“If” by Rudyard Kipling
Some notes with Gita
In lieu of the recent layoffs, I came across this short poem in my Linkedin feed. My ears could not get enough just listening a few times. What a profound inspirational poem.. What a choice of simple words..
It seemed like a Digest of Bhagavad Gita itself.. On Equipoise and Resilience. Do listen to the poem in the amazing voice of John Hurt. Do listen and sink in before reading this post.
Some phrases and light connect with Gita.
What a depiction of Resilience and Surrender..
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting..
If you can dream — and not make dreams your master;
If you can think — and not make thoughts your aim;
The words seem like Gita’s calling on equipoise and balance samatvam and yoga, becoming a steadfast sthita-pragya and treading the path of sattva
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
sheet-ushna-sukha-dukha..
Weather the ups and downs of life..
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings — nor lose the common touch
tulya-nindaa-stuti-mauni.. Seeing all the same.. some one who critics you, some one who praises you or just keeps quiet
sama-loshta-kaanchana being unattached and seeing gold and iron the same
If you can dream — and not make dreams your master;
sarva-aarambha-pari-tyaagi.. not chasing every thought.. giving up obsessive attachments.
If you can fill the unforgiving minute..
kshami forgive the past
don’t give way to hating..
adveṣhṭā sarva-bhutaanaaṁ.. maitraḥ karuṇa eva cha
And never breathe a word about your loss
aniketa- Not brooding on one’s loss
If you can trust yourself
uddhared ātman ātmānaṁ Elevate your self by your self.
‘Hold on!’
Aatitsta Utista .. Arise Awake O strong One
You’ll be a Man, my son!
Krishna calls Arjuna with many many befitting names to boost his morale and add a punch in each of those verses..
Mahaabaaho.. O strong armed one
Bhaarata .. O Resilient one
Purusha Vyaagra.. O lion among men
Dhananjaya.. O Wealthy one (in qualities)
