Inane Interpolations In Bhagvad-Gita - Novels
by BS Murthy 
in
English Spiritual Stories
Why is This Book Now?
The Manusmriti, the social doctrine of yore, and the Bhagvad-Gita, the spiritual tome in vogue that lay down the discriminatory dharma (duties) of the four social classes (castes) have been the bugbears of the Hindu ...Read Moreclasses. However, to their chagrin, of late, as the latter is being mindlessly promoted even though the former was constitutionally debunked, they began advocating that it too should be dumped in a dustbin.
Ironically, the improbability of their progenitor Krishna, the architect of the Gita, relegating his own ilk to the social margins failed to dawn upon these that Gita supposedly slights, even to this day! Thus, their intellectuals, instead of seeking to reclaim their priceless heritage, albeit after ridding its interpolative garbage, tend to rubbish it a la throwing the baby with the bathwater, and needless to say they must ponder.
Why is This Book Now?
The Manusmriti, the social doctrine of yore, and the Bhagvad-Gita, the spiritual tome in vogue that lay down the discriminatory dharma (duties) of the four social classes (castes) have been the bugbears of the Hindu ...Read Moreclasses. However, to their chagrin, of late, as the latter is being mindlessly promoted even though the former was constitutionally debunked, they began advocating that it too should be dumped in a dustbin.
Gita’s Double Jeopardy
Bhagvad-Gita, often referred to as the Gita, comprises eighteen chapters, which, in all, contain seven hundred slokas (verses) that is not counting the unnumbered opening number of its thirteenth chapter. Though it has gained prominence on its ...Read Moresteam, in fact it is a part of the epochal Mahabharata, which, with over 100,000 slokas, is the longest tome in the world of letters. Moreover, this epic, probably compiled around the third century BCE, whose authorship is attributed to Vyāsa, is regarded by the Hindus as the panchama veda (the fifth Veda) and the Gita, its divine part, is celebrated by the world as an unrivalled philosophical work.
Provocation for Interpolation
It is believed that the gods themselves made the Brahmin seers of yore privy to the Vedas, the primordial rhythms of creation, and as the communion took place in Sanskrit, it is called devabhasha, the language of ...Read Moregods.
Hindu Intellectual Apathy
Given the social mores of yore with the Vedic chores at their core that the puranic period had ushered in, the spiritual absorption of Gita’s inane interpolations in the Aryavarta of the bygone era is understandable, but ...Read Moreprevented its Hindu adherents in the medieval period, and prevents its Westernized votaries in the modern era, from seeing the wood for the trees?
Chapter - 3: Karma Yoga
The pundits and the plebeians alike aver that the philosophy of the Gita is the practice of disinterested action, that is apart from an unflinching devotion to the Supreme, and in that context, it may ...Read Morenoted that while postulating the same, Krishna, as was seen before, had been critical of the ritualistic aspects of and mundane expectations from the Vedic ceremonies (Ch2, v42 -v 46 ‘n v53). Given that the avowed philosophy of the Gita is to tend man on the path of duty without attachment, the about turn in
Chapter - 4: Jñāna–Karma-SanyasaYoga
This chapter of 42 verses that deals with the spiritual knowledge and practical wisdom is replete with interpolations, including the damning chātur-varṇyaṁ mayā sṛiṣhṭaṁ (v13) the first of the caste-centric precepts in the Gita ‘as it ...Read MoreThe plain reading of this verse would have us believe that the Lord Himself had created the four-caste system, of Brahmin,
Chapter 5: Karma–Sanyasa Yoga
What characterizes the interpolations in this chapter of 29 verses is the tasteless ‘Omnipresence of the Supreme in Brahmins, cows, elephants, dogs and dog eaters’ of v18, which could be but an interpolation as it ill-behoves ...Read Moreeloquence and his sophistication of expression seen throughout the genuine text.
Chapter - 6: Ātma Samyama Yoga
This chapter of 47 verses deals with all aspects of self-control needed for renunciation in action. Here Arjuna’s queries as to what would be the fate of man in his efforts at self- control ...Read Morehe to fail midway, (v37). Even if it were the case, assures Krishna, still one wouldn't come to grief here or hereafter (v40). In this context of the renunciation in action, the yoga-class that follows (v10-v17) informative though, is but a square peg in the round philosophical hole that this discourse is, and so the following verses are but interpolations, even going by what is stated in the very opening verse by Krishna:
Chapter – 7: Gjnāna Vigjnāna Yoga
This chapter of 30 verses is about understanding the nature of the Supreme through knowing and meditation. However, v20-v23 besides breaking the continuity in the character of the discourse, advocate worship of gods ...Read Moreboon seeking that Krishna, as already seen, has chastised in Ch2, v42-v44. In order to appreciate that v20-v23 are interpolations, one my see how the original narrative runs, prior to their insertion, and subsequently thereafter.
Chapter - 8: Akshara Parabrahma Yoga
This 28-verses chapter deals with an un-wavering devotion to the Supreme to attain Him besides the science of meditation to realize the Brahman towards the same end. It can be seen below how ...Read Moreplaces the cart before the horse, and why v9-v14 too, are interpolations that is going by their content that’s out of context.
Chapter - 9: Raja–Vidya–Raja–Guhya Yoga
This chapter of 34 verses describing various ways of attaining the Supreme lends itself readily for interpolations, and what is more given the seemingly incomplete exposition of the promised dharma in v2, possibly in the ...Read Morevogue Gita, there could be some omissions that the original had contained.
Chapter - 11: Vishvarupa-sandarsanaYoga
This 55 verses chapter is about the Omnipresence of the Supreme Spirit, and owing to the improbability of their being, v9-v14, make an amusing reading. V3 states that Krishna grants Arjuna the divine sight required to ...Read MoreVishvarupa (His Universal Form). Of course, the ESP that Vyāsa granted Sanjaya (Ch18, V75) was to enable him to monitor the goings on at the battleground in order to appraise Dhrutarāshtra the blind king about the same.
Chapter -13: Kshetra–Kshetragjna Vibhāga Yoga
This chapter of 35 verses deals with the body and spirit in the first half, and for the rest, about Prakruti (Nature) and Purusha (Supreme Spirit). One might notice that v10, advocating asceticism to ...Read MoreKrishna was opposed, won't jell with the rest, either contextually or philosophically, and thus should be seen as an interpolation.
Chapter -14: Gunatraya–Vibhaga yoga
This diagnostic 27 verses chapter details the three human proclivities - virtue, passion, and delusion, and it may be noted that v3, v4, and v19 that deal with the Nature and the Spirit are interpolated digressions. ...Read Moreas to pin down the interpolative v3 ‘n v4, one may read the opening verses of this chapter.
Chapter -15: Purushottama Prāpti Yoga
This unique chapter of 20 verses deals with the indwelling spirit and the Supreme Spirit, and the perishable man and the imperishable Purusha (Supreme Spirit). It can be seen that v9, v12, v13, v14, ...Read Morev15 are clear digressions after the fascinating proposition in,
Chapter -16: Daivasura–Sampad–Vibhaga Yoga
This chapter of 24 verses deals with all aspects of virtue and evil including how they affect human life. However, V19 which implies that the Lord condemns to hell those who hate Him reads thus:
Chapter - 17: Shraddhātraya-Vibhāga Yoga
This chapter of 28 verses deals with the spiritual as well as the temporal aptitudes of man. It may be noted that, v11-v13 that deal with the virtuous, the passionate and the deluded in ritualistic ...Read Moreand v23 -v28 concerning Om, Tat, Sat and Asat, of the Vedic hymns are clear interpolations for reasons the readers are familiar with. However, v7 - v10 that deal with the food habits of the virtuous, the passionate, and the deluded would pose a problem in determining whether or not they are interpolations.
Chapter -18: Moksha–Sanyāsa Yoga
This chapter of 78 verses that deals with the aspects of human behaviour based on the three natures - virtue, passion, and delusion - and the path of selfless action, ends describing the relevance of, and ...Read Morereverence to, the Gita. While v12 breaks the continuity between v11 and v13 with hyperbolic averments, V41- v48 that describe the allotted duties of man on the basis of his caste are clearly interpolations. In essence, the discourse till v40 is about the human nature and how it affects man and as can be seen, the duties on caste lines detailed in the said interpolations have no continuity of argument.
