I’ve really enjoyed reading The Bhagavad Gita over the past few
weeks. The text is very accessible and the chapters are concise enough to read
in one quick sitting. The Gita travels with me to work, lunch, errands, and
occasionally even to friend’s houses.
Throughout my reading, and our thought provoking discussions of the text
in class, I’ve come across many interesting ideas and topics, ranging from Love
to Violence and from scripture to evolution. One particular aspect of The Bhagavad Gita that intrigued me was the
cosmic vison that Krishna shows to Arjuna.
The Gita’s depiction
of God’s true form startled me, and captured my imagination long after my
initial reading. Before I start to discuss the chapter, a brief report of the leading
events may be necessary. Here it is: Sitting on a battlefield, in the middle of
two opposing armies, an avatar of Vishnu is teaching Prince Arjuna the true
nature of reality and of God. Having heard about the various paths to
enlightenment, an explanation of terms, and the nature and power of God, Arjuna
becomes free of delusion and proclaims his understanding of the divine. In
Chapter 11 of The Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna
asks Krishna to show his “immortal self.” Krishna, loving his friend and
student, grants Arjuna “spiritual vision to perceive [His] majestic power.”
Here, the scene breaks, and the reader is brought back to Sanjaya, the story’s
framed narrator, who tells his selfish King about Arjuna’s cosmic vison.
Krishna/Vishnu/God
is revealed to Arjuna through a dazzling, terrifying, and awe-inspiring scene.
Krishna is described as displaying “an infinite number of faces, ornamented by
heavenly jewels, displaying unending miracles and the countless weapons of his
power.” Arjuna is amazed. The Gita invokes imagery of miraculous sunrises,
infinite bodily forms, celestial objects, and wise and ancient sages. The text
involves a variety of images in an effort to convey the sublime nature of God
through words, a truly impossible mission.
Krishna,
having been described, now speaks to Arjuna. His words seemed shocking and
horrifying to me at first, but with closer inspection I soon realized their meaning
and purpose in The Bhagavad Gita.
Krishna says to Arjuna:
“I am time, the destroyer of all; I
have come to consume the world. Even without your participation, all the
warriors gathered here will die. Therefore arise, Arjuna; conquer your enemies
and enjoy the glory of sovereignty.”
After 10
chapters describing God’s loving and caring nature, and of Vishnu’s supporting
role in the cosmos, Krishna scared the hell out of me with his sudden doom and
gloom. Beyond my initial alarm, his call to action provoked me, and made me pay
closer attention to the text. Throughout my studies of literature, I’ve learned
that good writing always provokes a reaction from its reader. The Bhagavad Gita masterfully draws its
audience in with its promise of divine understanding. Then, the text shocks you
with its sudden intensity.
Krishna’s
words help to sew the philosophical and situational threads of The Bhagavad Gita into a more cohesive
story. After all, Arjuna is a warrior and as we learned in the earlier chapters
of The Gita, warriors (like all living things) have a dharma to uphold. Arjuna’s
dharma is to slay his brother’s enemies on the battlefield. In his cosmic
manifestation, Krishna scares Arjuna into action, and calls for the young
Prince to be God’s tool in restoring balance to the world. The chapter also
inspires readers to action. Arjuna represents all spiritual aspirants, and we
can all look to him and his conversation with the divine for guidance in our
own lives.
Krishna seems terrifying, but our
dharma may often look that way. We are all faced with struggle: problems to be
solved and battles to be fought. Obstacles are often hidden at first, but always
have a way of revealing themselves in time. Krishna tells those who seek
enlightenment to face their obstacles head-on, with an understanding of God’s
power and of their duty to fulfill His plans.
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