Nimitta mAtra Bhava SavyaSachin” is the essence of Bhagawad Gita.
Sri Krishna, the supreme Lord, referred Arjuna as only a Nimitta mAtra in the Upanishad of Srimad Bhagavad Gita, the science of God, the scripture of yoga and the divine dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjun at Kurushetra. The literal meaning of Nimitta mAtra (निमित्त मात्र) is “ Only an Instrument”. In Chapter XI, Text 33, entitled, “Visva-rupa-darsana-Yoga”- The Supreme Lord, while manifesting his universal form tells Arjun:
“tasmat tvam uttistha yaso labhasva
jitva satrun bhunksva rajyam samrddham
mayaivaite nihatah purvam eva
nimitta-matram bhava savya-sacin”
Shree Krishna revealed to Arjun his will that Kauravas will perish and Hastinapur will be administered by Pandavas in accordance with rules of dharma. And therefore, Arjun should arise and attain honour by conquering his foes and enjoy prosperity and kingdom. The warriors stand already slain by the supreme lord Shree Krishna and Arjun will only be nimitta mAtra, an instrument for accomplishment of his work. Infact, It is the essence of whole of Bhagawad Gita and this also inspired Arjuna to follow the will of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Krishna. The fact that all beings, including the enemies are destined to death even if Arjun did not fight and kill them and that it is the sacred duty of the warrior king to fight his enemies and kill them to establish dharma and that the soul is indestructible and that nobody really dies and death is just a change of dress for the soul and that such being the case if Arjun fails to fight them and kill them himself, he will only be failing in his sacred duty and nothing else.
The almighty God blessed Arjun and by his Yogmaya power, gave him a vision of his resplendent, unlimited, and primeval cosmic form which no one before Arjun has ever seen it. Since Arjun became fearful and beseeched that the cosmic form be hidden, Shree Krishna pacified him by explaining that there is no need to be scared. He had bestowed a vision of his universal form by his grace, not as a form of punishment, but because he was very pleased with Arjun. He uses hyperbole as a figure of speech to stress how rare it is to see the universal form, by saying that Arjun is the first one to see it. Although Duryodhan and Yashoda were also given a glimpse of the universal form, it was not to this intensity, depth, and magnitude. Not by study of the Vedas, nor by the performance of sacrifice, rituals, or charity, nor even by practicing severe austerities, has any mortal ever seen what Arjun had seen. The logic behind this is very straightforward. Our physical eyes are made from matter, and hence all that we can see is also material. The Supreme Lord is non-material — he is divine. To have a vision of his divine form we need divine eyes. When God bestows his grace upon the soul, he adds his divine power to our material eyes, and only then can we see him.
One may ask that how was Sanjay also able to see that cosmic form, which Arjun saw by divine grace? The Mahabharat states that Sanjay also received by the grace of his Guru, Ved Vyas, who was an Avatār of God. Before the war, the Ved Vyas offered his student Sanjay divine vision so that he may be able to communicate the details of the war to Dhritarashtra. Hence, he saw the same cosmic form that Arjun saw. But later, when Duryodhan died, Sanjay was overwhelmed with grief and lost his divine vision.
Nevertheless, an inquisitive mind should also look for the reasons for the omission of eldest Pandava, the dharmraj Yudhisthir, from the divine grace, as why he was not the chosen one and why he was not bestowed with the divine vision to witness the universal form by the grace of Shree Krishna, though both were on the same side and after all, Mahabharata was the Dharm-Yudh, being led by the dharmraj Yudhisthir himself? Simply put, What could be the reasons for Arjuna to become the chosen one for Lord Krishna’s divine vision than King Yudhiṣtira?
My take on this aspect of Bhagwat Gita and Mahabharata is that though Yudhishtra was knowledgeable on the secrets of dharma, yet Yudhishtira will be asking Krishna or seeking his help only where it suits him. He will not where it doesn’t suit, for example, the gambling. Knowing well that gambling is bad, he gambled under the pretext that a king has to accept a challenge. Encountering an enticement, Yudhisthir would vacillate and take chances that suit his interpretation of dharma. Some examples of his vacillations that he accepted to marry Draupadi, though he was not entitled to, under the pretext that his mother’s words should be made true; and betting his wife even after he lost himself. Even during war, his acceptance of the suggestion “Aswatthama died, an elephant by name” to disturb the concentration of Dronaachaarya was something which was never expected out of Yudhisthira. However, Arjuna never claimed he was a knower of dharma, but presented himself truthfully calling a spade a spade; he had total faith in Krishna, whom he believed was his friend, philosopher, guide and saviour from problems. It also goes without saying that he was truly valorous when it comes to exhibition of qualities as a warrior. When encountered a difficult situation he did not hesitate to seek Krishna’s guidance. Moreover, it is because the qualities of Arjuna were attractive Krishna approved Subhdra’s marriage to Arjuna and it’s not the other way round that because Arjuna is married to Subhadra Krishna liked him. This principle is still being followed even by lessor mortals and these have big difference. Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intelligence and perverted ego these are the eight components of God’s external energy and it gets manifested in humans in its true essence. Thus, the qualities of Arjuna attracted Krishna most and that could be the appropriate reason for him earning the grace of God to have the ‘Visva-rupa-darsana’ at Kurushetra and Shree Krishna bestowing him the eternal wisdom by telling ‘Nimitta mAtra Bhava SavyaSachin’ .and explaining him the essence of whole cosmic existence in the form of Gita.
Bhagwat Gita is so relevant for the contemporary times. Shree Krishna has said that nothing can kill the soul and death is just a change of dress for the soul. For that reason, all the humans are only an instrument for the fulfillment of the will of the supreme God. The divine intervention comes to establish the rules of dharma. However, it is quite interesting to note as how one can become ‘nimitt mAtra’ for a particular purpose or a cause in the overall cosmic design of the supreme lord? Is it the destiny or the karma of past lives? How a person attains a particular destiny in his or her life? So, If everything is predestined then how the karma of a person in a particular life can change his destiny? Or, is it that the destiny and karma are intertwined? Or else, if there is an existence of past lives and the rebirth is based on the credit points earned in the past life, then the endless cycles of re-births are instrumental in shaping ones destiny. In the present times also, we keep witnessing unfolding events around us and keep wondering about the various roles being played by the individuals. However, with Gita wisdom, we can assure ourselves that events are playing themselves as per the cosmic design and every player in the event is just a nimitt mAtra, though destiny has chosen him or her.
