कच्चिदेतच्छ्रुतं पार्थ त्वयैकाग्रेण चेतसा |
कच्चिदज्ञानसम्मोह: प्रनष्टस्ते धनञ्जय || 72||
kachchid etach chhrutaṁ pārtha tvayaikāgreṇa chetasā
kachchid ajñāna-sammohaḥ pranaṣhṭas te dhanañjaya
kachchit—whether; etat—this; śhrutam—heard; pārtha—Arjun, the son of Pritha; tvayā—by you; eka-agreṇa chetasā—with a concentrated mind; kachchit—whether; ajñāna—ignorance; sammohaḥ—delusion; pranaṣhṭaḥ—destroyed; te—your; dhanañjaya—Arjun, conqueror of wealth
Translation:
Has this been heard by you O Partha, with a concentrated mind? Has the delusion of your ignorance been destroyed O Arjuna?
Commentary:
As a physician who at the end of his treatment asks the sick man if his illness is cured, so also the Lord questions Arjuna whether His teaching has removed the delusion of ignorance. Ignorance of one’s own real nature is the disease from which all mankind suffers. Ignorance creates delusion, and man forgets his real nature. The wise man who knows his real nature, who feels that he is not the body, but the glorious Atma, frees himself from all suffering and sorrow.
Ekagrena chetasa: (One-pointed mind)-Concentration is essential in every type of work. A divided and distracted mind cannot achieve anything good and useful. The mind acquires power by concentration. If the waters of a lake are disturbed, there cannot be a clear reflection of surrounding trees. A mirror cannot reflect a moving face correctly and clearly. So also, if the mind is unsteady and disturbed, there cannot be a clear reflection of the Reality (Atma). Therefore the Lord questions Arjuna whether he has heard the Gita-teaching with a concentrated mind. One should study the Gita with a concentrated mind. Only then does he understand its meaning clearly. This is no doubt an elementary principle in the study and understanding of any subject. More so, in the study of the Gita which contains the highest spiritual truth. The student has to be extremely alert and concentrated in mind.
Ajnana sammohah: (The delusion of ignorance)-Delusion is the effect of ignorance. A man sees a rope and mistakes it for a snake. This is delusion. Here delusion clouded Arjuna’s mind as he saw his relations and friends who stood opposed to him on the battlefield. The Lord’s teaching cleared the delusion.
Pranashtah: A potent medicine destroys the illness completely, leaving no trace of it in the body. So also knowledge destroys ignorance completely. The spiritual teacher takes great care of his disciple, and will not be easily satisfied till he has grasped his teaching. He will not be contented till his disciple is completely freed from the last trace of ignorance and bondage. Such is the compassion that great masters have for suffering humanity.
Dhanamjaya: Formerly Arjuna has acquired wealth and fame by his heroism and victory over innumerable external enemies. Now the time has come for him to vanquish the inner enemies of delusion and ignorance. This indeed is a far more difficult task. But Arjuna has all the necessary equipment and the guidance of Sri Krishna Himself on the way to spiritual illumination.
Question: How should Gita be studied?
Answer: It should be heard or studied with a one-pointed mind.
Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 18 🔻 (78 Verses)
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| 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 |
| 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 |
| 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 |
| 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 56 | 57 | 58 | 59 | 60 |
| 61 | 62 | 63 | 64 | 65 | 66 | 67 | 68 | 69 | 70 |
| 71 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 75 | 76 | 77 | 78 |
