A Divine view of Socialism - Bhagavad Gita verses 3.12-3.13

Discussion in 'Chitvish on Hindu Culture & Vedanta' started by Chitvish, Aug 21, 2008.

  1. Chitvish

    Chitvish Moderator IL Hall of Fame

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    Next Krishna warns here against those who try to misappropriate the profits created by the common endeavour of all, when all have served in a spirit of yajna.
    He says

    Ishtan bhogaan hi vO devaa daasyanthae yajnabhavitha:
    Thairdattan apradaayaibhyO yO bhungkthae sthaena aeva sa: 3.12

    The Devas cherished by the yajna spirit will bring to you all your desired objects.
    So he who enjoys objects given by the Devas without offering to them is indeed a thief.

    When the Devas are worshipped, they confer on mankind many blessings and prevent many calamities. He who enjoys these material things without offering them to the Gods or the fellow beings in the form of God, is indeed a thief, because he enjoys objects without paying the price for them.
    The devas when cherished through yajnas provide the worker with the desired objects – this is the law of life. When we earn a profit due to our sacrifices, we have every right to enjoy that profit sharing it among ourselves.

    No living creature should enjoy the benefits of others' actions without contributing his own share to the total effort. Equal distribution is Krishna's ideal.
    Hindu socialism stems forth from the recognition of the Supreme Divinity that is at once the core of all and transcends the universe of names and forms. The community which has learned to live and strive as one entity is sure to succeed. When there are many tensions among members, each separate ego becomes more gross and each in his selfishness cheats, loots, misappropriates and arrogates that which belongs to all.
    This results in class-bickering, racial problems; national and international pulls and counter-pulls come into play.

    Next, the good arising from offering to the Gods and the evil of not doing so is stated thus:

    Yajna s(h)ishtaas(h)ina: santhO muchyanthae sarvakilbishai:
    Bhunjathae thae thvagham papa yae pachanthyaatmakaarannnnraNaath 3.13

    The righteous who eat the "remnants of the sacrifices" are freed from all sins, but those sinful ones, who cook food (only) for their own sake, verily eat but sin.

    The metaphor of the yajna ritual is continued. What is referred to as "prasad" in religious parlance is called "yajnasishtam" in vedic literature.
    Krishna says that the healthy members of a dynamic society producing and progressing under the irresistible dash of their togetherness should receive "what is left over" from the cooperative effort which they undertook, with a spirit of selfless dedication and without any selfish desires.
    Such persons are freed from all sins "muchyanthae sarvakilbishai" . Since they undertook duties without ego and egocentric desires, their vasanas are exhausted and no new vasanas are created.
    To live thus in society is Hindu Socialism, based upon the guidance for the evolution of man of Godhood.

    Love,
    Chithra.

     
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  2. Cheeniya

    Cheeniya Super Moderator Staff Member IL Hall of Fame

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    Let us discuss these two Verses of Gita with the example of an incident involving Lord Ganesha. When Sage Vyasa wanted to narrate the epic Mahabarath for posterity, Lord Ganesha offered to write it down with the condition that the narration should have no interruption. Vyasa agreed to the condition and Lord Ganesha broke His right tusk to use for writing the epic. This episode of mythology has great significance. The Lord shows that when it comes to undertaking a noble task, no sacrifice is too big. For an elephant, the most precious physical attribute is its tusk and the Lord breaks it to use as a writing material so that posterity can have the epic as dictated by Vyasa. If we look at a picture or idol of Lord Ganesha, the broken right tusk, the symbol of great sacrifice, lends great charm to the Lord.

    Our mythologies have numerous incidents of Asuras who undertook severe penance to God, not for salvation but to get special boons for self-aggrandisement. All these Asuras lived such lives of sin with those boons and had to be destroyed by God Himself. People who live an utterly selfish life at the expense of others can be verily likened to these Asuras.

    Let us look at the real import of the following translation of Verse 3.13
    “The righteous who eat the “remnants of the sacrifices” are freed from all sins, but those sinful ones, who cook food (only) for their own sake, verily eat but sin.”
    The phrase, ‘remnants of sacrifice’, used here does not mean the Prasad of a Havan or Yagna. It really means the sacrifice made by people around us with which we make a living. The recipe for a peaceful and righteous living prescribed by the Lord in this Verse involves recognition of the contribution of others in helping us lead a comfortable life and rewarding them adequately. If we go about enjoying the fruits of others’ labour without adequately compensating them, we can be only likened to a parasite.

    A couple of years back, there was a news item about a NRI donating over a million dollars to his alma mater, IIT, to set up a seat of research. We also hear of Bill Gates committing billions of dollars for fighting AIDS and such other causes. All these acts are in tune with what is prescribed in Gita. If we look deeply into the spirit of this Verse, we may realise that what we commonly know by the name of ‘Dharma’ is nothing but ‘eating the remnants of the sacrifice’. Sharing is, therefore, a duty enjoined upon us by the Lord. Sharing is not an act of Dharma that will earn us ‘Punya’ but it is a duty the performance of which will lead us to a sin-free life.

    The social relevance of this portion of Gita is truly amazing. This makes Gita not only the sacred text for the devout but a veritable code of conduct for the entire humanity. This applies not merely to individuals but to the communities and Nations as well. We have seen Nations getting richer through exploiting the resources of other Nations and leaving them in poverty. We have seen communities doing it to each other. We have also come across individuals practising it. All these acts result in various social maladies that have dangerous ramifications. This is the time to introspect on our own life and evaluate its quality by applying the Divine parameters as envisaged in these Verses.
     
    Last edited: Aug 21, 2008
  3. vidhi

    vidhi Senior IL'ite

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    Dear Chith

    A very thought provoking post. This explains clearly why our ancestors worshipped sun, moon,rivers etc.. What else we can offer to them except our great respect through worship. And with this post we can really relate to the logic of that. It gives a different dimension to all those practises. It is like this Give when you take and do not take without giving. And enjoying the profits by sharing it among ourselves. If only if we lead our life according to all these codes what a change it would bring around us.

    I liked the verse 3.13" The righteous who eat the "remnants of the sacrifices" are freed from all sins, but those sinful ones, who cook food(only) for their own sake, verily eat but sin.

    I just cannot thank both of you for bringing us all these wisdoms of Gita every week without fail. Thank you very much.

    Love
    Vidhi
     
  4. vidhi

    vidhi Senior IL'ite

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    Dear Cheeniya Sir

    Each time when you explain the Gita post with examples it becomes very easy to grasp. After reading all the post we now very well know that Gita is not only the sacred text but also a definite code of behaviour. I always wonder why these asuras with so much of bhakthi and patience they do the severe penance to get the boons. And they forgot everything and turn against the same God who gave them the boons. And most of the time if we analyse the happenings of the world it is very similar to those of the asuras behaviour. I really understood and enjoyed the way you explained the phrase the remnants of sacrifice. Your explanation of comparison with the parasite really brought out the true meaning of the phrase. Eagerly looking forward for the next week’s post of Gita. Thank you very much sir for taking the effort to make us understand the Gita thoroughly.

    regards
    Vidhi
     
  5. Cheeniya

    Cheeniya Super Moderator Staff Member IL Hall of Fame

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    Dear Vidhi
    It is not my writing that is making Gita easier to understand. It is really the interest that you are taking in understanding the import of the Song of God that is opening your eyes more and more. You are now tuned to the subject perfectly and you'll be able to understand it without any guidance in course of time. You will be amazed to see how relevant Gita can be for all times.
    Kurukshetra Battle is what we experience in our conscience every day. For every good thought that comes, there will be a hundred unworthy ones. Pandavas were able to overcome Adharma for God was on their side directing them. If we treat Gita like how Pandavas treated the Lord, we have nothing to fear indeed!
    Sri
     
  6. gayathriar

    gayathriar Bronze IL'ite

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    Dear C

    You have clearly explained why one should avoid exploiting other's sacrifices and not be selfish. You have again reinstated avoiding such behaviour makes a person perform his/her work without any ego and hence prevent creating any new vasanas.

    Dear Sri

    Your examples of Pillayar and asuras only makes the understanding clearer. Your comparison of Kurukshethra battle to the fights in our conscience in your response to Vidhi is indeed very profound.

    Many thanks to you both..!

    -Gayathri.
     
  7. mkthpavi

    mkthpavi Senior IL'ite

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    Dear C & C

    These posts of yours are, according to me, the most relevant to modern times, where due to materialism and competition, the "I" has taken over "We". It has to be a "win-win" at all costs - right from LKG admission to Iraq invasion for oil ! We are made to believe that losing is an ignominy and that success is measured by material standards rather than spiritual. What a shame indeed? Where did the simplicity of our lives go !!!

    I was watching an episode of Oprah Winfrey's show recently. She had invited Michael Moore, the person who made the controversial movies / documentaries on 9-11 and the health care system in America. In that episode which dealth with the latter issue, Michael asks "Why should there be a business / corporate element to health care? Why should companies - health care and medical insurance ones - PROFIT from others' illnesses / deaths? Shouldnt the child of a gas station worker have the same rights to essential health care as the child of an investment banker?" I found these questions to be very hard-hitting. That even basic health care is not accessible by those who are socially and economically down-trodden and corruption exists even in the health care system is such a scary scenario. We trust doctors, nurses and hospitals with our lives, isnt it ?

    We are already in Kali Yugam. It is time we put some morality and ethics back into our "instant noodles" lifestyles and bring peace and happiness not just to ourselves, but to our society as well.

    Please keep your posts coming.

    Thanks and love
    Your IL disciple
    Pavithra
     
  8. sundarusha

    sundarusha Gold IL'ite

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    Dear Mrs. C

    A very relevant post. This explains why our ancestors have created a ritual of offering the food to the Gods first and the crows before we eat.
    It is important that children learn to share their favorite things with other children.--whether it be toys, books or food in order for them to become unselfish and tolerant adults.

    Dear Sri

    The examples of Ganesha and the asuras are too good. The asuras brought self-destruction due to their greed and selfishness instead of using them for the betterment of the world.

    Please keep posting.
     
  9. Chitvish

    Chitvish Moderator IL Hall of Fame

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    Dear Vidhi,
    According to the Hindus, the entire universe is a home & all creatures belong to it. In brotherly love, striving together, gather the profits and distribute them equally to all - not according to needs, it is a blind and ready equity in distribution. Some are "producers", many are "consumers" in any community, in any period of history. Few create wealth, many are there to sharwe and share they must, equally. Together produce - together enjoy.
    One may wonder if this is just. Our scriptures answer very reasonably that theirs is the privilege of feeling happy that by the Lord's grace they have the extra ability to produce and serve all others who have not this capacity.For example, the industrial organiser, the scientific research scholar, the agricultural producer etc are privileged - they are the only few who have the extra knowledge and ability to serve a large no: of their brotheren!
    Love,
    Chithra.



     
  10. Chitvish

    Chitvish Moderator IL Hall of Fame

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    Dear Gayathri,
    The world abounds in facilities that are the sacrifices of several people.
    The baby is nured and "brought up" by the parents - here the parents sacrifice.
    The children receive education - this is the sacroifice by the builders of the educational institutions.
    The "sacrifices" of many give us:
    The food that we consume
    The house that we live
    The clothes that we wear etc.
    When we use all thses, we must also think of how we are going to be useful to others.Whatever we do must be more beneficial to others than to ourselves.
    His doings become yajna in proportion to their public utility.
    Love,
    Chithra.







     

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