
point of danger, if I do not join him, it does not look well. I am getting
financial maintenance."
Of course, Arjuna did not ask him. Arjuna was satisfied with Krsna. That's
all. Krsna also divided Himself. Because it is family quarrel. So He said,
"I cannot take part with anyone and even if I take part, side, of any of
you, I shall not fight. Directly I shall not fight. I may be on your side or
that side, but I'll not fight." Still, Arjuna was satisfied. So Krsna,
in order to satisfy Arjuna, that "I shall not fight, but I shall become
your charioteer. I shall drive your chariot." So in this way the battle
was arranged, and when Dhrtarastra inquired, kim akurvata sanjaya [Bg. 1.1],
"What did they do?" He said, "Sir, don't be disappointed.
There was no compromise. Immediately your son, after seeing the military arrangement
of the Pandavas, he was surprised, and immediately he went to
Dronacarya." He is the commander-in-chief appointed first. "What to
do?" Raja vacanam abravit [Bg. 1.2]. Then he began to speak, to inform
Dronacarya. So next verse.
Pradyumna: (leads chanting, etc.)
pasyaitam pandu-putranam
acarya mahatim camum
vyudham drupada-putrena
tava sisyena dhimata
[Bg. 1.3]
Translation: "O my teacher, behold the great army of the sons of Pandu,
so expertly arranged by your intelligent disciple, the son of Drupada."
Prabhupada: So -- intelligent. This Drupada, the son of Drupada, he was meant
for killing Dronacarya. Drupada Maharaja was not in good terms with
Dronacarya. So he performed a yajna to get a son who
could kill Dronacarya. That son is this Draupada. So Dronacarya knew that
"Drupada Maharaja has got his son. In future he would kill me."
Still, when he was offered to become his disciple, to learn military art, he
accepted, "Yes." That means the brahmanas were so liberal: "When
he is coming as my disciple, never mind, he would kill me in future. That
doesn't matter. But I must give him teaching." Therefore this word is
used, dhimata, very intelligent: "He has killed the military science
from you just to kill you." Dhimata, tava sisyena. "Your disciple,
he has arranged." This is the pointing out. So that he may be angry:
"This rascal has learned from me and he wants to kill me?"
But no. Duty is duty. After all, everyone will die; nobody will exist. So
nobody should be afraid of death. This is Vedic civilization. Death is
inevitable. "As sure as death." Who can avoid death? So being
afraid of death, we should not deviate from our duties, real duty. That is
Vedic civilization. So Duryodhana wanted to point out "That this boy, your
disciple, he... It is fixed up that he's meant for killing you, and he has
arranged nicely military phalanx just to defeat you. And he has learned this
art from you."
Therefore he is using this word, dhimata. Dhi, dhi means intelligence.
Dhimat-sabda. Dhimat. Dhi means intelligence, and mat means "one who
possesses." Asty arthe matup-pratyaya. When one possesses something, in
this sense, this pratyaya... In Sanskrit there are pratyayas. So matup
pratyaya. So matup. From matup, it comes to mat. Sanskrit language means it
is so reformed that each and every word has significance. Not that like your
English language. "B U T but; P U T put.(?)" No, not like that. If you say "B U T but," you must say, "P U T put." But no, you change: B U T but ; P U T put. Why? This
kind of change cannot be allowed in Sanskrit language. If the "u"
means "ah," just like beauty but, then it must always mean like
that, no change. So dhimata. Dhi means intelligence. Dhi means intelligence.
So one who has got intelligence. Every word is used with full meaning.
Sanskrit language is so nice. Therefore it is called Sanskrit, Sanskrit,
Samskrta. Samskrta means reform. And the alphabets are called devanagari.
Devanagari means these alphabets... Just like in Europe the Roman letters are
used, similarly, in the upper planetary system these alphabets are used,
devanagari, used in the cities of the demigods. And the language is called
Samskrta, "most reformed." And Sanskrit is the mother of all
languages.
Even in this planet, the Latin is also derived from Sanskrit. Just like the
"maternal," the matr-sabda, "paternal," pitr-sabda. So
dhimata. So here the writer is Vyasadeva. So every word is selected, either
in Bhagavad-gita or in Srimad-Bhagavatam or the Puranas, all writings of...,
Mahabharata, each and every word is used just like weighing in the balance.
So many words should be in the beginning, so many words should be in the end.
And not whimsically. That cannot be allowed. That is called samskrta sahitya,
literary... Just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu when he was hearing Kesava Kasmiri,
as soon as there was little discrepancy, bhavani-bharta, immediately he
criticized and defeated him. Sanskrit language is so nice.
Pasyaitam pandu-putranam acarya: [Bg. 1.3] "My dear teacher, just see
how many military soldiers are standing there on behalf of the Pandavas, and
they have been arranged by your disciple, who is meant for killing you. So
just remember." That means "You become more strong that this boy
and the other party may not kill you." But Duryodhana does not know that
the death does not depend on military strength or bodily strength. When death
will come, nobody can check. Death is God. When Krsna desires that "This
man should be killed now," or "He must die now," nobody can
check....
This is the missing part (only the script
since the audio file is incomplete or damaged)
...rakhe krsna mare ke mare krsna rakhe ke. If Krsna desires to kill
somebody, nobody can give him protection, no power. And if He wants to save
somebody, nobody can kill him. This is Krsna's protection.
Therefore this big, big commander-in-chief Dronacarya and Bhismadeva, Karna,
they were very, very, big, powerful commanders. Arjuna was nothing before
them. Arjuna was just like... Pariksit Maharaja compared that "My grandfather
was just like an ordinary fish, and these soldiers, these commanders, (were)
just like timingila." Timingila, there is a
fish -- we get information from Vedic literature -- very big fish. They
swallow up the whales. Timi. Timi means whale fish. And timingila means...
Just like small fish are swallowed up like this. So just imagine how big such
fish is. So these commanders, Karna, Dronacarya, and Bhisma, were compared
with the timingila. And Arjuna although very powerful, he was compared with timi.
So Pariksit Maharaja admitted "That it was not possible for my
grandfather to win over the battle before these big, big commanders. It is
only by the grace of Krsna he was saved." So the conclusion is if Krsna
saves, nobody can kill; and if Krsna wants to kill, nobody can save.
Therefore our conclusion should be that we should always be under the
protection of Krsna. Avasya raksibe krsna. This is saranagati. Saranagati,
surrender. Surrender means that "I am surrendering to Krsna with full
faith that He is quite competent and able to give me protection." This
is called surrender. Not that hesitation: "Oh, I will surrender to
Krsna, and in case of danger, He may not be able to give me protection."
That is not surrender. With full faith, "Yes, Krsna is so powerful,
Krsna is so great, that I am surrendering to Krsna from this day: 'From this
day... Krsna, I was wandering throughout the universe life after life without
knowing my relationship with you. Now, today, I surrender unto you. Kindly
accept me and engage me in your service.' " This is called surrender.
Thank you very much. (end)
>>> Ref. VedaBase =>
Bhagavad-gita 1.2-3 -- London, July 9, 1973
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