The Bhagavad Gita

Society Religion & Philosophy
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INTRODUCTION

Ever since I was a kid I have listened to various versions renditions interpretations of The Gita. Whether a full course feast or a little snack on the run, every time I have learned something new, every time I have yearned for more and everytime gotten a bit more convinced that the very existence of this is sufficient assurance that the world and its people will be fine.

If I do not share these pearls of universal truth and principles, I would be selfish. The idea that Gup is a good place to share is self-evident. However, given the nature and the dominant majority believes of this website, I thought it would be well advised but difficult to strip any religious references from The Gita - however as I read through a beginners version (by Sir Edwin Arnold), I was amazed to see very little religion (atleast the way bandy God and worship around) in it.

So I am providing the links to it with some highlights to the key philosophies from each chapter that appeal to me at this point.

May I be forgiven for any mistakes I commit in the process.
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The Bhagavad Gita

The Gita is an episode within the great epic, MahaBharatha. The Pandava alliance and the Kaurava alliance armies are lined up in Kurukshetra to join battle.

Arjuna, the most celebrated warrior and the Lord Krishna's favorite, is in the lead and when he looks at who is lined up on the other side - his own grand father, uncles, teachers and mentors - he realizes there is no win in fighting this war. His mind which is acclaimed for focus, becomes fatigued - he drops his weapon and ask his driver - Lord Krishna - what is the point!

In 18 chapters, the dialogue between Arjuna and Lord Krishna, brings out philosophies of karma, action, soul, good and bad, relationships etc.

All in that Arjuna's chariot with Krishna as the driver - one important point to note - Hanuman is sitting in the flag on top of the chariot.

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Chapter 1
Please click here for a one page version of the chapter 1.
Following is just my extract:

Krishna! If they be Guilty, we shall grow guilty by their deaths; Their sins will light on us, if we shall slay Those sons of Dhritirashtra, and our kin; What peace could come of that, O Madhava? For if indeed, blinded by lust and wrath, These cannot see, or will not see, the sin Of kingly lines o’erthrown and kinsmen slain, How should not we, who see, shun such a crime We who perceive the guilt and feel the shame Oh, thou Delight of Men, Janardana?

…
…

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[Chapter 2]
Please click here for a 1 pgae version of chapter 2.
Some extracts:

…
Lord Krishna:

To see this truth of both Is theirs who part essence from accident, Substance from shadow. Indestructible, Learn thou! the Life is, spreading life through all; It cannot anywhere, by any means, Be anywise diminished, stayed, or changed.

…
The birth Of living things comes unperceived; the death Comes unperceived; between them, beings perceive: What is there sorrowful herein dear Prince?
…
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Thus far I speak to thee As from the “Sankhya” - unspiritually Hear now the deeper teaching of the Yog, Which holding, understanding, thou shalt burst Thy Karmabandh, the bondage of wrought deeds. Here shall no end be hindered, no hope marred No loss be feared: faith - yea, a little faith Shall save thee from the anguish of thy dread.
…
…
Specious, but wrongful deem The speech of those ill-taught ones who extol The letter of their Vedas, saying, "This Is all we have, or need;" being weak at heart With wants, seekers of Heaven: which comes - they say As “fruit of good deeds done;” promising men Much profit in new births for works of faith; In various rites abounding; following whereon Large merit shall accrue towards wealth and power; Albeit, who wealth and power do most desire Least fixity of soul have such, least hold On heavenly meditation. Much these teach, From Veds, concerning the “three qualities;” But thou, be free of the “three qualities,” Free of the "pairs of opposites."1 and free From that sad righteousness which calculates; Self-ruled,..

Arjuna:
What is his mark who hath that steadfast heart, Confirmed in holy meditation? How Know we his speech, Kesava? Sits he, moves he Like other men?

Lord Krishna:
When one, O Pritha’s Son! Abandoning desires which shake the mind Finds in his soul full comfort for his soul, He hath attained the Yog - that man is such! In sorrows not rejected, and in joys Not overjoyed; dwelling outside the stress Of passion, fear, and anger; fixed in calms Of lofty contemplation: such an one Is Muni, is the Sage, the true Recluse! He, who to none and nowhere overbound By ties of flesh, takes evil things and good Neither desponding nor exulting, such Bears wisdom’s plainest mark!

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reading through this makes me think of the Iliad by Homer. Similar topics are discussed there during the battle

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Nescio, you read the Iliad too.... marvelous book!

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Chapter 3 “Karma-Yog,” or “The Book of Virtue in Work”

 [Click here for the full page link](http://hinduism.about.com/library/weekly/extra/bl-gitatext3.htm)
 
 Here are some excerpts:
 
 Arjuna:

If meditation be a nobler thing Than action, wherefore, then, great Kesava!

 Lord Krishna:

I told thee, blameless Lord! there be two paths Shown to this world; two schools of wisdom. First The Sankhya’s, which doth save in way of works Prescribed1 by reason; next, the Yog, which bids Attain by meditation, spiritually: Yet these are one! No man shall 'scape from act By shunning action; nay, and none shall come By mere renouncements unto perfectness.

 ......

Spake Prajapati In the beginning, when all men were made, And, with mankind, the sacrifice - “Do this! Work! sacrifice! Increase and multiply With sacrifice! This shall be Kamaduk, Your ‘Cow of Plenty,’ giving back her milk Of all abundance. Worship the gods thereby; The gods shall yield ye grace. Those meats ye crave The gods will grant to Labor, when it pays Tithes in the altar-flame. But if one eats Fruits of the earth, rendering to kindly Heaven No gift of toil, that thief steals from his world.”

…

 **Bharata! Even as the unknowing toil, wedded to sense, So let the enlightened toil, sense-freed, but set To bring the world deliverance, and its bliss; Not sowing in those simple, busy hearts Seed of despair. Yea! let each play his part In all he finds to do, with unyoked soul. **
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Chapter 4 - “Jnana-Yog,” or “The Book of the Religion of Knowledge”

Please click here for the full page

and some excerpts:

Arjuna:

Thy birth, dear Lord, was in these later days, And bright Vivaswata’s preceded time! How shall I comprehend this thing thou sayest, “From the beginning it was I who taught?”

**
Lord Krishna:
**
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When Righteousness Declines, O Bharata! when Wickedness Is strong, I rise, from age to age, and take Visible shape, and move a man with men, Succoring the good, thrusting the evil back, And setting Virtue on her seat again.

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Needs must one rightly meditate those three Doing, - not doing, - and undoing.
…

The flame of Knowledge wastes works’ dross away! There is not purifier like thereto In all this world, and he who seeketh it Shall find it - being grown perfect - in himself.

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Chapter 5 - "Karmasanyasayog,: or "The Book of Religion by Renouncing Fruit of Works"

For full page of this chapter please click here.

Here are some excerpts.

Arjuna:
Yet, Krishna! at the one time thou dost laud Surcease of works, and, at another time, Service through work. Of these twain plainly tell Which is the better way?

**
Lord Krishna **

To cease from works Is well, and to do works in holiness Is well; and both conduct to bliss supreme; But of these twain the better way is his Who working piously refraineth not.
....
The region of high rest which Sankhyans reach Yogins attain. Who sees these twain as one Sees with clear eyes!

......
The embodied sage, withdrawn within his soul, At every act sits godlike in "the town Which hath nine gateways,"2 neither doing aught Nor causing any deed. This world's Lord makes Neither the work, nor passion for the work, Nor lust for fruit of work; the man's own self Pushes to these! The Master of this World Takes on himself the good or evil deeds Of no man - dwelling beyond! Mankind errs here By folly, darkening knowledge. But, for whom that darkness of the soul is chased by light, Splendid and clear shines manifest the Truth As if a Sun of Wisdom sprang to shed It beams of dawn.
......
**
To him who wisely sees, The Brahman with his scrolls and sanctities, The cow, the elephant, the unclean dog, The Outcast gorging dog's meat, are all one.**

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Here is the link for chapter 5

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What is this? :s

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Chapter 6 - Atmasanyamayog or “The Book of Religion by Self-Restraint”

Click here for the full page of this chapter

Here are some excerpts

Let each man raise The Self by Soul, not trample down his Self, Since Soul that is Self’s friend may grow Self’s foe. Soul is Self’s friend when Self doth rule o’er Self But self turns enemy if Soul’s own self Hates Self as not itself.

…
beyond denial, hard Man’s heart is to restrain, and wavering; Yet may it grow restrained by habit, Prince! By wont of self-command. This Yog, I say, Cometh not lightly to th’ ungoverned ones; But he who will be master of himself Shall win it, if he stoutly strive thereto.
…

Arjuna:
And what road goeth he who, having faith, Fails, Krishna! in the striving; falling back From holiness, missing the perfect rule?
**
Krishna:**
He is not lost, thou Son of Pritha! No! Nor earth, nor heaven is forfeit, even for him, Because no heart that holds one right desire Treadeth the road of loss! He who should fail, Desiring righteousness, cometh at death Unto the Region of the Just; dwells there Measureless years, and being born anew, Beginneth life again in some fair home Amid the mild and happy.
,
… being Yogi, striving strong and long, Purged from transgressions, perfected by births Following on births, he plants his feet at last Upon the farther path…

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Atlantis, going through these passages and in addition to my above remark, there are a lot of similarities between these and various Greek scripts about virtue and good behaviour, specifically in the Stoicism.

Do have any thoughts on this proposition?

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^ don't know anything about Greek scripts yaar. I grew up in this small town where an english newspaper or even a radio was a rarity. I am just opening myself upto other cultures, civilizations, philosophies and literature in the last couple of years. When I learn and have something worthwhile to say about the Greek works, I will find you

Murgi
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Chapter 7 - “Vijnanayog,” or “The Book of Religion by Discernment”

Click her to see the full page version

Some excerpts:

Lord Krishna:
…
Earth, water, flame, air, ether, life, and mind, And individuality - those eight Make up the showing of Me, Manifest
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Four sorts of mortals know me: he who weeps, Arjuna! and the man who yearns to know; And he who toils to help; and he who sits Certain of me, enlightened

…
…
By passion for the “pairs of opposites,” By those twain snares of Like and Dislike, Prince! All creatures live bewildered, save some few Who, quit of sins, holy in act, informed, Freed from the “opposites,” and fixed in faith, Cleave unto Me.

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i knew it that u r a dumb stupid who needs to know abt the world a lot.

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yaar, why are you so mean?

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^ it's ok....he/she/it don't count because whatever he/she/it says is out of internal pain and anquish. Like I said, it's ok. Reading even these mere excerpts of the Gita will bring some solace to that tortured soul.

Aum Shanthi Shanthi Shanthihi!

Rooth na jaana.....
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now dont teach me wat gita is.can u tell me wat 18 chapter of gita signifies.if not ask me i’ll let u know.And its u not i who is anguished soul coz u r desperate to know my identity even if it is like an open book but then also u live in denial mode.So say AUM SHANTI FOR UR TORTURED SOUL NOT MINE

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^ tsk tsk! hurts huh? don't worry...I won't show you up. This thread is about Bhagvath Gita. Read on and eventually you will get to see all 18 as you wanted.