1.11

Verse (Bhagavad Gita 1.11):

अयनेषु च सर्वेषु यथाभागवमस्थिताः | भीष्ममेवाभिरक्षन्तु भवन्तः सर्वे एव हि || 1.11 ||

Transliteration:

Ayaneshu cha sarveshu yathābhāgavamasthitāḥ |

Bhīṣma-mevābhirakṣantu bhavantaḥ sarve eva hi || 1.11 ||

Literal Translation:

"In all these divisions of the army, may you all protect Bhishma, who is stationed in his rightful place."

Samkhya Interpretation and Revised Translation:

"In all these mental faculties and tendencies, may you all protect the samskaras (Bhishma), which are firmly established in their rightful place."

Explanation:

Ayaneshu (अयनेषु): "In the divisions" refers to the different mental faculties or aspects of the mind that are shaped by past experiences and conditioning.

Sarveshu (सर्वेषु): "In all" indicates that all mental faculties are influenced by the samskaras, meaning that every aspect of the individual's mind is shaped by these latent tendencies.

Yathābhāgavamasthitāḥ (यथाभागवमस्थिताः): "As they are rightly stationed" signifies that the mental tendencies (samskaras) are firmly embedded in their rightful positions, shaping the individual's thoughts, actions, and behavior according to past experiences.

Bhīṣma-mevābhirakṣantu (भीष्ममेवाभिरक्षन्तु): "May you protect Bhishma" is interpreted as a call to protect the samskaras, which are the guiding forces of the mind. These samskaras are shaped by past experiences, and they influence the direction of one's thoughts and actions.

Bhavantaḥ (भवन्तः): "You all" refers to the mental faculties (or aspects of the mind) that are influenced by these samskaras.

Sarve eva hi (सर्वे एव हि): "All of you," meaning that every mental tendency and samskara influences the individual's behavior and the decisions they make in the material world.

Overall Translation (Samkhya Perspective):

"In all aspects of the mind, may you all protect the samskaras (represented by Bhishma), which are firmly rooted in their rightful place, shaping the individual's thoughts, actions, and decisions."

In this interpretation, Bhishma stands for the mental samskaras that shape and protect the mind's tendencies. The verse highlights how these samskaras influence the individual and guide their actions, often in ways that maintain attachment and prevent spiritual freedom. The goal in Samkhya is to transcend these samskaras to achieve liberation (moksha) and realization of the true self (Purusha).