Gita: The Song of Life – Introduction
Sai Sarathi, from this issue onward, is pleased to present the serialized poem, The Song of Life, composed by Sri N. Kasturi in the last years of his life. He also wrote Sathyam Sivam Sundaram, the biography of Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba. Permission to publish the poem in its entirety has been granted by Rasmeesh and Ananda Kasturi the grandson and daughter-in-law of Sri N. Kasturi. The Song of Life is published by Heart to Heart Publishing, Bangalore, India.
( Intro | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 )
One day, when Kasturiji was about 82 years old, his closest friend and spiritual guide of 3½ decades, Sri Sathya Sai Baba, asked, “Kasturi, what are you writing these days?” Kasturi smiled and answered, “I am writing the Gita.”
“Wonderful,” answered Baba. “I am delighted. But I have one suggestion. You have written numerous books, but all are for adults. This time let the book be for children. As it is, very few writers have tried to comment on the Gita for the benefit of young people. Write it as a poem and keep it as simple as possible.”
“Okay, Baba, I will do as you say. I can see that it will not be easy, but I will do my best,” agreed Kasturi.
The very first line of the poem starts with the battlefield of Kurukshetra. Armies of both the Kauravas and the Pandavas are facing each other, warriors blowing their conches, eager to fight. Arjuna wants to see the whole scene. Krishna, as his charioteer, drives the vehicle to a spot in the middle of the field. Arjuna sees his gurus, uncles, and nephews on both sides. Despondency grips him. His bow slips from his hands. He refuses to fight asking why? Krishna smiles, tells him that the sense of ‘I, Me, and Mine’ clouds his vision. “Don’t turn back, act your part—leave the rest to me.” “Easier said than done,” says Arjuna.
“Remember Arjuna, I am the doer, you are the instrument,” says Krishna. Arjuna asks, “Shall I then be a doll or a dummy? Why ask me to lift my bow? Why not do it yourself.” “No,” says Krishna, “you are my arm. No one escapes work because you and I are one and the universe moves if we do our parts.”
Krishna advises, “Say to yourself, He is the doer, I am just an instrument. I am a puppet dancing on the stage. He pulls the strings.” Arjuna pleads, “But the mind wanders like the storm. Can wind be rolled and packed? Can water be sliced and hacked? Do not ask the impossible, Krishna.”
“You are a tool Arjuna, but a living tool. You are free to do good or bad, act or not to act. Are you or are you not going to use the power of discrimination given to you?” Krishna explains in simple words.
Kasturiji goes on and on in simple, clear, telling words. He tries hard to inform, educate, and entertain the young readers. In fact, The Song of Life is written so beautifully that young and old alike can enjoy it.
( Intro | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 )
