PHRASES IN THE GITA - 12

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PHRASES IN THE GITA - 12

या निशा सर्व भूतानां तस्यां जागर्ति संयमी ... (अध्याय २ - श्लोक ६९)
யா நிஷா ஸர்வ பூதானாம் தஸ்யாம் ஜாகர்தி ஸம்யமீ ... (அத்யாயம் 2 - ஸ்லோகம் 69)
Yaa Nishaa Sarva Bhootaanaam Tasyaam Jaagarti Samyamee ... (Chapter 2 - Shlokam 69)

Meaning :  That, which is night for others, is day for him.

When the whole world was probably sleeping, unperturbed by adharmik Islamik rule (Mughal in the north and Bijapur Sultan in the South) the young boy, who grew up to become Samartha Shri Ramadas, was deep in meditation seeking ways to establish Hindu Dharmik State.  When the elders, seeing him lost, asked him what he was upto, young Ramadas would reply, "Chintaa karito vishvaachee" (I am worrying about the world.).  He became the guide for Shri Shivaji and helped him in organizing youths and establishing the exemplary Hindu Samrajya.  The numerous Anjaneya temples and akharas in central Bharat, stand to denote the zealous, rigorous and inspiring life of Samarrtha Shri Ramadas.

When boys of his age were lost in 'enjoyment', Maradona (may be Leonel Messi too) was engrossed in handling, nay, legging his football.  The lifeless ball became lively and danced to the feet, no, wishes of one and only one, Maradona.

Recently, I happened to see an interview programme relayed on Doordarshan.  The anchor was interviewing a brilliant musician in her teens.  "You have daily music lessons and also rigorous practice sessions.  You have opted for correspondence course to get a university degree.  Don't you think, you have lost happy college life with all the associated fun and enjoyment?"  The young musician came up with an answer, too matured for her age, and that is exactly the sign of all achievers.  They are calm.  No hurry-burry.  No competition.  They know what they are upto.  "Even if I agree to your contention that I have lost pleasures and enjoyments of college life, the Joy I gain in my efforts to master my Violin is unequaled."

That, which is night for others, is day for him.  This is the story of achievers in any field, music, sport, science, political, etc.  They are unknown to the world while they remain engrossed in their activity.  Neither the world bothers about them nor are they bothered about the world.  There was a link posted in my twitter account.  Shri Dasharat Manjhi in Bihar lost his wife because she could not be taken to the nearest medical facility on the other side of a hill, about 75 Kms by road around the hill.  He dug a road through the hill which shortened the distance from 75 Kms to mere 1 Km.  The work was accomplished in ... 22 years.  (I don't think he would have given a thought to prospects or probability of accomplishing the task.  He just pursued.)  He says, "When I started hammering the hill, everyone showered a one-word praise on me, 'Lunatic'.  My resolve only steeled" https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CBw4hv7UIAEIXjB.jpg.  This is another common sign.  The world does not bother about such persons.  If at all, it names these men "Lunatic".

There is an illustrative story in Mahabharatha.  (I am not sure if this story is in the original Vyasa Bharatha).  Drona was appointed as a teacher for the 105 princes in Hastinapura.  On one of the nights, he could not find sleep and came out to the gardens to feel fresher.  To his surprise, he saw Arjuna practicing archery in the dark.  He was trying follow sound to mark his target.  Drona asked him, "I did not even suggest this idea.  What inspired you to attempt such a skill?"  (These archers who don't see the object, but use sound to fix their aim are called "Shabda Bhedi".  Raja Dasharath, Arjuna, and Prithviraj Chauhaan are the three glorious exponents of this skill.)  "My elder brother Bheema inspired me to try this.  Once we two were dining when the lights went off.  I stopped eating, but Bheema continued to eat.  When asked, he said, "The hands are well trained to reach for mouth and not nose or ears".  I thought, if I could practice,I may be able to shoot in darkness too".  Arjuna humbly replied.  Shri Drona was overwhelmed by Arjuna's dedication to the skill of archery.

Probably, this is expressed by the proverb.. "burning the midnight oil".

This phrase has a suggestive meaning and applies to a practitioner of any skill, from mundane worldly ones to more spiritual ones.  The practitioner is blind to those objects which attract glaring attention of commoners.  The world is blind to what he is seriously, devotedly attending to.

Lure of success or fame is not the inspiring factor.  The joy of going deeper and deeper by itself is the inspiration.  Success or fame may never come at all.  That does not matter for the practitioner.  He just plunges.  "Swimming along the tide is easy.  But swimming against the tide is very difficult" it is said.  Easiness and difficulty are only for us commoners.  The practitioner has no mind to register the experience and tag it as easy or difficult.  He is engrossed in his field.