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PHRASES IN THE GITA - 16
परस्परं भावयन्तः ... (अध्याय ३ - श्लोक ११)
பரஸ்பரம் பாவயந்தஹ ... (அத்யாயம் 3 - ஸ்லோகம் 11)
Parasparam Bhaavayantaha ... (Chapter 3 - Shlokam 11)
Meaning : Mutually caring, helping, elevating....
Let me first thank Shrimati. Sarisha Rameshlall Komal of South Afrika, for reminding me this phrase through the video she shared on FaceBook ((https://www.facebook.com/UCBerkeley/videos/10153311993674661/). That was a beautiful speech by Gold Medallist Radhika Kannan, probably on the occasion of convocation. I had inadvertently skipped this phrase, which appears in the 11th shloka of third chapter. I heartily thank Shrimati Sareeshaa Rameshlaal Komal and Kumari Radhika Kannan for being instrumental in reminding me of this beautiful phrase in the Gita.
Parasparam is the word here. Mutual. Mutual love, mutual care, mutual co-operation, mutual help, mutual efforts towards elevation, etc. etc. This is a Natural Phenomenon. World is made this way. We are mutually bound. Every life around us and in fact everything in Nature works for others. The tree cares for birds by providing space and material for their nests, so that they might protect themselves, cajole each other and procreate and chirp and lead a joyous life. (One must definitely visit Vivekananda Vidyalaya, Tiruppur, during dawn and dusks, to experience this, to trees accommodating hundreds, rather thousands of birds. Amazing!!). The birds in turn help in conservation of the tree by taking its seeds and dropping them all over. Bharat has a very large number of Neem, Ashwattha and Vata (Banyan) trees. These have not been planted by Human hands. Birds, especially the crows are the achiever in this feat.
The Earth helps in holding a tree, helps in its growth through supply of nourishments. The tree in turn helps the Earth in preventing soil erosion and enriches Earth through its fallen leaves and nourishes the Earth and other lives on it by attracting the clouds and hence rains. The tree supports the creeper. The earthworm works all the day untiringly moving up and down in the Earth and creating pores in the Earth, thus helps in enriching Oxygen content of the Earth. The bee sucks out honey from the flowers and simultaneously helps in pollination and hence conservation of plant life. The planets hold each other through an invisible bond, which was later discovered by man and named as Gravitational pull.
Have we seen the tree enjoying its own pleasant shade or tasty fruit? Does the cloud retain the sweet, Nectar like rain water for itself? Does peacock relish in taking a 'selfie' and looking at it? Does the Koyal (Cuckoo bird) sing for 'self appreciation? The Moon never looks at mirror (or its reflection on the ocean) to admire its beauty, sung in praise by one and all ? The Sun glows for us. The rivers flow relentlessly for us. The wind blows for us. The trees and plants produce flowers and fruits for us. (By saying 'for us' I mean for all the lives on this Earth. Not merely for Man, Not merely for the rich, intelligent and powerful Man..) And there is no thought behind any of these. There is no arrogance of benevolence (Sattvika Ahankara), There is no pride attached. There is not even the consciousness that 'I am of help to some'. It is Natural. Everything in Nature is created only to work towards sustenance, nourishment, enjoyment, elevation of others.
Man is a part of creation, but with a difference. He has to be suggested. He has to be trained. He has to be guided and inspired to work for others. He has to realize his own true Nature. An incident, a person, a conversation, a momentous deep introspection, anything might be instrumental in igniting this realization. We are bound with each other. 'I have nothing to with anyone'; 'I'll take care of myself'; 'I do not need anyone'; 'Leave me alone' and such other words are superficial and meaningless in the True scheme of Nature. Selfishness thrives on ignorance and non-realization of True Nature. There is neither the question of 'letting others in'. We are already mutually bonded. 'Parasparam Bhaavantaha'..... Beautiful words.
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