1 Gita Sloka Every Day - Chapter 13 - Kshetra Kshetrajna Yoga - Sloka 4

The entire content of this mail is from Swami Adidevananda's translation of Ramanuja's  Gita  Bhashya and Swami Chidbhavananda's Bhagavad Gita, both published by Ramakrishna Mission

The Vehicles of Revelation - 4

1 Gita Sloka  Every Day - Chapter 13 - Kshetra Kshetrajna Yoga - Sloka 4

Tiruppavai Pasuram 25

Rishibhih bahudha gitam chandobhih vividhaih prthak I

Brahma sutra padaih cha eva hetu madbhih vinischitaih II sloka 4

ऋषिभिः बहुधा गीतं छन्दोभिः विविदैः पर्थक I
ब्रह्मन् सूत्र पदैः च एव हेतु माद्भिः विनिश्चितैः II श्लोक 4

This has been sung by rishis in many ways, in various distinctive chants, in passages indicative of Brahman, full of reasoning and convincing

The sages have fully utilised the sciences and arts for the revelation of the truth, which remains unaffected by the passage of time . The value of the truth does not go down for its being clothed in imperfect language. But the rishis have taken care to expound it in the most refined and appropriate  language. The precision of expression has been augmented by them with music. Accurate language is by itself appealing to its intellect. When music is combined with it, the joint appeal to the head and the heart becomes doubly effective. Music is by itself very powerful and fascinating to all beings. Wild and venomous beings are easily tamed by it. Emotion is awakened and refined by music. Bliss and sweetness are engendered by it. The rishis have sanctified both these instruments, literature and music, by utilising them for conveying a divine messages.

Literature and music become lopsided when harnessed exclusively for the cultivation of emotions.The sa ges have avoided that defect by balancing it with rigid reasoning which is another powerful instrument to arrive at the truth. Reason that is consistently followed, leads to clarification and conviction.

Emotion devoid of reason lands one in mere sentimentalism, in which many an unwary, credulous and mediocre devotee lands himself. Clarity of understanding and firmness of action cannot be expected of such a namby-pamby one. Again there is the other one given to dry and dreary itellectualism, devoid of any sweet touch of life. But a balanced personality is that in which love and understanding are well knit together.

Sage Narada was endowed with a penetrating intellect and an all absorbing divine love. Devotees ought to evolve after  his pattern

Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa