Chapter 1
Arjuna Vishada Yoga
Arjuna Vishada Yoga, is the first chapter of the Bhagavad Gita. In this chapter, the stage is set for the profound dialogue between Lord Krishna and the warrior prince Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra.
As the battle is about to commence, Arjuna is overcome with moral and emotional dilemmas. He is deeply troubled by the thought of fighting against his own kinsmen, beloved teachers, and friends present on the enemy side. The sight of the battlefield filled with the array of warriors ready to clash leaves him in a state of inner turmoil.
Arjuna's mind is gripped by sorrow, compassion, and confusion, making him unable to take up his bow and arrows. He begins to see the futility of the war and questions the righteousness of the battle. This inner struggle leads him to seek guidance from Lord Krishna, who is serving as his charioteer.
The first chapter sets the stage for the teachings of the subsequent chapters, as Arjuna's doubts and fears become the launching point for Lord Krishna to impart profound spiritual wisdom.
Participants Speak....
ओम श्री परमात्मने नमः
I bow down to the Supreme Consciousness.
I always believe in acquiring knowledge the descending way.....
Bhagwad Gita.. The jewel of India's spiritual wisdom.. Here also we see that the knowledge is acquired by Arjuna from the Supreme Lord ShriKrishna... Thus acquiring Vedic knowledge has to be a descending process.
Satishji's BhagwadGita classes is an enlightening experience.... He's our spiritual master.....helping us discover the Arjuna in ourselves.
The 1st chapter of Bhagwad Gita is about Arjuna Vishaad yoga.. Arjuna's lament.
Yoga means 'union' and Vishaada means grief.....and grief as 'Yoga' seems paradoxical....
Actually 'Vishaada' Or grief leads us to a state where we start learning detachment . . Similarly Arjuna is also turning his grief to a total surrender to Lord Krishna. .. Or we can say Vishaada is the first step to union with God....that's why it's called ' Vishaada yoga. '
Jayshree Manoj
Om Namo Vasudevaya Namah:
The general perception has been that, The Bhagavad Gita is something one reads when one has nothing better to do, maybe in the old age. Till then focus was to be on academics, job/business, accumulating wealth and setting up a lifestyle, marriage, children, their education etc . These were considered the essence of a successful living.
How wrong that perception was and is.
In fact the definition of success itself was wrong. While it is aspirational and great to have all the above, it is important to be happy and at peace with self. The Bhagavad Gita is called the life manual, which is true. Period. It is as if we are operating our life without even opening the manual.
It was a golden opportunity to be able to enroll for Satishji’s classes and be able to attend them. We have just completed the 4th session. What I like about these classes is the sincerity and simplicity with which Satishji takes us through the journey, without making it sound like preaching, so we individually get closer to the eternal truth. Complex concepts are explained in a simple manner. He takes everyone along and encourages participants to speak up, ask questions, share experiences during and even after the sessions, creating a like-minded community. Despite being extremely knowledgeable, he is humble and behaves like one among us, which is an endearing quality. He lets us absorb and understand concepts by asking questions. By asking questions, self-enquiry, introspection, reflection, observation and application the understanding is deeper than any other way. I respect him tremendously.
The first chapter is called Vishaada Yog, relating to the grief of Arjun over his realization that in order to do what his Dharm is, he will have to mercilessly kill all those he holds close to his heart. Though the war had been planned for over a decade, when the moment was before him, he became weak and gave up. Fortunately for him, he had Lord Krishn as his charioteer to open up the “Satya”, the Truth for him. Through Arjun, the fortunate among us also get to see the Param Satya. This knowledge itself is liberating, to a certain extent.
Chapter 1 starts with the blind king Dhritarashtra enquiring about what was happening on the battlefield, perhaps knowing that his sons were in the wrong, denying the Pandavas their right and that they could be decimated in no time in the war. It has also brought out the irony that all the mighty warriors, like Bhishma, Drona, Kripacharya though loved the Pandavas and knew they were morally right, were bound by their loyalty to the Kauravas. The chapter proceeds further with blowing of conches on both sides, a survey of each other’s strengths and Arjun wanting to go to the centre of the battlefield where he loses his nerve and refuses to fight. Arjun pleads Ahimsa, though he has killed many in wars before this war. There are many symbolic learnings here, but the main learning is that the grief, pain, conflict and the resulting dilemma is because of Me, My and Mine on one side and others on one side. Many answers will appear and mysteries unfold.
With Satishji, we have started an amazing journey and we know that this is going to be transformational. Strongly recommended for a lighter and fearless living.
Nanda Sambrani
Om namo bhagwate vasudevay namah,
My gratitude to our mentor & guru Satish ji.I don't have any good skill to write nicely but I tried to write my take aways from chapter one.
1- Love wins over truth,desire& pleasure.
2-Honour your body as a gift of divinity.
3- Arjun ( seeker of knowledge) was brought by Krishna in the middle of chaos to understand it and obtain wisdom.
4- Love without wisdom can make one weak.Arjun could not fight initially as his love for family members overtook him.
5- Greed is nothing but love for material things.
6-Before one enters the field of knowledge his/ her life is Vishad yog.
I think most of us are running in this state .I am running always in Vishad Yog but preachings by Satish ji Shri bhagvad gita I will be out this state of vishad yog .Gratitude to you Satish ji.
7-Running away from situations of washing to quit is ignorance such a way of regretting the past I first sign of ignorance .Becoming anxious for the future is the second sign of ignorance.& Being miserable of the total sign of ignorance.
9- Becoming aware of this ,then the first step of getting into first chapter of holy Gita.
'First Chapter Sar '
Wrong thinking is the only problem in life.
At last one Mahatma ji wrote anywhere I read sometime ago that
" Bring Music in a world of chaos is sign of divinity.
Bringing Light in a world of darkness is a sign of divinity "
Finding bliss amidist chaos
At last I bow down in the feetof Shri Krishna🙏🙏🙏