Gita 10.01 – The Gita is an endearing combination of lofty exposition and intimate affection

Bhagavad Gita 10.1 so here Krishna is speaking this is the start of the 10th chapter the 10th chapter is often known in various ways one of the ways the most common way is Vibhut yoga the opulence of the absolute actually Prabhupada translates it and that is the major part of the chapter although of course Jatushloki Gita also comes in this chapter and this is one of the several chapters in the Gita which start without a question being asked by Arjuna Krishna speaks of his own accord pursuing the themes which were addressed in the previous chapter so in this chapter Krishna will talk about his supreme position to reinforce the message of devotion which he had talked about in the previous verse and which he will stress further, elaborate further in this chapter so here he states again I'll speak Arjuna, it's interesting Krishna the word Mahabahu is used as a generic reference for Kshatriyas because they are expected to be very powerful with their arms they are expected to protect, they are expected to chastise the wrongdoers and protect the citizens so either the Kshatriya so both Arjuna so Krishna sometimes refers to Arjuna as Mahabahu and Arjuna also refers to Krishna as Mahabahu Bhuya eva Mahabahu Bhuya means again certainly again certainly Arjuna Shrunu here Shrunu me paramam vachaha these are my top most words yatte ham Priyamanaya because I consider you very dear to me Priyamanaya Priyamanaya Vakshami Hitakamyaya Vakshami therefore I speak Hitakamyaya desiring your benefit so what we need to acknowledge or recognize is that Krishna at his very best is a person who is in no way detached from us you know Krishna when I say Krishna there are multiple manifestations of God and Krishna and they are at one level non different but at another level there is a difference between the various manifestations of God and the defining difference is that among these various manifestations it is Krishna who is the highest manifestation in the sense that he is the personal manifestation the fully personal manifestation and the personality and the affection of the living beings for him is is actually manifested in him the most yes the Parmatma is also affectionate but the Parmatma also has a function say a social worker or a person who is working for the say the reformation or the elevation of people who are in trouble that person can be overly affectionate but a person who has the role of a judge that person has to have a disposition of of objectivity of distance of detachment by which the proper assessment can be done and wherever in cases the certain correction has to be done the correction can be done now in the case of Krishna as a Parmatma he is more like a judge but as Bhagawan he is he is the lord who manifests love reciprocates love with his devotees and invites all living beings to the level of pure love with him thus it is that Krishna is the all attractive Supreme thus it is that Krishna is the person in whom the loving nature of the absolute becomes very endearingly manifested so here what we see is Krishna expressing his affectionate concern for Arjuna in several verses several points actually first is that he says I desire your benefit now we can desire another's benefit in a distance way also for example if we see a beggar on the street we may desire oh this beggar should not suffer maybe we can give some food maybe we can give some money and that way we can help that beggar but it is not that that benevolent disposition towards someone does not necessarily mean that we have an affectionate relationship with that person we would not expect if we gave some alms to the beggar we would expect that beggar to go away we would not expect that the beggar would constantly be there with us all the time again and again asking us for things Priyamanaya means that where we expect we actually have affectionate relationship for that person so Krishna is not just giving some good advice as it is said somewhere nothing as easy to give or nothing that is as freely given as good advice but Krishna is not just giving good advice he is actually concerned and he is as we will see later in the Mahabharata after the Bhagavad Gita gets over that he is by the side of Arjuna helping him through thick and thin so Priyamanaya Priyamanaya means that Krishna is here to help Arjuna attain success and he is he loves him that is why Krishna has taken on the role of a role of a of a charioteer so he is not only assisting him as a menial assistant but he is also going to assist him by being strategically placed close to him as a counsellor and further Krishna is stating over here so Krishna's affection is first seen directly through these words Hitkamaya and Priyamanaya but along with that Krishna is also saying that Paramamvajah he is saying these are the supreme words the top most words I am speaking to you and further he is saying Bhuya eva I have spoken this earlier I am speaking this again to you that there is no ambiguity about what the essential message is that I am giving to you so that you know clearly what is to be done and then of course Mahabhaha to convey his regard for Arjuna's prowess Bhuya eva Mahabhaha Shunume paramamvajah Yatteham Priyamanaya Vakshami Hitkamaya this is such a affection filled start sometimes when a class starts say a professor is teaching the student the professor may start with a quick review of the subject ok so today we will discuss about the world view present in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet or today we will discuss about the economic improvement in India post independence what are subject is being discussed the professor may just give a quick summary of what is going to be discussed but if it is a if it is a affectionate intimate relative speaking say a son is going abroad for education or son is going abroad for or daughter has just got married and is going to her house at that time the mother may speak some words or son is going abroad for education or business father may speak some words and this is not academic lesson this is a intimate words of affection and guidance so Krishna is in that mood when he says he is going to speak yes the content is lofty and philosophical but the mood is affectionate and intimate and this is what makes the Bhagavad Gita so so enduring that it blends it blends erudition with affection in an enduring combination and this we will see again and again and especially in the 18th chapter towards the conclusion of the Gita but we get a prelude of that here in this opening verse of the 10th chapter thank you.