BG6.7

'Oh! Dark cloud hued, with Garuda flag and the army of Sudarshana, Sri Deivanayaga! I surrender unto You' so says Nammalwar. Today's [3rd January 2008] lecture is from the main sannidhi of Sri Deivanayaka Perumal. Inside, the Lord graces the devotees, just as in Vaikuntam, seated on the Serpent throne with one leg folded and the other stretched. Two arms are placed on His lap. Right upper hand is holding the Chakra in Prayoga [ready] form and the left upper hand is holding the Conch. On the right and left are seated His Consorts Sri Sridevi and Sri Bhoodevi. Behind them are Soorya and Chandra. From the top Urvashi and Thilothama are fanning the Lord holding fur in their hands. Below, sages Markandeya and Brughu are worshiping the Lord. Once Daksha Prajapati performed yagna and he did not invite his son-in-law, lord Shiva. But Uma, daughter of Daksha wanted to participate in the yagna by her father. Lord Shiva prevented her from going, but she, not heedin the advice of lord Shiva, went to the yagna. She was not only not welcomed but was humiliated. Learning this lord Shiva sent his army and they destroyed the yagna. In that fight, Soorya and Chandra were injured and they came to this Kshetram. Meditating on the Lord here, they prayed that they should always be worshiping Him here and so the Lord allowed them to be in the Garbagruha. Before coming here, their minds were filled with rage to fight. But after coming here, the minds changed to serving the Lord always. This is an example of change of mind. Lord Brahma is in Satya loka. It is the seventh world after Bhoo [ our earth], Bhuva, Suva, Maha, Jana and Thapa lokas. Urvashi was one apsara women in heaven and once she came to Satya loka and played on the veena instrument to delight Brahma. At that time Thilothama also came and they argued as to who should play on veena. Thilothama boasted that she with her skill in playing veena could destroy two demons Sundha and Upasundha. These brothers were causing harm to Devas and Thilothama was deputed to destroy them. Seeing such a beautiful woman playing veena, both the demon brothers wanted to marry her and it ended in dispute when each killed the other. Refuting her boasting, Urvashi came out with her accomplishments and the arguement continued. Finally, they decided to come here and pray the Lord to decide as to who was more capable. When the Lord appeared before them after their meditation, the two prayed for serving the Lord for ever and so the Lord accommodated them also in th Garbagruha. Thus all these got Sameepyam - living near the God. We can notice that before all these could get the vision of the lord, their minds were against them like an enemy. But after they saw the Lord, the same minds got changed and became friendly to them. This was the essence of sloka 5 and Arjuna wondered whether change of mind was possible. The Lord answers this in sloka 6:

bandhur atmatmanas tasya
yenatmaivatmana jitah
anatmanas tu satrutve
vartetatmaiva satru-vat

"For him who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of friends; but for one who has failed to do so, his mind will remain the greatest enemy."

Tasya atmana = for that great soul, atmana bandhu = mind is friend, yena = for that person, atmaiva = by his soul, atmana jita = mind is conquered. For the person who is able to vanquish his mind, the mind is a friend to the soul [in pursuit of sublime things like atman sakshatkaram]. Anatmanas tu = [but] he who has not conqureed his mind, atmaaiva = his own mind, chatru vat = lke an enemy, satrutva = enmity, varteta = is established. For the one who is unable to conquer his own mind, his mind will act as enemy. How to conquer a mind? It is an abstract matter and so how to encounter and conquer? Here, what is meant as conquering, is to control the mind from drifting and going after worldly pleasures. Diverting the mind on atman is all what is meant. This has to be slowly achieved by practice. Initially, we may do it for few minutes , but practice makes perfect and longer durations can be realized. Whenever we divert the mind on atman, we are supposed to have conquered the mind. During such time, the mind is our friend. In the tales of Urvashi, Thilothama and others, we found that their minds changed for the better. God's blessings were there. Upanishads say that if we concentrate on the Lord, then all knots in our hearts are resolved and mind becomes friendly. Alwar says that if one could reside in Thotadri, mind would become friendly. By doing Karma yoga with detachment on the results, the God is pleased and He ensures the change of the mind and it becomes friendly to the soul.