The seed verse of the Bhagavad Gita is verse 2.11.

Gita teaching begins from the 11^th shloka of the second chapter.

Krishna did not drive the chariot to a quiet place to start the teaching. For gaining self-knowledge, time and place are irrelevant. Only person or persons are necessary. There should be someone like Krishna who, in the din and roar of the battlefield, had all the composure necessary to talk to Arjuna.
Arjuna also had the composure to listen to Krishna and the appropriateness of his questions indicates that he listened well.
Therefore, who the teacher and the student are, matter more than the place and the time.

The first verse of the Gita teaching is that, there was no reason for grief
As(h)Ochyaan anvas(h)Ochah thvam
You grieve for those who should not be grieved for 2.11

And in the conclusion Krishna says
Ma s(h)ucha

Do not grieve 18.66

So between the chapters 2 & 18, the topic is removal of the “ reason-for-grief”. The cause of, grief, ignorance and error is removed totally. So the corollary is, the entire Gita shastra is one which removes sorrow.

Sorrow refers here to any complaint. Any uneasiness about oneself, centred on the self is sorrow. Physical pain is not sorrow, but complaining about the same is sorrow. The problem lies in thinking that we are not happy or well when everyone else is ! This shloka is self-centred sorrow & is a result of ignorance. Our wrong thinking stems from our wrong notions about our self.

As mentioned earlier, Krishna first re-educates the intellect in the right values of life.
He discusses life and makes us see through the viscera of its eternal changes, the Permanent Abiding Truth, the Beginningless Reality.

Krishna, seeking to save Arjuna, introduces to him the theme of Self-Knowledge.

AshOchyaa-nanvas(h)Ochasthvam prajnaavaadaamscha bhaashasae
Gathaasoo-nagathaasoomscha naanus(h)Ochanthi paNdithaa: 2.11

(Krishna says) You are grieving for those who should not be grieved for. At the same time, you are speaking the words of the wise people. Wise men do not grieve for the dead and for the living.

This verse conveys in a nutshell, the entire Gita Shastra.

Aathma ajnaanam samsara karaNam
Athma jnanam mOkshakaraNam

Self-ignorance is the cause of all human problems.
Self knowledge in the only solution for liberation from the problems.

Arjuna’s sorrow is the sorrow of any individual(jiva) and we feel, there is nothing unusual. We feel his sorrow is legitimate and we also remember how much of sorrow we feel for much less or legitimate reasons!
So, the jiva, wanting to get rid of sorrow is obvious. Arjuna wants to get rid of his sorrow for good and that is why and how Gita is born !
Sorrow or grief or shoka is discussed in this shloka. We will see more about it in the next post.

Love,
Chithra.

hi chithmam,

Another beautiful explanation....

For learning, you don't need a place..you need only person..(I liked it..)

Self realization is the key to liberation from all sorrows.

I would like to quote satya sai baba..on self realization..(if you dont mind..)


The moment you see your own inner beauty
and are so filled with it that you forget all else,
you become free from all worldly bond.

You realize that you are all the beauty, all the glory,
all the power, all the magnificence of the universe
for the jiva (the individual) is the reflection
of the Divine in the mirror of nature.

Once you attain this Self-realization you recognize
everyone else as but the reflection of yourself.
This is the true basis of the unity of humanity.
- Sathya Sai Baba


Waiting for the next one......

Dear Chithra
Yet another great writing from your desk. The specialty about reading your work
is ordinary people like me can understand and relate to. It is so true that the famous
and most useful Gita came from the battlefield. Our mind too at times can be referred
to the battlefield because of so much traffic from thoughts, fears, hopes, envy,
jealousy , hatred .... It only matters for the student and teacher to be present.
That is how we benefit from reading all this online as we can read and relate
at our own convenience. We read over and over again that self ignorance is
the cause of all human problems. Yet we go around in circles of self ignorance
and so continue to whirl in problems. Catching hold of the feet of Lord Krishna
is our only salvation. Thank You for wiriting.

Dear Chith

You have explained it very nicely as usual. Only when we are eager to learn something we will be able to understand the things in a better manner. Yes Arjuna's sorrow is the sorrow of any individual. Looking forward to the next.

Love
vidhi

Dear Shanthi,
It is nice to receive a FB as soon as I post mine. It motivates me no end, all the more when the subject is abstract like Gita !
I loved your lines on Baba. Self realisation is called Atma jnanam & liberation as well.
That is Moksha, which we should aim at, as our ultimate goal.
Don't you ever think, I have any objection to your quoting any Saint. I enjoy reading them as much as you enjoy posting them.
Thankyou, Shanthi.
Love,
Chithra.

Dear AC,
Our mind is a permanent yuddhakaLam(யுத்தகளம்) & hence raNakaLam (ரணகளம்) !
In this janma, it is a big step if we admit our self-ignorance. As I already wrote, accepting that you have a problem is the first step, which many deny, though knowingly.Working towards salvation should atleast start in this life.
Thankyou, AC.
Love
To
Chitra
From
Chithra.

Dear Vidhi,
Vedanta is a subject which will appeal to you, only if you have the interest to learn it.
Whatever be the cause of anyone's sorrow, we cannot deny that sorrow is universal !
Thanks for the FB.
Love,
Chithra.

Dear Chitraji,
Thanks very much for the wonderful post.I have attempted reading the Gita many times but have given up because I never could understand clearly.Your explanation is so beautiful, in simple language and clear.
Our wrong thinking stems from wrong notions about ourself....how very true,
Looking forward to the next post.

'Athma agyanam Samsaara kaaranam
Athma Gyanam MokshaKaaranam'

That is so beautiful ......

Rgds,
Revathy.

Dear Revathy,
To explain in simple words is quite challenging - so I am very happy that you are all able to enjoy and understand.
The 2 lines, you have mentioned are true but hard-hitting lines !
Thankyou, Revathy.
Love,
Chithra.

Dear Chitra,

My mind at present is Ranakalam!.....worse than a battlefield.....

So i wait eagerly to catch up with any tips on making my mind calmer.....and attempting at self realisation and understanding that sorrow is universal! next posting ikku aavaludhan ethirpaarkiren!

Thanks for all the patient sharing!