THE POETIC FORM OF THE BHAGAVADGĪTĀ AND THE METAPHOR OF AGENCY

Abstract

The discourse of literature is older than the discursive discourse of philosophy but literature dynamically contains rigorous philosophy and ethics. Indian philosophy has its origins in the Vedas and the Upanishads which are in verse. Philosophy is a structured activity involving arguments, analysis and construction of hypotheses and theories. The types of discursive discourse available in ancient times were not as suited for philosophy as the highly structured discourse of verse was. The Bhagavadgītā is a religious text, recited by millions of people every day, it is in verse which can be easily memorized by anyone and thereby the text and its meaning are internalized. The Bhagavadgītā is also a tract on practical and theoretical ethics. Three concurrent narratives are at play: First, it is a literal narrative of Arjuna beginning in a state of moral anguish, which is resolved when he acquires complete understanding of why joining the battle is the dutiful action. As such it is a psychological, existential journey for Arjuna. Second, it is a narrative of the journey of Indian philosophy from Vedantic to Samkhya to Yoga. Third, it is a narrative of what remains constant in the evolution of Indian philosophy, namely, the doctrines of moksha, karma and reincarnation. The verse form of the Bhagavadgītā is best suited to present the intricately woven three narratives. No discursive discourse could accomplish the same task. The greatest virtue of verse in the Bhagavadgītā is that it engages the reader in the reading and reciting of the Gita in a personal way that could not be done in a discursive discourse. Any ethical theory is a theory of action. It is about what a person ought to do in a given situation. If the Bhagavadgītā had been written in prose it would be a third person narrative of Arjuna’s dilemma, enlightenment and resolution. But because it is in verse, the reader or reciter, I, become Arjuna and the Gita becomes a narrative of my journey from a morally anguish situated-ness to a state of a righteous decision and the performance of dutiful action.