Significance of the name of Bhagwan Krishna as Parthasarathi
Ram Chandran
Significance of the name of Bhagwan Krishna as Parthasarathi
Ram Chandran
Since India is still celebrating the Janmasthami day, I want to share with you all what I spoke yesterday during the program. We all know that Arjuna, one of the heroes of Mahabharat War had many names and Partha is one of them: Here are few of his names often we come across in Bhagavad Gita:
Dhanañjaya – one who conquered wealth and gold.
Gudakesh – one who has conquered sleep.
Vijaya – always victorious, invincible and undefeatable.
Savyasachi – one who can shoot arrows with both hands.
Shvethavaahana – one with milky white horses mounted on a white chariot.
Kaunteya – son of Kunti and Phalguna – born during Phalguna month
Partha – One who never misses the target when the arrow is released from bow.
He is a very skillful archer with powerful telescopic eyes by which he was able to see the target very clearly and he aim never missed the target. At the same time Arjuna was not able to see how to deal with life situations such as having the right frame of mind to fight the war against his cousins, uncles, teachers and elders. This Partha did need a teacher to provide the necessary instructions and Bhagwan Sri Krishna became the Parthasarathi to guide him. We should remember that even the most skillful persons such as Arjuna will not able to handle difficult situations.
Bhagwan Sri Krishana also has thousands of names (Sahasranamam) and Parthasarathi fitted very well in the present context. This name has special significance because Bhagwan was the charioteer (Sarathi) of Partha (Arjuna) during the Mahabharat war. As Parthasarathi, Bhagwan Krishna narrated the entire Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna before the start of war.
Gita Dhyanam begins with the following verse to signify the importance of both Partha, the Sarathi, Bhagavad Gita, Vyasa right in the middle of Mahabharat war!
Om Parthaya prathi bodhithm bhagawataa naaraayanena swayam,
Vyasaena gratitaam Puraana muninaa madhye Mahabaratam
Meaning: Bhagavad Gita was taught to Arjuna, by Bhagwan Sri Krishna in the middle of the Mahabharata war which was written by none other than by the great Sage Veda Vyasa.
Also in Gita’s very last verse, Sanjaya concludes with his understanding with an assertive assurance to all:
yatra yogeśhvaraḥ kṛiṣhṇo yatra pārtho dhanur-dharaḥ
tatra śhrīr vijayo bhūtir dhruvā nītir matir mama
Wherever there is Shree Krishna, the Lord of all Yog, and wherever there is Arjun, the supreme archer, there will also certainly be unending Abundence, Victory, Prosperity, and Righteousness.
The Charioteer analogy in Kathopanishad confirms Bhagwan Sri Krishna’s direct role in our day to day life. The charioteer ensures the horses stay on the designated right path with appropriate turns and necessary halts. For that, the charioteer needs to have the reins in control fully. Reins left alone would give full leeway to the horses to run around wherever they feel like. Without any control the horses will take the chariot away from the destination intended by the charioteer. The Chariot analogy of Kathopanishad appeared in Gita where Parthasarathi (Almighty) controls and guides the Partha (Arjun). Implicitly Parthasarathi, our Atman is the guiding force to direct us toward our liberation!
With warm regards,
Ram Chandran