कार्पण्यदोषोपहतस्वभाव:
पृच्छामि त्वां धर्मसम्मूढचेता: |
यच्छ्रेय: स्यान्निश्चितं ब्रूहि तन्मे
शिष्यस्तेऽहं शाधि मां त्वां प्रपन्नम् || 7||
kārpaṇya-doṣhopahata-svabhāvaḥ
pṛichchhāmi tvāṁ dharma-sammūḍha-chetāḥ
yach-chhreyaḥ syānniśhchitaṁ brūhi tanme
śhiṣhyaste ’haṁ śhādhi māṁ tvāṁ prapannam
kārpaṇya-doṣha—the flaw of cowardice; upahata—besieged; sva-bhāvaḥ—nature; pṛichchhāmi—I am asking; tvām—to you; dharma—duty; sammūḍha—confused; chetāḥ—in heart; yat—what; śhreyaḥ—best; syāt—may be; niśhchitam—decisively; brūhi—tell; tat—that; me—to me; śhiṣhyaḥ—disciple; te—your; aham—I; śhādhi—please instruct; mām—me; tvām—unto you; prapannam—surrendered
Translation:
(O Krishna!) My mind is distracted by the taint of pity and I am ignorant of what my duty is, and so, I ask you to teach me what is good for me. I am your disciple. I take refuge in you.
Commentary:
Karpanyadoshah: `Kripanah’ commonly means a greedy man, a beggar. It means also a man ignorant of the knowledge of Atma.
The first meaning does not apply to Arjuna, for he was never known to be greedy or a beggarly spirit. Therefore the word should here mean ignorance according to the meaning given in the Upanishads.
In the first discourse, Arjuna speaks. Krishna listens and remains silent. Arjuna speaks of Dharma and Adharma as if he knew the secret laws of righteousness and action. Still, Krishna remains silent. Perhaps the Lord thought that he should not speak till Arjuna asked him to know the truth.
But Arjuna was not a common man. He understood his state of mind and the terrible perplexity and despair into which he was plunged by the tremendous responsibility of the situation. He realised that his own estimate of the situation was not all true as his mind was distracted by sorrow and despondency. So he stops the flow of his own obsessed thoughts and feelings, and simply surrenders to the Lord, to enlighten him and show the right path of action. He assumes the correct position of a humble disciple. The divine Master was pleased with Arjuna’s humility. So it is in the relation between all disciples and teachers. The more humble the disciple is the greater is the love of the surrendered to the Lord with complete faith; Arjuna sought for light and guidance. The Lord at once took upon himself the responsibility of a Guru. He taught him the highest wisdom. He cleared all doubts and answered the questions. He revealed his universal form (Visvarupa) and pulled up the sinking Arjuna from the slough of despondency in every way. Arjuna did a great service to humanity by his self-surrender, for the Lord had then the proper occasion to deliver the message of the Gita to mankind. Let all seekers understand the inner meaning and significance of the subtle relations between the disciple and the master.
Mind Distracted: Nature in its own original state is pure in every man. It becomes defiled and impure by bad elements like lust, greed, and hatred. Without these defiling elements, man’s nature is verily divine and spiritual. The whole attempt of religion is to show the way how to bring back the mind to its original state of purity. The unwise do not seek a remedy even though all of them pass through the same state of perplexity and confusion in solving the problem of life. On the other hand, Arjuna discovered his mental weakness and immediately sought a remedy. What is that remedy? – Taking refuge in the Guru. Who is that Guru? the Blessed Lord Krishna himself. Arjuna surrendered to the Lord and appealed to him, “I am your disciple, command me what I should do?” He fell at the feet of the Lord. His egoism vanished. This is the surest path to spiritual realisation. This is the ship that takes the bound soul across the ocean of ‘samsara’. The Guru is the expert pilot. If he is at the helm, there is no danger of any storm or tempest in life. He takes the disciple who has taken refuge in him safely through all dangers to the heaven of peace and freedom. Therefore the aspirants should surrender to a competent Guru and practice the virtue of humility. Then they receive illumination and realise the Supreme.
Related Articles:
- Having abandoned all duties (Dharmas) take refuge in Me alone. I will liberate you from all sins. Do not grieve. (BG 18.66)
- Arjuna said: My delusion is destroyed, I have regained my memory through your grace, ‘O Krishna! I stand firm, free from doubt; I will act according to your word. (BG 18.73)