How भगवद्गीता (Geeta) transformed my life?
ॐ नमो भगवते श्री वासुदेवाय!
At the outset, let me pray and thank भगवान कृष्ण, for enabling me to write following few lines about the transformation which is brought in my life by reading, listening, studying & applying गीता. My father was Sanskrit pundit and teacher at Modern High School at Pune. When I was five years old, he introduced me to B. N. Bhide who used to teach students recitation of गीता at Tulsi Bagh, a famous place constructed at the time of Peshwas. Under the guidance of Bhide, my first recitation of गीता started, when I hardly understood what I might have been reciting. My father used to encourage me to participate in debating competition for inter-school tournaments. Particularly for extempore speech, when the topic used to be disclosed hardly three minutes before one speaks, my father asked me to start my speech by quoting what Arjun said before the battle of Mahabharat, namely:
सीदन्ति मम गात्राणि मुखं च परिशुष्यति।
वेपथुश्च शरीरे मे रोमहर्षश्च जायते॥
गाण्डीवं स्रंसते हस्तात्त्वक्चैव परिदह्यते।
न च शक्नोम्यवस्थातुं भ्रमतीव च मे मनः॥
(It means: My limbs quiver and my mouth dry up. My whole body is quivering, may hairs are standing o end, my bow, Gandiva is slipping from my hand and my skin burns. I am unable to maintain my composure and my mind is reeling.)
I had same विषादयोग (sorrowfulness) as अर्जुन. I was unable to decide how to proceed further. This used to give my speech very good foundation and I used to emerge as successful candidate in the tournament. This enabled me to read गीता frequently.
I completed my fourth class and during the holidays, my father underwent cataract operation. For reasons which I could not understand, the operation failed and my father who was hardly fifty-one became blind by both the eyes. We were five brothers and all of us were mostly school going. Except my father, there was hardly any other bread winner. My father pleaded to school authorities to permit him to teach as he had excellent memory and remembered all lessons by heart. But school authorities did not agree and terminated his services. They did not even sanction his pension for years. Irrespective of this sudden debacle, my father took this development in his stride as भगवान कृष्ण explains about qualities of स्थितप्रज्ञ when He says:
दुःखेष्वनुद्विग्नमनाः सुखेषु विगतस्पृहः।
वीतरागभयक्रोधःस्थितधीर्मुनिरुच्यते॥
(It means: In the midst of suffering and happiness his mind is neither confused nor kindled. He who is free from desires, passions, fear, and anger is said to be a sage of tranquil mind.) He had large number of friends around, and all of them stood like a rock behind him. Many persons came forward to provide day to day requirements. Many scholars including Pundit Vasantrao Gadgil, editor of Sakal daily newspaper, Nanasaheb Parulekar, manager of Bank of India, Gajanan Wagh, owner of Jayant Marriage Hall: Ram Joshi came forward to ensure financial assistance even without any mention at any time. After few years, my father’s LIC policy matured and he got ₹ ten thousand. Without any hesitation, he organized संहिता यज्ञ for ten days and donated all his earnings to reputed scholars following prescription of गीता-
दातव्यमिति यद्दानं दीयतेऽनुपकारिणे।
देशे काले च पात्रे च तद्दानं सात्विकं स्मृतम्॥
(It means: Charity that is duty bound and done without any expectations at the right time and place to a worthy person is said to be in the mode of goodness.)
On completion of my schooling and college from Fergusson College, I decided to join, School of International Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University at New Delhi for M A in International Politics. During my second tear, I appeared for the Civil Services examination and was selected for Indian Police Service. My father encouraged me to take the examination again so that I may improve my chances. On the day of my examination in the early morning, my brother Prakash came suddenly to my hostel at New Delhi and disclosed about the sad demise of my father. He mentioned the news would shock me so he came personally. During this testing time, I started reading Second अध्याय of गीता-
गतासुनगतासूंश्च नानुशोचन्ति पण्डिताः।……
अन्तवन्त: इमे देहा नित्यस्योक्ताः शरीरिणः।…
न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचित्…. I
(It means: The learned lament neither for the living nor the dead…. Thus, it is only the external body that the imperishable soul inhabits, that is destroyed. The soul has no birth or death…) Reading of this अध्याय, calmed down my mind thoroughly. I took out a pen and wrote a few of these श्लोक in a letter to my mother and handed it over to my brother to take it back to Pune. I appeared for the examination at eleven o’ clock as scheduled and found there was no disturbance in my mind. After completing all my papers in next few days, I went to Pune to attend final rites. I bid good bye to my mother with tearful eyes, and proceeded to Sardar Vallabbhai Patel National Police Academy at Hyderabad for undergoing mandatory training. Hardly six months later, Deputy Director of the Academy Aieyyar summoned me to his chamber. He disclosed, he has got a telegram mentioning my mother has passed away. I was stunned to learn it. I went to Pune, completed the rituals and returned to Academy at the earliest. Philosophy of गीता was making me mature to overcome the sorrow and dedicate myself to public service by cutting me from all the past connections.
After initial few years in the state of Maharashtra, I joined Ministry of Home Affairs. I was assigned the job of Deputy Director of immigration. I excelled in this job and brought perceptible improvement in various immigration check posts in the country. This was the time; I started reading गीता as well as commentary on the same by great Marathi Saint ज्ञानेश्वर.
That was a turning point in my life. I used to blame those who may be my seniors as well as juniors for various shortcomings. I realized; I have to make improvements first in me as
यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेतरो जनः।
स यत्प्रमाणं कुरुते लोकस्तदनुवर्तते ॥
(It means: Whatever a great man does, the world follows. Whatever standards he sets, the world pursues.) Strength of your leadership emerges from your character & not mere verbal advises. Within no time, I started working with much more punctuality and dedication to whatever was my assignment. I had no complaints against anybody and those who were around me, also started excelling in their job. A number of visitors used to approach me for various difficulties, but that did not disturb my peace. I used to follow the directive of गीता-
यस्मान्नोद्विजते लोको लोकान्नोद्विजते च यः।
हर्षामर्षभयोद्वेगैर्मुक्तो यः स च मे प्रियः॥
(It means: He who perturbs no one, and who is never disturbed by anyone, who is unattached to happens, impatience, fear, and anxiety, is dear to me the Lord.) Subsequent to the directive from गीता, I started any of my work with ॐ तत्सत्. The syllable ‘om tat sat’ are the symbolic representation used to refer to the Supreme Absolute Truth. Therefore, students of the Vedas, prior to any sacrifice, acts of charity or penance chant om in accordance with scriptural regulations to attain the Supreme. Even when I had taken all precautions, still I found, on certain occasions, something may go wrong for which there was no explanation. However, the almighty would take care of all such inadvertent mistakes and there would be no punishment. More importantly, I learnt, I should not try to take credit of things which might have worked well. I had taken number of initiatives in the field of computerization of immigration check posts and facilitation of passengers. A few of these succeeded while a few did not. But that did not create a feeling of frustration in my mind, as गीता would guide me:
योगस्थः कुरु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा धनञ्जय।
सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योः समो भूत्वा समत्वं योग उच्यते॥
( It means: Mind fixed on duty and al thoughts about the fruits of your action abandoned; such equanimity of mind is the essence of yoga…) I was on deputation with Government of India for a long time and completely out of touch with the functioning of the State Government. I was hesitant to get repatriated apprehending I may not succeed. However, I found गीता highly reassuring when it mentioned: यत्तदग्रे विषमिव परिणामेऽमृतोपमम्। (It means: The happiness that initially tastes like poison but eventually is like nectar, which awakens one to self-realisation is in the mode of goodness.) Whenever, you start learning anything new, as the child starts walking, it is tough, but once you do it, it is a great happiness & certainly, ends well. On repatriation to the state of Maharashtra, I was posted as Deputy Inspector General of Police for Training; a new post which was created for me. There was no office place and hardly anyone to work with me. But even then, I devoted to improvement of various training schools under me by paying attention to every trainer and trainee. Advice of गीता was great solace to me when it stated: न द्वेष्ट्यकुशलं कर्म कुशले नानुषज्जते। (It means: The wise renunciate who is situated in the mode of goodness neither dislikes inauspicious work nor is attached to auspicious work.) You should not hate work which people may consider as unskilled, as well as don’t have to cling to a job, considered by people as skilful and hence important. Within few days, I was posted as Additional CP, Nagpur. I found; many people had lined up to congratulate me as it was executive job. But within few months, I preferred to leave this job, and volunteered to be Deputy Director of Yashvantrao Chavan Academy for Development of Administration. I could impart all these principles which I learnt from गीता, to newly recruited officers in the State. I could also start programs for Yoga which helped participants immensely. Several of them confirmed to me later, following these various directives; they could also live stress-free life.
Soon, I was selected by Rotary International & sponsored to School of Public Policy Making in Duke University, Nort Carolina, USA for completing Masters’ course in International Development Policy. I found people from various countries were much similar in almost all manners. An important lesson from गीता that there is no difference among all the creatures which are children of God:
सर्वभूतेषु येनैकं भावमव्ययमीक्षते।
अविभक्तं विभक्तेषु तज्ज्ञानं विद्धि सात्विकम्॥
( It means: The knowledge by which the undivided Supreme Being is seen in alI entities, though it is divided into numerous forms is situated in the mode of goodness.) I found people from all countries highly helpful and loving, if you are straight in your behavior. If you are crooked in your thoughts and try to be smart only in your outward appearance, you are bound to be exposed in no time as गीता warns abundantly:
कर्मेन्द्रियाणि संयम्य य आस्ते मनसा स्मरन्।
इन्द्रियार्थान्विमूढात्मा मिथ्याचारः स उच्यते॥
(It means: There is no point in restraining one’s active senses, while constantly engaging in thoughts, about sensory objects and pleasures. A person who does this is only cheating himself. He is hypocrite.) By God’s grace, I was decorated with Prime Minister’s Police Medal for Meritorious Services as well as with President’s Medal for Distinguished Services. I worked as Director General, Anti-corruption Bureau and as Director General of Police, Maharashtra State. But the guiding principle was:
दैवी सम्पद्विमोक्षाय निबन्धायासुरी मता।
मा शुचः सम्पदं दैवीमभिजातोऽसि पाण्डव ॥ (It means: The divine nature is conducive to liberation, ungodly nature to bondage. Do no grieve, O son of Pandu, you are born of divine nature.)
Soon afterwards, I was selected to work as Vice chairman of Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal where again the philosophy of गीता used to guide me in imparting justice without fear or favour. After completing this assignment, I was given another assignment as Special Rapporteur and in charge of Maharashtra & Goa for National Human Rights Commission. As advised by भगवान कृष्ण “यज्ञदानतपःकर्म न त्याज्यं कार्यमेव तत्” । (It means: Acts of sacrifice, charity, and austerity are not to be given up, they should be performed, for sacrifice, charity, and austerity purify even the great souls.) Don’t leave working for charity. When you are satisfied, you don’t regret what is behind you. You start living in present. I have eternal faith in what भगवान says:
ईश्वरः सर्वभूतानां हृद्देशेऽर्जुन तिष्ठति।
भ्रामयन्सर्वभूतानि यन्त्रारूढानि मायया॥
तमेव शरणं गच्छ सर्वभावेन भारत।
तत्प्रसादात्परां शान्तिं स्थानं प्राप्स्यसि शाश्वतम्॥
( It means: O Arjuna God resides in the hearts of all beings, directing their wanderings by the magical power of maya, on which they are seated as if it were a machne.) While discharging your assignment, remember you are doing it on behalf of भगवान & keep on praying Him. “मन्मना भव मद्भक्तो मद्याजी मां नमस्कुरु। “
(It means: Fix your mind on me. Be my devotee! Sacrifice for me. In this way you will surely come to me.) I make it a practice to read at least one अध्याय every day. Each श्लोक of भगवद्गीता brings out great philosophical advice. Follow it without any hesitation & your अज्ञान (ignorance) would disappear. You would be much closer to भगवान
ॐ तत्सत् कृष्णाऽर्पणमस्तु।
(The author Praveen Dixit, IPS was Director General of Police, Maharashtra.)
