173. Ahankaar to Nimitta-Matra


Upon seeing all the warriors getting crushed by the teeth of Krishna's Vishwaroopam, Arjun enquires to know more about who HE really is. Krishna says that HE is the time that is now engaged in wiping out the world and even without Arjun's participation none of them will survive (11.32). He further says that your enemies are killed by ME and you are merely Nimitta-matra (an instrument) (11.33). Drona, Bhishma and other warriors have already been slain by ME, don't feel distressed to fight the war (11.34).  

The fundamental reason for Arjun's distress is his presumption that he is the kartha (doer) or the killer in the present context. This is aham kartha (I am a doer) or ahankaar. He tries to justify this by saying that killing teachers and relatives for the sake of the kingdom is not good. Krishna breaks Arjun's illusion by showing him a glimpse of the future where all warriors are entering the mouth of death. Krishna clarifies that even without Arjun's participation none of them will survive and Arjun is just a Nimitta-matra. 

Ahankaar tells us that we are performers, achievers, knowers etc. It also presumes others to be so. This results in expectations from ourselves and others which finally leads to misery. Being Nimitta-matra is the complete opposite of this. 

Krishna used many words for the Eternal State like Ever Content; Veet Raag which is beyond Raag and Viraag; Anaasakti which is beyond Aasakti and Virakti; Doing Karma without expecting Karmaphal. Nimitta-matra is another word for the same Eternal State of joy.

If Bhagavad Gita can be described in one word, it is Nimitta-matra. The journey of Gita is from ahankaar (Sangharsh) to Nimitta-matra (Samarpan). Nothing remains serious, tense or fearful when Nimitta-matra is inculcated at deeper levels.

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