Mahabharatam and Bhagavadgita

Mahabharatam and Bhagavadgita
Sri. Madhusudhana Saraswati Swamiji, while writing the commentaries for Bhagavadgita wrote the Dhyana slokas (invocation hymns) - "paartaaya pratibodhitaam..." etc. Nowadays it a custom to sing these dhana slokas before the paaraayanam of Bhagavadgita - first let us see how Gita got its name ? -

Bhagavataa Sri Krishnena Gitam iti Bhagavadgitam (Sung by Bhagavan Sri Krishna - thus Gitam) - then why the Feminine gender is choosen for this "Kridanta" (past participle) Sanskrit word ?... The answer is interesting !.

If we say just the word "Bhagavadgita" - this shows that there is another word may be needed to complete the sentense - the missing word is "Upanishad". "Upanishad" is a feminine gender word. (In Sanskrit only words have gender and not the actual substance /things /people - because of the great principle that everything in the creation embodies the will of the Creator, and the creator is beyond Gender and thus the creation is also beyond gender). Since "Upanishad" being a feminine gender word and Gita considered as equivalent to "Upanishad" - note that "Upanishad" is part of Veda - thus "apaurusheyam" (not of any mortal) and "bhagavadvaak" (The Supreme's word) - Same way Gita is also "bhagavadvaak" and since it teaches the highest of the Spiritual teachings it is considered as "Upanishad" - so the name was "Gitopanishad" or "Bhagavadgitopanishad" - later the name was cut short into "Bhagavadgita" or simply "Gita" - thus the feminine gender for its name !.

Now back to the Dhyana slokas - one of them - which I like for its great choice of words is

पाराशर्यवचः सरोजममलं गीतार्थगन्धोत्कटं
नानाख्यानककेसरं हरिकथासम्बोधनाबोधितम् ।
लोके सज्जनषट्पदैरहरहः पेपीयमानं मुदा
भूयाभ्दारतपङ्कजं कलिमलप्रध्वंसिनः श्रोयसे ।।

पाराशर्यवचः - Paraashara and his son (Vyasa) is Paaraasharya his words are -
सरोजममलम् - Stainless lotus  (Mahabharata) from the waters (Vyasa's words)
गीतार्थगन्धोत्कटम् - which has the message of the Gita containing as its Fragrance (from its nector) and as its (Mahabharata's) primary purpose (the word अर्थ also means purpose).
नानाख्यानककेसरम् - contains many stamins (androecium) as narratives as the head (of the flower)
हरिकथासम्बोधनाबोधितम् - which are proclaiming the glories of Hari
लोके सज्जनषट्पदैरहरहः - in world, day by day (daily) by the six legged beings (virtuous human beings as honey bees)
पेपीयमानं मुदा - again and again being drunk with great joy (the honey called Gita)
भूयात् भारत-पङ्गजम् - let it (that lotus flower called Mahabharata) prevail for the good for ever
कलिमलप्रध्वंसिनः श्रोयसे - for all those who wanted to be removed of the  the stains (sins) of the Kaliyuga.

The language of the Great Sannyaasin, Great Krishna Bhakta and a Great Scholar of shastras - Sri. Madhusudhana Saraswati Swami is both amazing (complex words) as well as sweet (easy to understand and enjoy.)