2011, 16 May, 06:27 PM, Discovery, Monday
Yes, invisible are the ways of Naaraayani Ma Bhav'Taarini. Making me to write commentaries on ShrimadBhagavadGita श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता was just not to add one more set of commentaries to the numerous ones already floating around. Among other, one significant purpose was to mysteriously connect me to Prof D Meo in Italy which became the starting point for understanding Christianity. Another significant purpose was to let me have an understanding of श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता in today's context. What I wrote was not my knowledge; it was Ma Saraswati who helped thoughts pour in and all I did was to type it down.
Number 18 - no coincidence
Mumbai, Thursday, 3 Feb 2011, 08:35 AM
BhagavadGita has 18 chapters.
Battle was fought between two armies: total number of participants 18 Akshauhini (11 Akshauhini from Kaurav side and 7 Akshauhini from Paandav side).
Battle of MahaaBhaarat conclusively ended on 18th day.
At the end of the Battle only 18 persons remained alive.
Number 18 represents struggle between material and spiritual forces...
18 Chapters of BhagavadGita
As you will notice all Sanskrit terms are single words arrived by Sandhi (संधि) of (combining) two or more words. Same is the case with title BhagavadGita. Therefore, English transliterations have been presented as single terms without use of hyphen.
01 Arjun'Vishaad'Yog अर्जुनविषादयोग
02 Saankhya'Yog सांख्ययोग
03 Karm'Yog कर्मयोग
04 Gyaan'Karm'Sannyaas'Yog ज्ञानकर्मसंन्यासयोग
05 Karm'Sannyaas'Yog कर्मसंन्यासयोग
06 Aatm'Sanyam'Yog आत्मसंयमयोग
07 Gyaan'Vigyaan'Yog ज्ञानविज्ञानयोग
08 Akshar'Brahm'Yog
अक्षरब्रह्मयोग
09 RaajVidyaa'RaajGuhya'Yog राजविद्याराजगुह्ययोग
10 Vibhooti'Yog विभूतियोग
11 Vishv'Roop'Darshan'Yog
12 Bhakti'Yog भक्तियोग
13 Kshetr'Kshetragya'Vibhaag'Yog
14 Gun'Traya'Vibhaag'Yog गुणत्रयविभागयोग
15 Purushottam'Yog पुरुषोत्तमयोग
16 Daivaasur'Sampad'Vibhaag'Yog
17 Shraddhaa'Tray'Vibhaag'Yog
18 Moksh'Sanyaas'Yog
Mail that arrived from Ramakrishna Mission Calcutta Students Home
From December 2001, I had started translating BhagavadGita in simple English, presenting only the essence of it. But, soon I got in two minds whether to continue with it or not. On the New Year’s Day, I received email:
“Please continue sending the Gita teachings”. It was signed by “Members of Ramakrishna Mission Calcutta Students’ Home”.
After that I did not stop.
Upon receiving my work on BhagavadGita Chapter 9, Rosalind Samson wrote to me:
“Someday may be you will think of publishing your works. I am sure that there are a few hundred or may be thousands parched persons … who would benefit by reading your material. Wish you well. May the Lord be with you and guide you.”
After this, I decided to start work afresh to give it a totally new shape, beginning with Chapter 1 all over again.
Prof. D. Meo and Francis Yip remained constant source of support. SDK, UG, MMM, GKK, and SKM also offered encouragement in their own ways. Behind all these, remained the inspiration of God, who works in a silent way, unnoticed by anyone!
Let this work be for all those who seek "Him". Let there be no desire, within me, for any material gains from this work. Let there be no attachment, in me, towards this work, due to which I may feel bad if anyone denounces this work, or due to which I may feel elated if anyone praises this work. If there be any desire, within me, let it be for my final dissolution within "Him".
This work, if it is of any literary value, let it be an offering to "Him". This work, if it is of any spiritual value, let it be an offering to "Him". Let this work be my Yagya, an offering to "Him".