Swami Chinmayananda on the Mahabhaarata

In simple words, the Mahabhaarata was a fight between good and evil, namely the Pandavas and the Kauravas. The Pandavas were only five in number while the Kauravas were a hundred men. What does this signify?

It means that in our daily life, we face problems, too many of them, and our life itself is a Kurukshetra. In this, the good forces are few and the bad ones dominate. What an apt analogy!
But, the confused, despondent Arjuna is awakened by the Saarathy, and the Pandavas go on to rout the Kauravas. That is, shedding one’s ignorance and strengthening the resolve to defend Dharma are the only things that are needed to defeat even a seemingly monstrous opposition.

Everyone must have seen the beautiful picture of Arjuna in the chariot driven by Krishna, with the flag of Hanuman, in the Kurukshetra battlefield. Here, the horses pulling the chariot represent the sense organs. Each of our sense organs may attract us to different pleasures in life, but without control of our senses, we will reach nowhere. This control is symbolized by the reins held by the PaarthaSaarathy, which coordinate the movement of the horses. This is the real meaning of self control. Abstinence does not mean running away to the Himalayas when you’re tired with the problems of life. Instead, it means shaping your thoughts appropriately and channeling your energies in search of the purpose of life. That’s why the Geeta itself was not preached in a serene environment in the mountains. The choice of the grueling battle scene to give such a glorious lesson itself says that the message of the Geeta is not just for retired old men and women who have nothing else to do, but one that needs to be understood and practiced during one’s productive lifetime. Postponing the study of scriptures for old age is like thinking of reading a washing machine manual after it has become old, rusted and spoilt!
Om Namo Bhagavate Vaasudevaaya!

Source: Geeta Lectures given by Swamini Vimalananda and Swami Tejomayananda of the Chinmaya Mission, which the writer was fortunate to attend.

The Gita preaching fatalism?

Karmanye Vadhikaraste Ma Phaleshu Kadachana

Ma Karma Phala Hetur Bhurmatey Sangostva Akarmani
-Chapter 2, Shloka 47, the Bhagavad Gita

This is commonly translated as: Do your duty without thinking about the results.

Many, including myself, have found this oversimplified translation to be very confusing. (No offense meant to the great scholars who have read the Gita and translated it for the benefit of the masses.) So, here is a little more on the verse.

The context:
As Swami Chinmayananda has said lucidly, The Bhagavad Gita is told not in a serene environment like a forest with chirping birds and playful deer, but in a very violent atmosphere-right in the middle of a gory battlefield! What does this mean?
Very simple-The teachings of the Gita are not be read and practiced after retirement, after we have lived the best part of our lives (similar to the peaceful forest), but right during our eventful lives, which are full of problems (represented by the battlefield).

Now to the verse. If we are supposed to work without expecting any result, isn’t it useless? That is, only if we have a goal can we proceed progressively. Blindly walking without any directions will lead us to nowhere. So, does the Gita preach fatalism?

Not at all!
The charioteer only tells Dhananjaya (Arjuna) that one must do his duty with full sincerity, but without thinking about the results all the time. Worrying about the consequences only diverts one’s focus away from the goal. Whatever one does, must be done as if it is an offering to the Lord-this is called “Arpana Buddhi”, and whatever results he/she gets as a results of that action, must be accepted with equanimity, as it is the gift we have got-this is “Prasaada Buddhi”.

In a nutshell, do your everyday work sincerely, and accept the result graciously. That is, the result will come as a result of your present and past Karma-while you don’t have to worry about it, YOU HAVE TO PUT IN YOUR EFFORTS!