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Commentary by Jayaram V
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9. Having thus addressed Hrisikesa, Gudakesa Paramtapa said to Govinda, "I will not fight," and became silent. |
To a suffering soul, silence is the intelligent brief interlude before he can
find suitable remedy for the mitigation of his suffering. For a sincere devotee
of God silence is an opportunity to establish communion with Him and find solutions
to his problems. Silence is the oasis where a weary traveler has to stop and review
his journey.
Arjuna's silence is philosophical, devotional and also human. His silence and
cessation of activity are indications of his acknowledgement of his failure and
the need for divine response. In that brief silence of action and mind was hidden
the possibility of a new beginning and new hope. Without it perhaps further dialogue
would not have become possible. Arjuna's silence symbolizes the spiritual silence
so essential for any meaningful spiritual activity and contact with the Divine.
Silence comes at the end when a person has realized his folly and is fully tired
of his way of living. It is the brief pause between wisdom and stupidity, the aperture
through which rays of awareness penetrate the dark consciousness and make the individual
reflective and contemplative. The mind has to become silent in order to become receptive
to the divine thoughts. It is in the emptiness of silence that the divine pours
his heart and nectar of bliss. It is not only the mind, but life also has to become
silent in order to allow the Divine to infuse it with His radiance and sweetness.
In the willing silence of a reverential and sincere heart God slowly descends and
purifies the soul. Where silence has yet to become natural in the nature of man,
self- realization is still a theoretical and distant possibility, God is a distant
and misunderstood dream, an illusion of words and theories and man a prisoner of
his thoughts and language.
Noise is ignorance. Noise is confusion. Noise is an indication that the mind
is still busy and preoccupied with the events of the world. Noise denotes commitment
to egoistic action and sensory activity. Noise is the fort, which the ego builds
and maintains in order to hide behind its thick ramparts and perpetrate its deeds
against divine order. When silence flows into this fort, the walls crumble and expose
the ego for transformation.
Some day one has to end ones egoistic actions and thinking and stand silently
and reverently with folded hands in front of God seeking His guidance and help.
Without this attitude and approach there is no hope for any one spiritually. Arjuna,
the great warrior who fought many wars and even with Lord Shiva, has now realized
his limitations, became silent and humbly stood before Lord Krishna for right guidance.
He has paused in his actions, admitted his failure and inability, and opened his
heart and mind for guidance. He has acquired humility, the silence of awakened god.
Bhagavadgita Chapter 2 Verses 1- 21
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