Bhagavad Gita

1. Bhagavad Gita

2. Chapter 1, Verse 1 This is a reference to the beginning of the Mahabharata War, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. DHRITA-RASHTRA • On the field of Truth, on the battle-field of life, what came to pass, Sanjaya, when my sons and their warriors faced those of my brother Pandu? “Of life”; implication is that the battle here may not merely be physical, but may be an allegory of an internal battle for self-mastery. (ISKCON \ Gandhi)

3. Chapter 1, Verse 2-4 SANJAYA • When your son Duryodhana saw the armies of the sons of Pandu he went to his master in the art of war and spoke to him these words: • See there, master, the vast army of the Pandavas well set in order of battle by the son of Drupada, your own wise pupil. • There can we see heroic warriors, powerful archers, as great as Bhima and Arjuna in battle: Yiiyudhana and Virata and king Drupada of the great chariot of war.

4. Chapter 1, Verse 5-6 Sanjaya outlines the heroes of the pandava army. • And Dhrishta-ketu of the steadfast banner, and Chekitaiia, the king of the Chedis. We see the heroic king of Kasi, and Purujit the conqueror, and his brother Kunti-bhoja, and Saibya mighty among men. • And victorious Yudhamanyu, and powerful Uttamanjas; and Saubhadra, the son of Arjuna, and the five princes of queen Draupadi. See them all in their chariots of war.

5. Chapter 1, Verse 7-11 Sanjaya outlines the heroes of the kaurava army. • But hear also the names of our greatest warriors, the • leaders of my own army. I will bring them to your memory. • There is yourself, my master in war, and also Bhishma, old and wise. There is Kama, the enemy of Arjuna, his half brother; and Kripa, victor of battles. There is your own son Asvatthama, and also my brother Vikarna. There is Saumadatti, king of the Bahikas. • And many other heroic warriors ready to give their lives for me; all armed with manifold weapons, and all of them masters of war. • We can number our armies led by Bhishma, but innumerable seem their armies led by Bhima.

6. Chapter 1, Verse 11-13 The signal is given for the beginning of the battle. Conch shells are also blown at the start of a puja. • Stand therefore all firm in the line of battle- Let us all defend our leader Bhishma. • To encourage Duryodhana, Bhishma, the glorious old warrior of the Kurus, sounded loud his war-cry like the roar of a lion, and then blew his far-sounding conch-shell. • Then the rumbling of war drums, the stirring sound of cymbals and trumpets, and the roaring of conch-shells and horns filled the sky with a fearful thunder.

7. Chapter 1, Verse 13-14 The pandavas return the challenge. Arjuna and Krishna are introduced. • Thereupon Krishna of Madhava and Arjuna, the son of Pandu, standing in their glorious chariot drawn by white horses, answered the challenge and blew their divine conch-shells. • Krishna, the Lord of the soul, blew his conch-shell Pancha-janya. Arjuna, the winner of treasure, sounded forth his own Deva-datta. His brother Bhima, of tremendous feats, blew his great conch-shell the Faundra.

8. Chapter 1, Verse16-19 • Their eldest brother, king Yudhishthira, sounded his Eternal-Victory; and Nakula and Sahadeva the Sweet-sounding and the Jewel-blossom. • And the king of Kasi of the powerful bow, and Sikhandiof the great war chariot, Dhrishta-dyumna and Virata, and Satyaki the never-conquered; • And king Drupada and the sons of his daughter Draupadi; and Saubhadra, the heroic son of Arjuna, sounded from all sides their conch-shells of war. • At that fearful sound the earth and the heavens trembled,and also trembled the hearts of Duryodhana and his warriors.

9. Chapter 1, Verse 20-21 Krishna and Arjuna drive out to begin the battle. Arjuna’s ape probably a reference to Hanuman; implying devotion to Ram \ Visnu • The flight of arrows was now to begin and Arjuna, on whose banner was the symbol of an ape, saw Duryodhana and his warriors drawn up in their lines of battle. He thereupon took up his bow. • And spoke these words to Krishna:

10. Chapter 1, Verse 21- 23 Arjuna asks Krishna to place the chariot between the two armies, where he can see his opponents. ARJUNA • Drive my chariot, Krishna immortal, and place it between the two armies. • That I may see those warriors who stand there eager for battle, with whom I must now fight at the beginning of this war. • That I may see those who have come here eager and ready to fight, in their desire to do the will of the evil son of Dhrita-rashtra.

11. Chapter 1, Verse 24-28 Arjuna is overcome by the thought of the slaughter that will occur. SANJAYA • When Krishna heard the words of Arjuna he drove their glorious chariot and placed it between the two armies. • And facing Bhishma and Drona and other royal rulers he said: 'See, Arjuna, the armies of the Kurus, gathered here on this field of battle.' • Then Arjuna saw in both armies fathers, grandfathers, • sons, grandsons; fathers of wives, uncles, masters; brothers, companions and friends. • When Arjuna thus saw his kinsmen fact- to face in both lines of battle, he was overcome by grief and despair and thus he spoke with a sinking heart

12. Chapter 1, Verse 29-31 Arjuna is overcome by the thought of killing his relatives. ARJUNA • When I see all my kinsmen, Krishna, who have come here on this field of battle, • Life goes from my limbs and they sink, and my mouth is sear and dry; a trembling overcomes my body, and my hair shudders in horror; • My great bow Gandiva falls from my hands, and the skin of my flesh is burning; I am no longer able to stand, because my mind is whirling and wandering.

13. Chapter 1, Verse 31-34 Arjuna believes that killing his relatives cannot bring a positive result. Gaining a Kingdom is not worth the sacrifice of life. • And I see forebodings of evil, Krishna. I cannot foresee any • glory if I kill my own kinsmen in the sacrifice of battle. • Because I have no wish for victory, Krishna, nor for a kingdom, nor for its pleasures. How can we want akingdom, Govinda, or its pleasures or even life, • When those for whom we want a kingdom, and its pleasures, and the joys of life, are here in this field of battle about to give up their wealth and their life?

14. Chapter 1, Verse 34-36 Arjuna reiterates that he does not want to kill his relatives; even if this means his own death. Evil can be the only possible result of the slaughter. • Facing us in the field of battle are teachers, fathers and sons; grandsons,grandfathers, wives' brothers; mothers' brothers and fathers of wives. • These I do not wish to slay, even if I myself am slain. Not even for the kingdom of the three worlds: how much less for a kingdom of the earth! • If we kill these evil men, evil shall fall upon us: what joy in their death could we have, O Janardana, mover of souls?

15. Chapter 1, Verse 37-39 Arjuna makes a good moral point here; that because he is better than his opponents, who have no morals, he should not kill • I cannot therefore kill my own kinsmen, the sons of king Dhritarashtra, the brother of my own father. What happiness could we ever enjoy, if we killed our own kinsmen in battle? • Even if they, with minds overcome by greed, see no evil in the destruction of a family, see no sin in the treachery to friends; • Shall we not, who see the evil of destruction, shall we not refrain from this terrible deed?

16. Chapter 1, Verse 39-41 Yajña Adharma • The destruction of a family destroys its rituals of righteousness, and when the righteous rituals are no more, unrighteousness overcomes the whole family. • When unrighteous disorder prevails, the women sin and are impure; and when women are not pure, Krishna, there is disorder of castes, social confusion. • This disorder carries down to hell the family and the destroyers of the family. The spirits of their dead suffer in pain when deprived of the ritual offerings. Arjuna makes a good point here about the inevitable breakdown in dharma if the battle continues.

17. Chapter 1, Verse 42-43 Varna Yajña • Those evil deeds of the destroyers of a family, which cause this social disorder, destroy the righteousness of birth and the ancestral rituals of righteousness. • And have we not heard that hell is waiting for those whose familiar rituals of righteousness are no more? Arjuna does not want the karmic punishment for destroying dharma..

18. Chapter 1, Verse 45-47 Arjuna has outlined his dilemma; he thinks it would be better to die than participate in a massacre. • O day of darkness! What evil spirit moved our minds when for the sake of an earthly kingdom we came to this field of battle ready to kill our own people? • Better for me indeed if the sons of Dhrita-rashtra, with arms in hand, found me unarmed, unresisting, and killed me in the struggle of war. • Thus spoke Arjuna in the field of battle, and letting fall his bow and arrows he sank down in his chariot, his soul overcome by despair and grief.

19. Chapter2, Verses 1-3 Krishna replies; “faint heart never won…” So don’t be a wuss; get up and fight Be a man. SANJAYA • Then arose the Spirit of Krishna and spoke to Arjuna, his friend, who with eyes filled with tears, thus had sunk into despair and grief. KRISHNA • Whence this lifeless dejection, Arjuna, in this hour, the hour of trial? Strong men know not despair, Arjuna, for this wins neither heaven nor earth. • Fall not into degrading weakness, for this becomes not a man who is a man. Throw off this ignoble discouragement, and arise like a fire that burns all before it.

20. Chapter2, verses 4-5 Arjuna points out that he owed a dharmic debt to his varna gurus; those who instructed him in his varna dharma Arjuna • I owe veneration to Bhishma and Drona. Shall I kill with my arrows my grandfather's brother, great Bhishma? Shall my arrows in battle slay Drona, my teacher? • Shall I kill my own masters who, though greedy of my kingdom, are yet my sacred teachers? I would rather eat in this life the food of a beggar than eat royal food tasting of their blood.

21. Chapter2, verses 6-8 Arjuna acknowledges that he doesn’t understand who should win, and asks for Krishna’s guidance on his dharma. • And we know not whether their victory or ours be better for us. The sons of my uncle and king, Dhrita-rashtra, are here before us: after their death, should we wish to live? • In the dark night of my soul I feel desolation. In my self-pity I see not the way of righteousness. I am thy disciple, come to thee in supplication; be a light unto me on the path of my duty. • For neither the kingdom of the earth, nor the kingdom of the gods in heaven, could give me peace from the fire of sorrow which thus burns my life.

22. Chapter2, verses 9-10 Sanjaya introduces Krishna’s reply SANJAYA • When Arjuna the great warrior had thus unburdened his heart, 'I will not fight, Krishna,' he said, and then fell silent. • Krishna smiled and spoke to Arjuna - there between the two armies the voice of God spoke these words:

23. Chapter2, verses 11-12 Krishna says; “Why worry”; actually what is important about is us immortal Atman Krishna • Thy tears are for those beyond tears; and are thy words words of wisdom? The wise grieve not for those who live; and they grieve not for those who die - for life and death shall pass away. • Because we all have been for all time: I, and thou, and those kings of men. And we all shall be for all time, we all for ever and ever.

24. Chapter2, verses13-14 Ātman Krishna reminds Arjuna of Samsara. Then points out the transient nature of the sensual world. • As the Spirit of our mortal body wanders on in childhood, and youth and old age, the Spirit wanders on to a new body: of this the sage has no doubts. • From the world of the senses, Arjuna, comes heat and comes cold, and pleasure and pain. They come and they go: they are transient. Arise above them, strong soul. Vedanta; Maya Samkhya; Prakriti

25. Chapter2, verses 15-17 Krishna reminds Arjuna that being peaceful and centered will bring this jnana.Maya is illusion, Spirit is real. Brahman (which is incarnate as atman) cannot be destroyed. This implies samkhya: purusa interwoven in prakriti. • The man whom these cannot move, whose soul is one, beyond pleasure and pain, is worthy of life in Eternity. • The unreal never is: the Real never is not. This truth indeed has been seen by those who can see the true. • Interwoven in his creation, the Spirit is beyond destruction. No one can bring to an end the Spirit which is everlasting.

26. Chapter2, verses18-19 Krishna reminds Arjuna that as spirit is immortal, he should fight, for all killing is in fact illusory; the atman is unharmed. NB 2:19 is a quote from Katha Upanishad 2:19 • For beyond time he dwells in these bodies, though these bodies have an end in their time; but he remains immeasurable, immortal. Therefore, great warrior, carry on thy fight. • If any man thinks he slays, and if another thinks he is slain,neither knows the ways of truth. The Eternal in man cannot kill: the Eternal in man cannot die.

27. Chapter2, verses 20-21 Krishna reiterates that atman is immortal, and thus killing is illusory • He is never born, and he never dies. He is in Eternity: he is for evermore. Never-born and eternal, beyond times gone or to come, he does not die when the body dies. • When a man knows him as never-born, everlasting, never-changing, beyond all destruction, how can that man kill a man, or cause another to kill?

28. Chapter2, verses 22-24 Samsara • As a man leaves an old garment and puts on one that is new, the Spirit leaves his mortal body and then puts on one that is new. • Weapons cannot hurt the Spirit and fire can never burn him. Untouched is he by drenching waters, untouched is he by parching winds. • Beyond the power of sword and fire, beyond the power of waters and winds, the Spirit is everlasting, omnipresent, never-changing, never-moving, ever One. Krishna reiterates that atman is beyond any physical intervention. Implies Advaita.

29. Chapter2, verses 25-26 Krishna reiterates that atman is invisible, and that killing is impossible; so Arjuna should not worry. • Invisible is he to mortal eyes, beyond thought and beyond change. Know that he is, and cease from sorrow. • But if he were born again and again, and again and again he were to die, even then, victorious man, cease thou from sorrow

30. Chapter2, verses 27-28 For creatures within samsara, both death and life are inevitable. You can’t see atman before or after life, so why worry? • For all things born in truth must die, and out of death in truth comes life. Face to fate with what must be, cease thou from sorrow. • Invisible before birth are all beings and after death invisible again. They are seen between two unseens. Why in this truth find sorrow?

31. Chapter2, verses 29-30 Spirit \ self can be encountered through religious experience \ yoga; this is jñana. Those who rely upon 2nd hand information do not really have jñana. • One sees him in a vision of wonder, and another gives us words of his wonder. There is one who hears of his wonder; but he hears and knows him not. • The Spirit that is in all beings is immortal in them all: for the death of what cannot die, cease thou to sorrow.

32. Chapter2, verses 31-32 Krishna reminds Arjuna of his varnadharma; to fight in a righteous war; this will bring positive results; it is his dharma • Think thou also of thy duty and do not waver. There is no greater good for a warrior than to fight in a righteous war. • There is a war that opens the doors of heaven, Arjuna! Happy the warriors whose fate is to fight such war.

33. Chapter2, verses 33-35 Krishna tells Arjuna that not to fight would be adharmic. He also points out that other kshatriyas will take the mickey out of him for being a coward. • But to forgo this fight for righteousness is to forgo thy duty and honour: is to fall into transgression. • Men will tell of thy dishonour both now and in times to come. And to a man who is in honour, dishonour is more than death. • The great warriors will say that thou hast run from the battle through fear; and those who thought great things of thee will speak of thee in scorn.

34. Chapter2, verses36-37 Krishna reiterates that the others will mock him. He points out that Arjuna can’t lose; even if he dies he will accrue good karma, and if he lives, glory upon earth. So he must fight. • And thine enemies will speak of thee in contemptuous words of ill-will and derision, pouring scorn upon thy courage. Can there be for a warrior a more shameful fate? • In death thy glory in heaven, in victory thy glory on earth. Arise therefore, Arjuna, with thy soul ready to fight.

35. Chapter2, verses 38-39 Arjuna must fight anyway, so should do so without attachment; thus there will be no sin. Krishna describes this as Samkhya; and obeying your dharma is part of niyama. The yoga which he is about to introduce is Jñana yoga. • Prepare for war with peace in thy soul. Be in peace in pleasure and pain, in gain and in loss, in victory or in the loss of a battle. In this peace there is no sin. • This is the wisdom of Sankhya - the vision of the Eternal.Hear now the wisdom of Yoga, path of the Eternal and freedom from bondage.

36. Chapter2, verses 40-41 Jñana yoga is inherently succesful; even a small step is in the right direction. Key idea is to focus upon success; this focus is contrasted with the many thoughts of others. ISKCON; concentrate upon Krishna • No step is lost on this path, and no dangers are found. And even a little progress is freedom from fear. • The follower of this path has one thought, and this is the End of his determination. But many-branched and endless are the thoughts of the man who lacks determination.

37. Chapter2, verses42-43 Vedic Karma yoga is described as useless; driven by selfish desire; yajña mantras are designed to produce results in the material world; thus shackling themselves to samsara • There are men who have no vision, and yet they speak many words. They follow the letter of the Vedas, and they say: 'There is nothing but this.' • Their soul is warped with selfish desires, and their heaven is a selfish desire. They have prayers for pleasures and power, the reward of which is earthly rebirth.

38. Chapter2, verses 44-45 The Karma yoga of the vedas is described as essentially corrupting. The vedas are mired in Prakriti The spiritual path is more important • Those who love pleasure and power hear and follow their words: they have not the determination ever to be one with the One. • The three Gunas of Nature are the world of the Vedas. Arise beyond the three Gunas, Arjuna! He in Truth eternal, beyond earthly opposites. Beyond gains and possessions, possess thine own soul. Sattva Rajas Tamas

39. Chapter2, verses 46-47 The vedas are as useful as a chocolate teapot to the real spiritual seeker. Arjuna should continue to work though, but without worrying about the results. • As is the use of a well of water where water everywhere overflows, such is the use of all the Vedas to the Seer of the Supreme. • Set thy heart upon thy work, but never on its reward. Work not for a reward; but never cease to do thy work.

40. Chapter2, verses 48-49 Karma comes from the desire, not the action, so acting without desire is the key idea. Act because you must, in accordance with Dharma, and this will lead to moksha. • Do thy work in the peace of Yoga and, free from selfish desires, be not moved in success or in failure. Yoga is evenness of mind - a peace that is ever the same. • Work done for a reward is much lower than work done in the Yoga of wisdom. Seek salvation in the wisdom of reason. How pour those who work for a reward!

41. Chapter2, verses 50-51 If you are wise, then you will avoid karma by working without desire, which will bring you to moksha. • In this wisdom a man goes beyond what is well done and what is not well done. Go thou therefore to wisdom: Yoga is wisdom in work. • Seers in union with wisdom forsake the rewards of their work, and free from the bonds of birth they go to the abode of salvation.

42. Chapter2, verses 52-53 You should forget about the scriptures (vedas), and concentrate upon working for God. This is what will bring mukti. • When thy mind leaves behind its dark forest of delusion, thou shalt go beyond the scriptures of times past and still to come. • When thy mind, that may be wavering in the contradictions of many scriptures, shall rest unshaken in divine contemplation, then the goal of Yoga is thine.

43. Chapter2, verse 54 ARJUNA • How is the man of tranquil wisdom, who abides in divine contemplation? What are his words? What is his silence? What is his work? Arjuna asks for clarification.

44. Chapter2, verses 55-56 If the mind is fastened upon bhagavan, then the desires no longer accrue Karma. Put simply, God will take your karma away. KRISHNA • When a man surrenders all desires that come to the heart and by the grace of God finds the joy of God, then his soul has indeed found peace, • He whose mind is untroubled by sorrows, and for pleasures he has no longings, beyond passion, and fear and anger, he is the sage of unwavering mind.

45. Chapter2, verses 57-58 If the mind is removed from worldly things, then the yogi will be successful. Meditation is recommended to do this. • Who everywhere is free from all ties, who neither rejoices nor sorrows if fortune is good or is ill, his is a serene wisdom. • When in recollection he withdraws all his senses from the attractions of the pleasures of sense, even as a tortoise withdraws all its limbs, then his is a serene wisdom. Pratyahara (Samkhya)

46. Chapter2, verses 59-60 The yogi who disciplines his mind will control his activities, but not his desires (and thus till get karma). The desires of the mind can damage even the strongest spiritual seeker. • Pleasures of sense, but not desires, disappear from the austere soul. Even desires disappear when the soul has seen the Supreme. • The restless violence of the senses impetuously carries away the mind of even a wise man striving towards perfection.

47. Chapter2, verses 61-62 Quiet meditation upon God will bring serenity to this whirlwind. Desire for the material leads to all possible sins. • Bringing them all into the harmony of recollection, let him sit in devotion and union, his soul finding rest in me. For when his senses are in harmony, then his is a serene wisdom. • When a man dwells on the pleasures of sense, attraction for them arises in him. From attraction arises desire, the lust of possession, and this leads to passion, to anger.

48. Chapter2, verses 63-64 Desire for material things brings adharmic behaviour and ruin. But acting without desire will bring success. • From passion comes confusion of mind, then loss of remembrance, the forgetting of duty. From this loss comes the ruin of reason, and the ruin of reason leads man to destruction. • But the soul that moves in the world of the senses and yet keeps the senses in harmony, free from attraction and aversion, finds rest in quietness.

49. Chapter2, verses 65-66 Meditation will bring and end to desire, and thus to adharma; this will bring success. • In this quietness falls down the burden of all her sorrows, for when the heart has found quietness, wisdom has also found peace. • There is no wisdom for a man without harmony, and without harmony there is no contemplation. Without contemplation there cannot be peace, and without peace can there be joy?

50. Chapter2, verses 67-68 Krishna reiterates that withdrawing the senses will bring success. • For when the mind becomes bound to a passion of the wandering senses, this passion tarries away man's wisdom, even as the wind drives a vessel on the waves. • The man who therefore in recollection withdraws his senses from the pleasures of sense, his is a serene wisdom. Pratyahara (Samkhya)