BG 18.76

Today [6th November 2009], we will see about Velvikkudi [வேள்விக் குடி], which has been mutilated as Velukkudi [வேளுக்குடி]. It is on the way from Mannargudi to Tiruvarur. Many persons, who had performed Yagna [Tamil Velvi வேள்வி], lived here. They were all performing their duties or Dharma. Here, in the temple, Sri Prasanna Venkatesa Perumal is gracing. The Archaka here, is doing all services to the Lord, alone. From this place, many Vidwans have emerged. Tirumanjanam in this temple is eagerly attended by people all around this place. Anjaneya of this temple is very famous. As mentioned earlier, the lecturer's father was born in this place only. His father, Sri UVe. Velukkudi Varadacharya Swami, was honoured with the title Vak Amruta Varshi - Showering, Nectar like, Speech. He was born in 1921, in the month of Thai, in Vishaka star. In a Thai month only, Tirumazhisai Alwar was born; and, in Vishaka star was born Nammalwar. Thus, his father had very great affinity for Nammalwar's pasurams. After he completed his Fifth standard, his father [lecturer's grand father], put him in religious line and so he studied in the Patashala in Narayana Mudali street, in George Town area of Chennai. Then, he continued in the Patashala at Tirupati. After learning all, he learnt under Sri UVe. Karappankadu Swami. Then, he learnt under H.H. Sri Desika Varadacharya Swami, in Srirangam. He also learnt under H.H. Sri Sadhu Ramanaujacharya of Tirumala. He traveled North to South of this country, and propagated Sri Vaishnava philosophy. It is because of him, that this lecturer has gained knowledge. His family lived in Pavalakkara Street, in Chennai. There, we can see Sri Venugopala Swami temple. In this temple Sri Rukmini, Sri Venkatesa and Sri Andal are also gracing. There is also a sannidhi for Sri Rama and Hanuman. Tirumazhisai Alwar had once visited this temple. This lecturer, by profession, is a Chartered Accountant. In 1996, this lecturer stopped his C.A. profession and, from that time, he is fully involved in religious pursuit. The lecturer's father, once visited Srirangam for Vaikunta Ekadasi, and after the festival, he went round the temple worshiping Sri Ranganatha and Sri Thayar Sri Ranganayaki; immediately afterwards he died! He had such a great love for Srirangam and the Divine Couple took him to be with Them for ever! The lecturer is thus grateful fo Sri UVe. Karappankadu Swami, Sri UVe. Velukkudi Swami and his Acharya Sri Koil Kandadai Chandamarutam Cholasimhapuram Doddayacharya Swami.
Let us see the remaining slokas of Chapter 18. Sri Krishna now has a close look at Arjuna and asks whether Arjuna listened to all those He preached, with attention? Sloka 72:

kaccid etac chrutaṃ pārtha tvayaikāgreṇa cetasā
kaccid ajñānasaṃmohaḥ pranaṣṭas te dhanaṃjaya 18.72

Te dhanamjaya = Arjuna [who has conquered desire for wealth], kaccid etac chrutam = was it listened, [Sri Krishna's preaching] tvayaikagrena cetasa = with concentrated mind?, kaccid ajnanasammoha = was [Arjuna's] ignorance based confusion, pranasta = lost? The Lord wanted to know whether His [18 Chapter long] preaching was attentively listened to by Arjuna and did that clear his confusion, based on ignorance. Arjuna replies in sloka 73:

arjuna uvāca

naṣṭo mohaḥ smṛtir labdhā tvatprasādān mayācyuta
sthitosmi gatasaṃdehaḥ kariṣye vacanaṃ tava 18.73

After replying the Lord, Arjuna gets up and picks up his bow Gandeepa, with rejuvenated bravery! Nasto moha = [Arjuna replied that his] confusion was lost [or he has clear mind], labdha = [Arjuna had] gained, smrti = true knowledge, Acyuta = Sri Krishna [Who, never lets down His devotees], tvat prasadat = by Your [Sri Krishna's] blessings, maya = by me [Arjuna]. Gatasamdeha = [because all] doubts cleared, sthitosmi = [Arjuna] attained [his] natural self. Karisye = will act, vacanam tava = as per Your [Sri Krishna's] directions or words. It means Arjuna promises to act as advised by the Lord - that he would fight, as it was his assigned duty; with vairagyam; with the Three Tyagas; with atman gyana, that atman is servant of Paramatma; and with Bhakti. Swami Ramanuja in his Gita Bhashyam, inquires the Three points: what was Arjuna's confusion, how it was destroyed and what real knowledge did he gain? Arjuna thought body and soul were same. He thought he would be killing Bheeshma, etc. Next he never thought that both Chit and Achit were body of the Lord and the Lord was inner soul of all. Arjuna also thought that doing one's assigned Karma, would involve in samsaram further. All these thoughts born out of ignorance, were cleared. Arjuna understood that atman was eternal and ever servant of the Lord. The Lord was the Prime Force within all and was commanding and controlling. Doing one's own duties with detachment, enlightened and involved one in Bhakti. Thus, Arjuna is cleared of his worries and doubts, and picks up his bow, to start fighting. With this sloka, the conversation between Arjuna and Lord Sri Krishna ends. The remaining Five slokas of Chapter 18, are spoken by Sanjaya to Dridarashtra. In the beginning, Dridarashtra and Sanjaya conversed. He asked Sanjaya as to what was happening in the Kurukshetra battlefield. And, all these slokas were what Sanjaya told the King. Though Sanjaya was sitting in the palace far away from Kurukshetra, with the blessings of Vyasa, Sanjaya was able to visualize every happening in the battle field. Sloka 74:

sañjaya uvāca

ity ahaṃ vāsudevasya pārthasya ca mahātmanaḥ
saṃvādam imam aśrauṣam adbhutaṃ romaharṣaṇam 18.74

Ity = this, aham = I [Sanjaya], samvadam = conversation between, vasudevasya = Sri Vasudeva [Sri Krishna], parthasya ca = and Partha [Arjuna], mahatmana = the blessed, imam = this [conversation], asrausam = well listened to [by Sanjaya]. Adbhutam = [it was ] wonderful, romaharshanam = had goose bumps. Sanjaya is astonished at the intimacy between Arjuna and Sri Krishna. He calls Arjuna, Mahatma, a great soul! Sloka 75:

vyāsaprasādāc chrutavān etad guhyam ahaṃ param
yogaṃ yogeśvarāt kṛṣṇāt sākṣāt kathayataḥ svayam 18.75

Sanjaya says how he was able to visualize all those happenings. Arjuna was blessed with Divine eyes to view Viswaroopam, by the Lord; but, Sanjaya was blessed with such Divine visual power, by Vyasa. Vyasa prasada = with Vyasa's blessings, aham = I [Sanjaya] was, chrutvan = able to listen to, param guhyam = supreme or most sacred secret [revealing ways to attain Moksham]. Though this listening ability was blessed by Vyasa, he listened directly those sacred words from the Lord Himself. Yogam = [this Gita] yoga shastra, yogesvarat krsnat = from Sri Krishna, embodiment of all auspicious qualities, sakshat = directly, kathayata svayam = heard by self [Sanjaya]. Now, sloka 76:

rājan saṃsmṛtya saṃsmṛtya saṃvādam imam adbhutam
keśavārjunayoḥ puṇyaṃ hṛṣyāmi ca muhur muhuḥ 18.76

Sanjaya tells Dridarashtra that Sanjaya could never forget this great philosophy. The King might not have understood, Arjuna also might not have understood, Bheeshma and Drona might not have imagined, but Sanjaya told that the more and more he thought of those words, his delight was on the increase. Rajan = King [Dridarashtra], samsrtya samsrtya = more and more thinking of, imam = this, adbhutam = astonishing, punyam = sacred, samvadam = conversation between, kesavaarjunayo = Kesava [Sri Krishna] and Arjuna, muhur muhu = again and again, hrsyami = I [Sanjaya] am delighted. Sanjaya tells Dridarashtra that all the words spoken between Arjuna and Sri Krishna, were causing immense happiness to Sanjaya. But of all these slokas in all these Eighteen Chapters, one thing appeared very supreme to Sanjaya. Sloka 77:

tac ca saṃsmṛtya saṃsmṛtya rūpam atyadbhutaṃ hareḥ
vismayo me mahān rājan hṛṣyāmi ca punaḥ punaḥ 18.77

The Viswaroopam, which was exhibited by the Lord in Chapter 11, thinking of it every time, Sanjaya tells Dridarashtra, that he was amazed more and more. Tat = that [Viswaroopam, shown in Chapter 11], samsrtya samsrtya = thinking again and again, rupam = that Image was, adyadbhutam = most amazing, me vismayo mahan = greatly astonishes me [Sanjaya], hrsyami = makes [Sanjaya] happy, puna puna = again and again. Dridarashtra asked in the beginning one question: who would succeed? Dridarashtra's children or Pandu's children? Now, Sanjaya seems to reply that Dridarashtra's children would never see victory and flourish. None can try to antagonize righteous people. Sanjaya tells his opinion in the last sloka of Chapter 18, and of Gita:

yatra yogeśvaraḥ kṛṣṇo yatra pārtho dhanurdharaḥ
tatra śrīr vijayo bhūtir dhruvā nītir matir mama 18.78

This is Sanjaya's opinion. Yatra = where, yogesvaro krsna = [the repository of all auspicious qualities and commander of entire Universe] Yogeswara Sri Krishna is, yatra = where, partho dhanurdhara = Arjuna is with bow [when Sanjaya tells this, Arjuna is already with his bow, Gandeepa], tatra = there will be, dhruva = steady, sri = wealth, vijaya = victory, bhuti = prosperity, niti = justice or Dharma, matir mama = this is my [Sanjaya's] opinion. Sanjaya tells that where Sri Krishna and Arjuna are, there victory, prosperity, wealth and justice would remain firm. He concludes thus. We also conclude this lecture series in Kannanin Aaramudu. It was started in January, 2007 and concluded in November 2009. We convey our sincere thanks to:

• First to Sri Gitacharya gracing in Triplicane, Chennai.
• Veda Vyasa, who wrote Mahabharata epic, in a cave in Badarikashram.
• All our Acharyas for excellent commentaries on Gita. Especially to Swami Yamunacharya for his Gitarta Sangraham, Swami Ramanuja for his Gita Bhashyam and Swami Vedanta Desika for his Tatparya Chandrika.
• That anonymous person, who initiated this lecture, so that all are benefited.
• Doordarshan - Podhigai, especially its Madurai branch and all technicians and engineers, involved in timely and quality telecast of this program
• Hindu Religious Endowment Department of Government of Tamilnadu, for giving permission to record in all temples visited.
  
• All temple authorities and religious servants in the service of God.
• Sri UVe Karappankadu Swami and Sri UVe Velukkudi Swami
• All listeners for the sincerity and support.

MAY ALL BE BLESSED WITH PROSPERITY AND HAPPINESS.
Now that the series is over, what next? It is proposed to give lectures on SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM from 9th November 2009, onwards, daily Monday thru Friday, at 6:30 AM.
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TRANSLATOR'S THANKS ARE TO:

• The Lord Sri Mattapalli Perumal and Sri Rajya Lakshmi Thayar, for blessing me with an opportunity to listen to Gita, sloka by sloka, and complete the translation with my limited intelligence and grasping power.
  
• I did not take a formal permission of Sri UVe. Velukkudi Swami or Doordarshan authorities. But they have been generous in not raising any objections. I apologise for this great lapse, and at the same time I convey my gratitude to them.
  

• I started this as a translation for my son Chi. Raghunathan and daughter Sow.Sowmya, in USA, and wanted to write in daily email. But at their advice to make the audience larger, I started this blog and uploaded the lectures. My thanks are to them and their spouses Sow.Supraja and Chi. Gopi Prashanth.
  

• There were occasions, when I could not be physically present to record and then translate the lecture. But many persons helped in recording and made my task easy. In that regard I am thankful to my Mother-in law smt. Renganayaki, my wife smt.Parimala, Smt.Padmini & Sri.Vedantam of West Mambalam, Smt.Akilavalli & Sri.Ranganathan of West Mambalam, Smt.Vaidehi & Sri.Badri of T.Nagar and Sri&Smt. T.S. Naganathan of Srirangam.
  
• To all those who gave words of encouragement, I am grateful.
• Last but not the least, I am grateful to Sri UVe. Mukkur Sri Lakshmi Narasimhachariar Swami, who is not physically present in this world to bless me, but who is always blessing me and my family in all our endeavours. Only his blessings have made me what I am today.

• There are many websites I visited to give visual effects to the lectures and also for some clarifications. Though, I do not have the list of all, I am grateful to the following sites:

1. Prapatti.com
2. Ahobilavalli.org
3. Dictionary.com
4. tamildict.com
5. srivaishnavam.com
6. sacred-texts,com
7. divyakshetrams.blogspot.com
8. bhagavad-gita.us

and many, many more.
PRAYING SRI MATTAPALL SRI LAKSHMINARASIMHA AND SRI RAJYALAKSHMI THAYAR TO BLESS ALL WITH HAPPINESS AND PROSPERITY.
Dasan,
saranathan.