Category Archives: pitaamaha

Bhagavad Gita Verse 17, Chapter 9

12 Sunday Aug 2012

Posted by in 9.17, aham, asya, cha, chapter 9 verse 17, dhaataa, eva, jagataha, maataa, omkaara, pavitram, pitaa, pitaamaha, rik, saam, vedyam, yajur

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pitaahamasya jagato maataa dhaataa pitaamaha |
vedyam pavitramomkaara riksaam yajureva cha || 17 ||
 
I am the father, mother, support and grandfather of this universe. I am the knowable, the purifier, the syllable Om, and the Rig, Saama and Yajur also.
 
pitaa : father
aham : I am
asya : this
jagataha : universe
maataa : mother
dhaataa : support
pitaamaha : grandfather
vedyam : knowable
pavitram : purifier
omkaara : Om syllable
rik : Rig
saam : Saama
yajur : Yajur
eva : also
cha : and
 
Shri Krishna further elaborates on Ishvara’s infinite all-pervading nature by asserting that he is the father, mother and grandfather of this universe. A father’s nature is to protect the child and to push it to grow. A mother embodies the quality of nurture and impartiality, she will care for even the most misbehaved child. A grandfather is extremely attached to his grandchild and takes great pleasure in demonstrating affection towards the child, whereas the father may sometimes not show affection openly. Shri Krishna says that Ishvara treats every being in the universe like a caring family would.
 
Symbolically, Ishvara as father represents the intelligence behind the creation of the universe. Ishvara as mother represents the substance that creates the universe. Ishvara as grandfather refers to the source of intelligence and substance. It is said that Lord Shiva, when asked for his great grandfather’s name, replied “Shiva”. There is no further cause of this universe other than Ishvara.
 
Another pointer to Ishvara is “dhaata” or sustainer. As we have seen earlier, it is Ishvara in his infinite nature that holds the universe together in a state of harmony, where everything is in its place. Ishvara is also the three Vedas which are ultimate source of knowledge in the universe, the only knowledge that needs to be known. Their essence is captured in the syllable “Om”, which is considered the utmost purifier. In other words, once we see Ishvara in everything, everything becomes pure.
 
The next shloka contains a series of pointers to Ishvara which are considered the foundation of bhakti or devotion.

Bhagavad Gita Verse 12, Chapter 1

25 Thursday Aug 2011

Posted by in chapter 1 verse 12, dadhamau, harsham, kuru, naada, pitaamaha, prataapavaan, sanjayanan, shankham, simha, tasya, uchchaiha, vinadya, vriddhaha

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tasya sanjanayanharsham kuruvriddha pitaamaha |
simhanaada vinadyochchai shankamdadhamau prataapavaan || 12 ||
 
Then the valiant Bheeshma, elder of the Kuru dynasty, blew his conch loudly, a sound as mighty as the roar of a lion, delighting Duryodhana.
 
prataapavaan: valiant
kuru-vriddhaha pitaamaha: Bheeshma, an elder of the Kuru dynasty
simha-naada vinadya: roaring like a lion
shankham dadhamau: blew his conch
uchchaiha: very loudly
tasya harsham sanjayanan: increasing delight of the king
 
This is the first verse in a series of verses which indicate the beginning of the Mahabharata war. Traditionally, conches were blown to announce the start of the war. Bheeshma, sensing the fear in Duryodhana, blew his conch so that Duryodhana felt confident that his army was still on his side.
 
It also indicates the dependence of Duryodhana’s ego on external circumstances, such as the roar of conches, in order to strengthen itself, instead of an innate belief that his army was on his side.