सञ्जय उवाच |
एवमुक्त्वार्जुन: सङ्ख्ये रथोपस्थ उपाविशत् |
विसृज्य सशरं चापं शोकसंविग्नमानस: || 47||
sañjaya uvācha
evam uktvārjunaḥ saṅkhye rathopastha upāviśhat
visṛijya sa-śharaṁ chāpaṁ śhoka-saṁvigna-mānasaḥ
sañjayaḥ uvācha—Sanjay said; evam uktvā—speaking thus; arjunaḥ—Arjun; saṅkhye—in the battlefield; ratha upasthe—on the chariot; upāviśhat—sat; visṛijya—casting aside; sa-śharam—along with arrows; chāpam—the bow; śhoka—with grief; saṁvigna—distressed; mānasaḥ—mind
Translation:
Sanjaya said: Arjuna, having spoken thus on the battlefield, cast aside his bow and arrow and sank down on his chariot-seat, his mind overcome with grief.
Commentary:
With the mind distressed by sorrow: Arjuna dropped the great bow Gandiva and sat down in a mood of doubt, despair and helplessness. Never before in his life did he do so on any battle-field in any situation. So there should be a powerful cause for the present problem of Arjuna. This cause is easily discernable from his own words. It is nothing but the deeply planted feeling of attachment for his relations and friends, and the awful contemplation of slaying them in the battle. He speaks repeatedly of ‘svajanam‘ (our people). His distress for the destruction of his own people touches his very heart and throws the whole man off his balance. As a result, he decides to give up every thing-kingdom, pleasures, and enjoyments, even dominion over the three worlds. Lord Krishna seizes this opportune moment when Arjuna’s mind was filled with the thought of absolute renunciation and teaches the highest Brahmavidya. Hence Arjuna’s despondency is transformed into a Yoga.
Arjuna yearned to know what was Dharma, having given up all dominion, pleasures and enjoyment. Hence it is Yoga. Such deep renunciation is essential for all seekers after truth. It ultimately leads to righteousness and union with God. Dispassion for earthly enjoyments and burning passion for truth are the ‘sine quanon‘ of spiritual life. It is this passion for truth that drives the aspirant forward on the path of spiritual realisation. Arjuna experienced the two feelings in the present situation. So he is fully qualified to realise the teaching of the Lord. If any man, for any reason, is prompted by feelings of dispassion for earthly objects, and a yearning for truth, he receives the Grace of God by which he comes to know the Truth and attains peace and blessedness.