The Gita - A new Perspective

Devdutt Pattanaik’s Reason #2 for writing “My Gita” is a completely new take on the context in which Gita is “created”  

We never actually hear what Krishna told Arjuna. We simply overhear what Sanjaya transmitted faithfully to the blind king Dhritrashtra in the comfort of the palace, having witnessed all that occurred on the distant battlefield, thanks to his telepathic sight.

The Gita we overhear is essentially that which is narrated by a man with no authority but infinite sight (Sanjaya) so a man with no sight but full authority (Dhritrashtra).

This particular structure of the narrative draws attention to the vast gap between what is told (gyana) and what is heard (vi-gyana).

Krishna and Sanjaya may speak exactly the same words, but while Krishna knows what he is talking about, Sanjaya does not. Krishna is the source, while Sanjaya ismerely a transmitter. Likewise, what Sanjaya hears is different from what Arjuna hears and what Dhritrashtra hears.

Sanjaya hears the words, but does not bother with the meaning. Arjuna is a seeker and so he decodes what he hears to find a solution to his problem.

Dhritrashtra is not interested in what Krishna has to say. While Arjuna asks many questions and clarifications, ensuring the ‘discourse’ is a ‘conversation’. Dhritrashtra remains silent throughout. In fact, Dhritrashtra is fearful of Krishna who is fighting against his children, the Kauravas.

So, he judges Krishna’s words, accepting what serves him, dismissing what does not.

Therefore, you can approach the Gita as Arjuna, with curiosity, or as Dhritrashtra, with suspicion and judgement. What you take away will be your subjective truth: your Gita.

Wow ! A completely new perspective.

I presume the Mahavakya “Ahm brahmasmi” interpreted as “I create my own world”, is reinforced or reiterated. 

In colonial times, Christianity dominated the world, and so religions that did not have a book were dismissed as false religions leading to a scramble amongst Hindus to find one single holy book. Bhagavad Gita’s popularity over the last century is indicative of this need.