Gīta Bhāshya Introduction
देवं नारायणं नत्वा सर्वदोषविवर्जितम्। परिपूर्णं गुरूंश्चान् गीतार्थं वक्ष्यामि लेशतः॥
I worship the supreme personality Nārāyana, the all-pervading one, who is devoid of all defects, who is complete in all aspects, and also my Guru, and explain the meaning of Gīta to my capacity.
Summary
The essence of Vedic knowledge was difficult to understand for common people in olden days. Also, it was inaccessible to working class and women. Kind-hearted dēvas seeing the suffering of the ignorant people, prayed to Godhead. The merciful lord appeared as sage Vyasa and composed Mahabharata to impart transcendental knowledge. It shows the nature of both impediments and enablement, the way to overcome accumulated sins and the means to realise reality. It also shows how to get liberation through the knowledge of dharma. By studying it, one can gain kēvala-jnāna, the transcendental knowledge that results in liberation. The significance of Mahabharata and divinity of Vyasa as incarnation of the Godhead is established by providing various testimonials. These testimonials are drawn from various traditional texts (smritis) and statements coming down through disciple succession (risi-sampradāya). Within Mahabharata "Bhagavad-Gita" in the form of a conversation between Arjuna and Krishna, contains its essence. Hence, one should study the same.
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नष्टधर्मज्ञानलोककृपालुभिर्ब्रह्मरुद्रेन्द्रादिभिरर्थितो ज्ञानप्रदर्शनाय भगवान् व्यासोऽवततार।
Seeing the decline of dharmic knowledge in the world, kind-hearted Brahma, Rudra, Indra and other gods prayed to the Godhead. Then the Lord appeared as Vyāsa to impart knowledge.
ततश्चेष्टानिष्टप्राप्तिपरिहारसाधनादर्शनाद् वेदार्थाज्ञानाच्च संसारे क्लिश्यमानानां वेदानधिकारिणां स्त्रीशूद्रादीनां च धर्मज्ञानद्वारा मोक्षो भवेदिति कृपालुः सर्ववेदार्थोपबृंहितां तदनुक्तकेवलेश्वरज्ञानदृष्टार्थयुक्तां च सर्वप्राणिनाम् अवगाह्यानवगाह्यरूपां केवलभगवत्स्वरूपपरां परोक्षार्थां महाभारतसंहिताम् अचीक्ऌपत् ॥ तच्चोक्तम् –
The merciful (Vēdavyāsa) composed Mahābhārata text for the sake of all beings:
- to impart the difficult to understand knowledge of Vēdas in this cycle of worldly existence
- for the sake of Women and Shudras who did not have qualification to access Vēdas
- to show the way to overcome accumulated sins
- to show the means to realise reality
- to explain the nature of impediments and enablement; and to achieve the world beyond
- to show how to get liberation through the knowledge of dharma
- it conveys the essence of all Vēdas.
- by studying Gīta one gains insight into the transcendental knowledge (kēvala-jnāna) of God.
Therefore, it is said:
लोकेशा ब्रह्मरुद्राद्याः संसारे क्लेशिनं जनम्। वेदार्थाज्ञमधीकारवर्जितं च स्त्रियादिकम्॥
"Sustainers of the universe, the lord Brahma, Rudra and others saw people in the world suffering as they were denied access to Vēdas. They were denied access as they were considered as women or as not qualified."
अवेक्ष्य प्रार्थयामासुर्देवेशं पुरुषोत्तमम्। ततः प्रसन्नो भगवान् व्यासो भूत्वा च तेन च॥
"Devas prayed to supreme among beings (Purushottama), requesting him to provide the means to end suffering. The pleased God appeared as Vyāsa."
अन्यावताररूपैश्च वेदानुक्तार्थभूषितम्। केवलेनात्मबोधेन दृष्टं वेदार्थसंयुतम्॥
"He explained in Mahabharata those topics which are not mentioned in the Vēdas. It covered those topics taught during His other avatars. They give knowledge pertaining to ‘atman’. It also includes insight into the knowledge of Vēdas."
"वेदादपि परं चक्रे पञ्चमं वेदमुत्तमम्। भारतं पञ्चरात्रं च मूलरामायणं तथा॥ पुराणं भागवतं चेति सम्भिन्नः शास्त्रपुङ्गवः॥"
"The fifth Veda comprising the Bharata, the Pancharatra, the original Ramayana and the Bhagavata Purana are superior to Vēdas. It is compiled by the Vyāsa, the authority on sacred texts."
- इति नारायणाष्टाक्षरकल्पे।
- states Narayana Ashtaksharakalpa.
"ब्रह्मापि तन्न जानाति ईषत् सर्वोपि जानते। बह्वर्थमृषयस्तत्तु भारतं प्रवदन्ति हि॥"- इत्युपनारदीये
“Even the most intelligent does not comprehend it (fully), while few things everyone can understand. Sages say multiple meanings exist for the Bhārata.”- States Upanaradiya.
"ब्रह्माद्यैः प्रार्थितो विष्णुर्भारतं स चकार ह। यस्मिन् दशार्थाः सर्वत्र न ज्ञेयाः सर्वजन्तुभिः॥" - इति नारदीये।
"Lord Vishnu composed Mahābhārata at the request of lord Brahma and others. It has tenfold meaning everywhere, which can’t be grasped by all." - states Naradīya.
"भारतं चापि कृतवान् पञ्चमं वेदमुत्तमम्। दशावरार्थं सर्वत्र केवलं विष्णुबोधकम्। परोक्षार्थं तु सर्वत्र वेदादप्युत्तमं तु यत्॥" - इति स्कान्दे।
"He (Vyāsa) composed Bharata as fifth Veda, which is the knowledge of elixir. It has tenfold meaning everywhere. It teaches primarily Vishnu, provides insight into life beyond, and is superior to Vēdas." - states Skanda Purana.
"यदि विद्याच्चतुर्वेदान् साङ्गोपनिषदान् द्विजः। न चेत् पुराणं संविद्यान्नैव स स्याद् विचक्षणः॥" - (म.भा..१.१.२६८)
“Even if a brahmin is educated in four Vēdas, Upanishads, and six shastras, he is not considered as clever, if he is not wholesomely educated in the Puranas.” - Mahābhārata 1.1.268
"इतिहासपुराणाभ्यां वेदं समुपबृंहयेत्। बिभेत्यल्पश्रुताद् वेदो मामयं प्रचलिष्यति।" -म.भा.आदि..२९३
"From historical epics and puranas, one must substantiate the Vēdas. The Vēdas say–'I am afraid of the people with limited knowledge as they are going to spread wrong knowledge of me.'" - Mahābhārata 1.1.293
"मन्वादि केचिद् ब्रुवते ह्यास्तीकादि तथापरे। तथोपरिचराद्यन्ये भारतं परिचक्षते।" - म.भा.आदि.१.६६
"The Mahābhārata can be understood as the story of humans, or as a story of theists, or on deeper scrutiny as the story of those who move above (i.e. devas and the principles represented by them)." - Mahābhārata 1.1.66
"भारतं सर्ववेदाश्च तुलामारोपिताः पुरा। देवैर्ब्रह्मादिभिः सर्वैः ऋषिभिश्च समन्वितैः। व्यासस्यैवाज्ञया तत्र त्वत्यरिच्यत भारतम्॥" - ब्रह्माण्डपुराणे
“In olden days, instructed by Sage Vyāsa, Brahma and other gods assembled along with all the sages at one place and tried to weigh the Mahābhārata compared to all the Vēdas. They found the Mahābhārata to be heavier regarding principles.”–Brahmanda Purana
"महत्त्वाद् भारवत्त्वाच्च महाभारतमुच्यते। निरुक्तमस्य यो वेद सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते।" - म.भा.१.३००
"As it is most significant and heavier, it is called the Mahābhārata. One who knows this etymological meaning (of Mahābhārata) will get rid of all the sins." - Mahābhārata 1.1.300
"यदिहास्ति तदन्यत्र यन्नेहास्ति न कुत्रचित्॥" - म.भा.आदि ५.५०
“Whatever is present here (in Mahabharata) only exists elsewhere; What is not present here is not to be found anywhere.” - Mahābhārata 1.5.50
"विराटोद्योगसारवान्" - म भा.१.८९
"The Virāta canto and the Udyōga cantos are the essence" - Mahābhārata 1.1.89
इत्यादितद्वाक्यपर्यालोचनया, ऋषिसम्प्रदायात्,
When we analyse the above statements, and also look at the content that has come through the disciple succession of sages (risi-sampradaya), the following sentence:
"को ह्यन्यः पुण्डरीकाक्षान्महाभारतकृद् भवेत्" -वायुप्रोक्तवचनम्
“Who else other than lord Pundarikaksha can write the Mahabharata?”
इत्यादिपुराणग्रन्थान्तरगतवाक्यान्यथानुपपत्त्या, नारदाध्ययनादिलिङ्गैश्चावसीयते।
Statements referred so far which provide insight into the Puranic texts can't be insignificant.
कथमन्यथा भारतनिरुक्तिज्ञानमात्रेण सर्वपापक्षयः?
“How can otherwise all the sins dissolve just by the imparted knowledge of Mahābhārata?”
प्रसिद्धश्च सोर्थः।
- is a famous traditional quote.
कथं चान्यस्य न कर्तुं शक्यते। न्थान्तरगतत्वाच्च नाविद्यमानस्तुतिः। न च कर्तुरेव। इतरत्रापि साम्यात्।
Why is it not possible for others (other than Vyasa) to create (Mahabharata)? The praise for the author (of Mahabharata) is coming from other smriti texts as well. It is not just for the scholarship displayed by the author, or for the instrumentality of his composing (Mahabharata, but for him being the supreme God, Pundarikaksha). Narration of similar facts is present in other texts as well.
तत्र च सर्वभारतार्थसङ्ग्रहां वासुदेवार्जुनसंवादरूपां भारतपारिजातमधुभूतां गीतामुपनिबन्ध। तच्चोक्तम्–
The subsection pertaining to Gīta which is in the form of a conversation between Krishna and Arjuna, contains the summary of Mahābhārata. It is like the nectar extracted from the fragrant coral jasmine flower called the Bharata. Therefore, it is said–
"भारतं सर्वशास्त्रेषु भारते गीतिका वरा। विष्णोः सहस्रनामापि ज्ञेयं पाठ्यं च तद् द्वयम्॥" - इति महाकौर्मे।
"One should study and understand the Bharata among all scriptures. Within Bharata, study both the Gīta and the Vishnu-Sahasranama." - States Maha-Kaurma Purana.
"स हि धर्मः सुपर्याप्तो ब्रह्मणः पदवेदने" - म.भा.१३.१६.१२. ।
“The performance of right dharma (as shown in Gīta) results in the realisation of Brahman; Once firmly established, it results in liberation and further bliss.” - ma. bhā.13.16.12.
इत्यादि च।
We find such other statements as well.
