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Chapter 1
sankaro narakayaiva kulaghnanam kulasya
ca patanti pitaro hyesam luptapindodakakriyah
A mixture of castes leads the family as also the destroyers of a family to hell. Deprived of the ritual offerings of rice-balls and water, the manes of their family also have a downfall. 42
Comment:-
Sankaro narakayaiva kulaghnanam kulasya ca:-The offsprings, that are born of an intermixture of castes, are not religious-minded and do not possess righteousness and rectitude, because they themselves are the product of persons, without virtue. So they behave against traditions and decorum of a race. Those who kill persons of a race war are called destroyers of the race. Such persons, lead not only themselves but also the whole race, to hell, because of destruction of traditions, of the race.
Patanti pitaro hyesam luptapindodakakriyah:-The manes of the destroyers of a race, fall because they do not get the ritual offerings of rice-balls (Pinda) and water from them. The reason is, that when they get these offerings, because of those virtuous actions, they go to higher worlds. But, when they do not get those offerings, they cannot continue to live in those worlds and they are degraded.
A descendant, who is a hybrid has no regard for his ancestors, and he has no sentiment to offer anything, to them. Moreover, even if he offers anything, such as obsequies, as a social custom, without any regard and against the ordinance of scriptures, that is not received by the manes. The reason is, that he is not eligible to perform such rites. So they have a fall.
Appendix:-There are two types of manes—'ajana' and 'martya'. The manes who live in the world of manes are 'ajana', while the manes who go to the world of manes after dying from the human-world are 'martya'. The 'martya' manes being deprived of the ritual offerings of rice-balls and water, have a downfall. Only those 'martya' manes have a downfall who have affinity for the family and offspring and expect to receive the ritual offerings of rice-balls and water.
Colophon:-In the colophon of the Gita the three expressions 'brahmavidyayam', 'yogaSastre' and 'Srikrsnarjunasamvade' have been used in the singular number but 'Srimadbhagavadgitasu' and 'upanisatsu'—these two expressions have been used in the plural number. It means that in all the upanisads, nmadbhagavadgith is also an upanisad in which 'brahmavidya' (the discipline of knowledge), 'yogasastra' (the discipline of action) and 'nkrsnarjuna samvada' (the discipline of devotion)—the three have been included.
In the Gita nkrsnarjuna samvada' viz., the dialogue between Lord Krsna and Arjuna begins with devotion and ends in devotion. In the beginning Arjuna, being confused with regard to his duty, takes refuge in God—'Sisyaste'harh Sadhi mam tvam prapannam' (Gita 2/7) and in the end being inspired by the Lord for taking refuge in Him alone, by the expression 'mamekath Saranam vraja', Arjuna takes refuge in Him alone, when he declares—'katisye vacanam tava' (I will do your bidding). Arjuna asked Lord Krsna the means by which he might attain the highest good (Gita 2/7, 3/2, 5/1). Therefore the Lord has also described 'jnanayoga' (the discipline of knowledge) and 'Karmayoga' (the discipline of action) in the Gita.
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