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Divya Drashti
Divine Gaze

 

We have to develop ‘divine vision’ ‘Divya Drashti  like Krushna's to understand how to achieve the right balance of Jyana, Karma and Bhakti in our lives.  In the Mahabharata, Shri Krushna advises several people about this several times.  However, only Arjun understands and follows a little bit of advice given to him. This formed the divine dialogue of Shri Maad Bhagvad Gita.   The rest thank him for giving them the vision but refuse to learn from it.  For example, before the battle, Shri Krushna goes to the Kurus to make peace.  There, he shows his Vishvaroop to the sages, courtiers, kings, princes and members of the Kuru court.  Sages applauded the vision, courtiers & clan members were shocked by it, princes & kings braced themselves for death and Duryodhan was non-chalant, calling it s cheap magician's trick to force him to change his unchangeable mind! 

When Arjun was given the same ‘vision’ at the start of the battle, he was excited, bewildered and scared by the vastness of the vision.  Initially he was unable to comprehend the comprehensive nature of the vision.  Shri Krushna pointed out the appropriate parts – telling him he is one of the devas – satvic souls who work towards the upliftment of the world.  Initially Arjun enjoyed the prosaic aspects of seeing the divine plan till his gaze turned to the carnage he could now foresee.  Being a veteran of several battles, he was aware of the appalling death that accompanies all battles.  He was suitably grim faced when he voted to fight the Kauravas to enforce their rights.  Yet now, when he actually 'sees' the death of his relatives and friends, he was shaken to the core.

Too much detail !

Arjun seems to falter at the thought of what he was going to do.  Killing his own grandsire, guru and relatives was distasteful in the extreme.  If he was unwilling to fight before the battle, Shri Krushna's Divya Drashti of what the war will achieve totally unmans him.  Shri Krushna reminded him that the result of the battle was a foregone conclusion.  Fight or not, carnage was ensured.  His nearest and dearest were destined to die.  Either be a part of the divine plan or be apart from it – the conclusion will be the same.  But Shri Krushna also relents and simplifies the conclusion of the ‘vision’ (Divya Drashti) and reminds Arjun that it is in his interest to join the battle and be on the winning side.

Having a vision is one thing.  To achieve it takes courage and determination.
Knowking what is and is not possible is one thing.  To strive to achieve the possible and the impossible takes courage and determination.
To have people who believe in you, your vision, your ability is one thing.  To actually live up to their faith in you takes courage and determination.

He who dares wins.
Do YOU dare?

Shri Krushna asks all of us this simple question through Arjun and the SMB Gita.

 

© Bhagwat Shah
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