Sri Gurubyo Namaha

The Twenty Values from Srimad Bhagavad

Gita

By:
V.Prabhakar Rao
Singapore
May 2009
 The Twenty Values from Srimad
Bhagavad Gita
Since a long time I have been fascinated by the Twenty Values that
Lord prescribes in Ch.13 of Srimad Bhagavad Gita, The Kshethra
Kshethragna Yoga. He goes onto categorically declaring them as
“Gnanam” (“Yethath gnanamithi proktham”) and that anything
which differs from these as “Agnanam” (“agnanam yathatho
anyatha”).

The values by themselves are very profound. More fascinatingly,

the way Lord has listed them in the slokas 8 to 12 (or 7 to 11 in
some books) gives one the strong conviction that these values evolve
from one tier to the next.
 The Twenty Values from Srimad Bhagavad
Gita

The first eight values contained in sloka 8 (amanithvam,

adambhithvam, ahimsa, kshanthi, aarjavam,
acharyopasanam, soucham & sthairyam) are focused on
one’s conduct and seem to form the very foundation of this
evolution.

Amanithvam adambhithvam ahimsa kshanthirarjavam l

Acharyopasanam soucham sthairyam athmavinigraha: ll
- (BG-13:8)
 The Twenty Values from Srimad Bhagavad
Gita
The next seven values contained partly in sloka 8 and in slokas 9
& 10 (athma vinigraha, indriyartheshu vairagyam, anahankara,
janma mruthyu jara vyadhi dhukka dhosha anudarsanam,
puthratharagruhadhishu asakthi, anabishvanga & ishta anishta
upapaththishu nithyam samachiththathvam) seem to be pertaining
to attaining control over one’s mind (attitude) and state of being.
Lord Krishna perhaps is indicating that the first eight values will
lead one to the next seven.

Indriyarththeshu vairagyam anahankara yeva cha l

Janma mrithyu jara vyadhi dhukkha dhoshanu darsanam ll - (BG-13:9)

Asakthi: anabhishvanga: puthratharagruhadhishu l

Nithyam cha samachiththathvam ishtanishtopa paththishu ll - (BG-13:10)
 The Twenty Values from Srimad Bhagavad
Gita
Let us look at the next three values. These values
prescribed in sloka 11 (mayi ananya yogena bhakthi
avyabicharini, viviktha desa sevithvam & arathir
janasamsathi) imply a transformation in the sadhaka’s
personality. One can safely assume that Lord holds our
hand and leads us through the first 8 values related to
one’s conduct, the next seven values related to one’s
attitude ..... leading us to a major transformation through
the next three values.
Mayicha ananyayogena bhakthi: avyabhicharini l
Viviktha desa sevithvam arathir janasamsathi ll
- (BG-13:11)
 The Twenty Values from Srimad Bhagavad
Gita

The final two values mentioned in sloka 12 (adhyathma

gnana nithyathvam & thathva gnana artha darsanam) ,
the very pinnacle of a properly led human life, which can
be said to be the final stage of evolution.

Adhyathma gnana nithyathvam thathvagnanartha darsanam l

Yethath gnanamithi proktham agnanam yathathonyatha ll
- (BG-13:12)
 The Twenty Values from Srimad Bhagavad
Gita

The Pinnacle Two

Pinnacle
(adhyathma gnana nithyathvam
& thathva gnana artha darsanam)

Next Three Values

Transformation (mayi ananya yogena bhakthi avyabicharini, viviktha desa
sevithvam & arathir janasamsathi)

Next Seven Values

Attitude (athma vinigraha, indriyartheshu vairagyam, anahankara, janma
mruthyu jara vyadhi dhukka dhosha anudarsanam,
puthratharagruhadhishu asakthi, anabishvanga & ishta anishta
upapadhdhishu nithyam samachiththathvam)

First Eight Values

Conduct (amanithvam, adambhithvam, ahimsa, kshanthi, aarjavam,
acharyopasanam, soucham & sthairyam
The Twenty Values from Srimad Bhagavad
Gita

It is my humble intention to write about each of these

values in the following slides.
 Sri Gurubyo Namaha
The Twenty Values from Srimad Bhagavad
Gita

With a pranam to Guru Sri Raghavendra Rayaru let me start this

compilation. I will be referring to his work “Geethartha Sangraha” while
preparing this presentation.
 “Amanithvam”
Meaning: Humility

Can there be a better example than

Sri Anjaneya!
After searching and locating the
Divine Mother Sri Sitadevi in
Lanka, when he came back to report
to Sri Rama along with the
Choodamani, he stood along with all
the vanaras who accompanied him
upto the Mahendra Parvatham (and
no more) and said “We did it” ....
thus sharing the credit with all of
them.
 “Adhambithvam”
Meaning: Modesty, Quiet Performance

Sri Bhimasena, the quiet but steadfast bhaktha of Lord

Sri Krishna, is perhaps the best example for this value.

Arjuna thinking no one can be performing

puja to Krishna with more dedication than
him, asks for confirmation from Lord
Krishna Himself. Krishna points out the
superior puja being performed by
Bhimasena ..... without any outward sign
of it and with intense dedication.
 “Ahimsa”
Meaning: Non-violence, Not hurting any being

ahimsA prathamam pushpam pushpam indriya-nigraha: sarva-bhUta-dayA pushpam

kshamA pushpam viSeshata: |
jnAnam pushpam tapa: pushpam dhyAnam pushpam tathaiva cha satyam ashtavidham
pushpam vishno: prItikaram bhavet ||
- From “Pancharatra”

Ahimsa refers to that value which does not hurt any being both physically, emotionally &
psychologically. Note that the sloka from “Pancharatra” which describes the eight bhavapushpams
with which one can do manaseeka puja to God,begins withAhimsa as the first pushpam.
Not hurting anyone through spoken/written words is a very important aspect of Ahimsa. In the
famous Tamil literature “Thirukkural” Thiruvalluvar says “தீயினாற் சுட்டபுண் உள்ளாறும் ஆறாேத
நாவினாற் சுட்ட வடு” meaning even physical wounds will vanish over time but not the wounds caused
by the lashing of the tongue.
 “Kshanthi”
Meaning: Forgiveness

Lord Rama forgave even Kaikeyi

“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the

strong” – Mahathma Gandhi
 “Arjavam”
Meaning: Honesty

No one personified “honesty” more than King Harischandra

Harischandra having lost his kingdom and all the wealth, parting with his only son in an auction

Arjavam is complete alignment of Thoughts, Words & Actions

 “Acharyaupasanam”
Meaning: Service of Gnanis, Gurus, Acharyas & Elders

Sabhari’s was the hallmark of service to Guru

Her selfless dedication to her Guru (Sri Mathanga Rishi) brought Lord
Rama to her door steps
 “Soucham”
Meaning: Purity (Internal & external)

Soucham refers to both bodily purity and the purity of heart

Pure like snow .... Pure like a towering mountain

 “Sthairyam”
Meaning: Steadfastness

Sthairyam refers to steadfastness in holding onto one’s svadharma

Be steadfast in faith like Prahlada. Lord Hari took the Sri Narasimha avathara
just to prove Prahlada’s words as true!
“Sathyam vidhatum nija bhrtya bhashitam .....”
 “Athma Vinigraha” & “Indriyarththeshu Vairagya”
Meaning: Self Control & Detachment from sensual Pleasures

Sri Vadhiraja Swamy is an outstanding example

Right at his birth he was given over to the Mutt (Sodhe

mutt). He grew up in the Mutt. Even as a little boy he
displayed enormous control over self. When he was 6 or 7
years old, Bhoovaraha (purvashrama name of Sri Vadhiraja
Swamy), was asked by the Guru Sri Vageesa Theetharu, as to
what play toys or food delicacies or clothes that he wanted.
And the 6 or 7 years old boy replied ......
“I want Guru bhakthi
I want the blessings of the elders
I want to hear Harikatha everyday
I want detachment
I want to do Vishnu aradhana
I want japa and thapas
I want the Grace and Blessings of Sri Hayavadana”

No wonder his Guru saw his future successor in him right

then ......

He took sanyasa at the age of 8 years and lived as a sanyasi for 112 years. Senior to Sri
Raghavendra Swamy, he entered his Brindavana alive, at his age of 120.
 “Anahankara & Janma Mruthyu jara vyadhi dhukkha
dhoshanu darsanam”
Meaning: Egolessness & being conscious of the birth death cycle and
the sufferings of old age and illness

Mahabali and his giving up of his ego to Mahavishnu’s

Vamana avatharam, come to one’s mind when one
contemplates on the value “Anahankara”. Anahankara
essentially refers to not assuming a superior air hiding
one’s inadequacies. Ahankara is invariably a
consequence of one’s ego.
Sri Kanaka Dasa’s famous reply “Naanu hodhare hove”
when asked whether he thinks he deserves to go to
heaven ,also comes to one’s mind here. On the surface it
means he thinks he will . But in a beautiful play of the
words he actually says that one will go to heaven if one
gives up one’s ego.
“Sage of Arunachala” Sri Ramanar’s appeal to Sri
Arunachaleswara to root out the ego of those who pray
to him (“Ahaththai veraruppai Arunachala” ) in his
Aksharamanamalai, is a heart rending appeal on behalf
of the human society.
Sri Adi Sankaracharya’s Bhaja Govindam is a beautiful lesson highlighting
the value “Janma Mrutyu Jara Vyadhi dhukkha dhoshanu darsanam”
 “Putratharagrahadhishu asakthi: Anabishvanga:”
Meaning: Avoiding too intense an attachment & affinity to one’s wife,
children & possessions

When we think about this value,

the phrase that jumps to our
minds is “Illaraththil
thuravaram” ( இல்லறத்தில் துறவறம்)
ie., staying in and leading a
normal grahastha’s life but
without serious attachment and
affinity. Lord Krishna in
Bhagavad Gita (Ch.3) states that
King Janaka lived the life of a
perfect Karma Yogi and reached
mukthi.
 “Ishta Anishta Upapaddhishu nithyam
samachiththathvam”
Meaning: Equanimity in the face of both positive and negative developments

World could not have witnessed a better example for

this magnificent value than Lord Sri Rama!

Sage Valmiki describes that there was absolutely

no difference in Sri Rama’s countenance while
going for his “anticipated” pattabishekha and
while returning from there with the knowledge
that he has been banished to the forest. Moreover,
Ramayana goes on to explain how Sri Rama
consoled His mother Kausalya Devi and His
brother Lakshmana who are more outraged and
distressed than Rama himself at this turn of
events.
“Mayi Ananya Yogena Avyabhicharini bhakthi”

Meaning: Everlasting and unconditional bhakthi towards the Lord

The love of Gopis towards Krishna

 “Viviktha Desa sevithvam”
Meaning: Love for solitude

It is interesting that Lord Krishna advises “Love for

Solitude” as one of the key values. Further study and
contemplation of the final two values, that He
prescribes, indicates that this is one of the logical
steps in the evolution to the pinnacle
 “Janasamsathi Arathi”
Meaning: Disinterest in being in a crowd

Even though this sounds similar to the previous value it is subtly

different. While the earlier one refers to a love for solitude (leading to
study and contemplation) this value steers one away from improper
company towards proper human interactions which will enhance one’s
sadhana and aid the spiritual journey.
 “Adhyathma gnana nithyathvam”
Meaning: Constantly seeking the eternal Truth

If we were mountain climbers and attempting to climb Mt Everest, the ultimate peak, all the time
won’t we be thinking about the Peak, where are we in relation to the Peak, are we on the correct
track to reach it and what wonderful feeling will be awaiting us when we reach there ... etc?
To my mind, if we consider God to be the Peak, this state represents “Adhyathma Gnana
nithyathvam”
“Thathva Gnanartha Darsanam”
Meaning: Realising The Truth / Attaining Bliss

REACHING
THE
PINNACLE!

Dharma Brings Happiness

 The Twenty Values from Srimad Bhagavad
Gita
This work is dedicated to two young men – Rajesh of the
Kannada Satsangh for triggering in me the thought of
writing on this subject & Kartik of Sridhar-Sudha
Satsangh for the lively discussions on this topic – and the
members of these Satsanghs.

And my thanks to my wife, Sarayu, for the spontaneous

enthusiasm she shows for every single one of my projects
and for the meticulous editing.

Sri Krishnarpanamasthu