We have all seen the Mahabharata television serial that was relayed on Doordarshan. Senior citizens continue to watch Krishna and Pandavas in the several recreated versions even today. However, some parts of the Bhagavad Gita is not revealed to people. These have been purposely misinterpreted so that people don\’t get to know the truth which otherwise can be known only through experience.
One of the parts that we all want to watch again and again is how Krishna revealed Himself to Arjuna.
If you remember Krishna reveals His Viraat Rupa. Krishna is seen as a giant persona and Arjuna is bowing in humility before Krishna.
But, did Krishna reveal His Viraat Rupa? Or did he reveal Viswarupa. Hindus believe Arjuna had the Viswarupa Darshana.
What is the difference between Viraat Rupa and Viswarupa?
Hindus believe salvation is attained by destroying the ego and merging with the divine. If this is the way of the Hindus, how can Krishna showing His Viraat Rupa be true? Doesn’t that boost Krishna’s ego? But, Krishna was a living God.
Krishna did not want the glory of man. God is all loving and all powerful. So, what did Krishna really reveal to Arjuna?
Viraat Rupa Darshana means that Krishna would have shown His gigantic form which Arjuna will not be able to measure. So, Arjuna falls at Krishna’s feet.
On the other hand, if Krishna had revealed to Arjuna Viswarupa Darshana, then Arjuna would have seen Krishna as light. And then, he would have seen that light in each and every person present in the battle field. Arjuna would have realised that every person is eternally a manifestation of God. Everyone is just the One.
This revelation would have brought to Arjuna the knowledge that Krishna professed on the battle ground.
Chapter 4 Shloka 1 of Bhagavad Gita
From Chapter 4, Shloka 1 onwards, you can read the conversation between Krishna and Arjuna.
Shri Krishna Says;
I taught this imperishable Yoga to Vivasvan (Surya Deva or Sun God); Vivasan taught Manu; and Manu in turn taught Ikshvaku.
Arjuna asks Krishna:
Your birth took place recently and the birth of sun-god(Surya dev) vivasan took place in ancient time. So, I can’t understand how You instructed this to him in the beginning?
Krishna says:
You and I have passed through many physical bodies. The difference is just that I can remember all of them, but you don’t know yours!
Krishna further tells Arjuna:
Whenever there is a degradation of dharma and rise in adharma, I manifest Myself.
For the protection of the pious, and the society, and to reestablish dharma, I manifest Myself, era after era.
In this way, one who knows the secret of the transcendental nature of My birth and action, that person, upon parting from body, does not take rebirth and attains Me.
So, who is Krishna speaking of? Is it Himself or the Eternal God that He is who has manifested Himself in the form of Krishna?
Think about it! And leave your comments below.
— Mahesh Krishnamurthy
