"Destruction of one's own family will not bring any good fortune. I only see my own family here as well as in the enemy camp. How can I kill my Grandsire, my Guru? Even Duryodhana is my brother. I do not want the piece of land attained from such calamity. I would rather beg than enjoy the land after killing my kin. My throat is drying up, my Gandiva is slipping. No I cannot fight this war. O Keshav, I am asking you as a disciple. Please let me know what I should do". Thus spoke Arjuna to Krishna surrendering himself to His will and guidance.
The Kurukshtetra war is narrated through the eyes of Sanjaya as he is relating the events to Dhritharashtra. The Bhagavad Gita or Gita Upadesam starts with both the armies staring at each other. Duryodhana then gets down from his chariot and praises the Pandav army. But then he also praises his conglomeration increasing their morale. On listening to such praises from his great grandson, Bhishma blows his conch.
At that time, Arjuna develops conflicts within himself. He requests his charioteer Krishna (Krishna's names also include Parthasarathi which means charioteer of the son of Pritha-Kunti's real name) to take his chariot between the 2 assembled armies. He looks at both the sides clearly before expressing his moral conflict and uselessness of going for a war of such magnitude. He does not want any riches by killing his own family members as well as after spilling so much blood. Then he completely surrenders himself to Krishna for guidance.
Any urban Indian or European who considers Sanathana Dharma as a religion supporting inaction should thoroughly understand Gita. Trust only Krishna to provide a spiritual discourse in the middle of the warring factions. Bhagavad Gita is a real gem for the spiritual seekers and there is so much being discussed here. Krishna completely advocates action but warns that the result is not a controlled event. It is His understanding of human life which allows him to convince Arjuna to pick up and go to war again. He discusses how a Jnani (Enlightened man) lives to different forms of Yoga in Bhagavad Gita.
Chapter 2: Sankhya Yoga
Sankhya Yoga propounds the arithmetic of the spiritual science also known as Gyan Yoga. Actions gain rewards. Rewards might be used up. But true knowledge cannot be vanquished. Deeds performed through supreme knowledge carry no expectation or pride. Lord Krishna terms it the way to supreme peace.
Chapter 3: Karma Yoga
No one can live without doing some deed. Some people are more attuned to the ways of Karma yoga (Path of action) rather than Gyan Yoga (path of knowledge). Arjuna is one of them. Lord Krishna expels his confusions by discoursing on the path of action (karma).One should do one's deeds with detachment and without any expectations of the results.
Chapter 4: Gyankarma Sanyas Yoga
One who has gained the knowledge of reality (the eternal and changeless truth) all the other factors and aspects of life, this worldly existence become immaterial.
Chapter 5: Karma Sanyas Yoga
A Karma Yogi is unaffected by the results of his actions as he does not expect any rewards. For simple people, Karma Yoga is preferable as it is simple & easy being in harmony with nature. Path of knowledge is not easy and not for everyone.
Chapter 6: Aatmasanyam Yoga
All spiritual exercises are performed to control one's senses. Some exercises are revealed by Lord Krishna.
Chapter 7: Gyanvigyan Yoga
Spiritual world does not ignore the world but shows a truth beyond the material. One needs to harmonize the basic rules of nature with life. Such science will certainly lead to the ultimate truth.
Chapter 8: Aksharbrahma Yoga
Lord Krishna answers to Arjuna's questions "What is Brahm? What is spiritualism? What is Karma?
Chapter 9: Rajvidyarajguhya Yoga
Why worship all the deities when the same kind of devotion can bring about a union with the Supreme?
Chapter 10: Vibhooti Yoga
Where is God- is an ignorant question. He is there in every manifestation.
Chapter 11: Vishwaroopadarshan Yoga
Arjuna realises that Krishna is God himself and devotingly asks Krishna to show his real form. Krishna blesses Arjuna with divine eyesight as mere human eyes cannot bear the sight. Then he proceeds to show his real form. Sanjaya too sees this vision as he was blessed with diviine vision by Sage Vyas (so that he can relay the war to King Dhritharashtra).
The truth of God emerges when all the positives are merged with negative. Only those who has the courage to see this harsh reality can face God.
Chapter 12: Bhakti Yoga
Devotion, total surrender, too can lead to the supreme union.
Chapter 13: Kshetrakshetragyavibhag Yoga
This body is like a field where inspirations are the seeds whcih harvest deeds. Deeds begets deeds and thus, keep multiplying. The one who masters the field and gains knowledge of life in such form leads to god.
Chapter 14: Gunatrayvibhag Yoga
The one who understands the (Satva, Rajas, Tamas) tendencies and controls them finds God.
Chapter 15: Purushottam Yoga
The Universe is a tree. Eternal Para Power Supreme is its root. The main branch is Brahma and the Vedas are its leaves. A man who sees the basic truth in such form is the one who knows the meaning of Vedas.
Chapter 16: Daivasursampadvibhag Yoga
Discourse on spiritual and material world.
Chapter 17: Shraddhatrayvibhag Yoga
Devotion is the basic element of spiritual progress. But one must avoid devotion to goals of attachments and evil.
Chapter 18: Mokshasanyas Yoga
Lord Krishna gives a discourse on renunciation and asceticism. At the end of this chapter Arjuna confirms that his confusions are cleared and he is ready to fight.
Gita Upadesam can also be seen as a metaphor where Arjuna is our Ego, the horses are the senses, chariot is our body and Krishna is (the intellect/supreme) guiding us. Only when we surrender our ego and let the reins of our senses and body be run by the intellect/supreme, we will not have any conflicts and we might get enlightened.
To finish off, let me give a little excerpt from the back of the book(which I used to get the summary of the chapters).
All Upanishads are like a cow, child god Krishna is the milker, Arjuna is the calf and the great Gita wisdom is the milk and pure minded faithful is its user.
The Kurukshtetra war is narrated through the eyes of Sanjaya as he is relating the events to Dhritharashtra. The Bhagavad Gita or Gita Upadesam starts with both the armies staring at each other. Duryodhana then gets down from his chariot and praises the Pandav army. But then he also praises his conglomeration increasing their morale. On listening to such praises from his great grandson, Bhishma blows his conch.
At that time, Arjuna develops conflicts within himself. He requests his charioteer Krishna (Krishna's names also include Parthasarathi which means charioteer of the son of Pritha-Kunti's real name) to take his chariot between the 2 assembled armies. He looks at both the sides clearly before expressing his moral conflict and uselessness of going for a war of such magnitude. He does not want any riches by killing his own family members as well as after spilling so much blood. Then he completely surrenders himself to Krishna for guidance.Any urban Indian or European who considers Sanathana Dharma as a religion supporting inaction should thoroughly understand Gita. Trust only Krishna to provide a spiritual discourse in the middle of the warring factions. Bhagavad Gita is a real gem for the spiritual seekers and there is so much being discussed here. Krishna completely advocates action but warns that the result is not a controlled event. It is His understanding of human life which allows him to convince Arjuna to pick up and go to war again. He discusses how a Jnani (Enlightened man) lives to different forms of Yoga in Bhagavad Gita.
Chapter 2: Sankhya Yoga
Sankhya Yoga propounds the arithmetic of the spiritual science also known as Gyan Yoga. Actions gain rewards. Rewards might be used up. But true knowledge cannot be vanquished. Deeds performed through supreme knowledge carry no expectation or pride. Lord Krishna terms it the way to supreme peace.
Chapter 3: Karma Yoga
No one can live without doing some deed. Some people are more attuned to the ways of Karma yoga (Path of action) rather than Gyan Yoga (path of knowledge). Arjuna is one of them. Lord Krishna expels his confusions by discoursing on the path of action (karma).One should do one's deeds with detachment and without any expectations of the results.
Chapter 4: Gyankarma Sanyas Yoga
One who has gained the knowledge of reality (the eternal and changeless truth) all the other factors and aspects of life, this worldly existence become immaterial.
Chapter 5: Karma Sanyas Yoga
A Karma Yogi is unaffected by the results of his actions as he does not expect any rewards. For simple people, Karma Yoga is preferable as it is simple & easy being in harmony with nature. Path of knowledge is not easy and not for everyone.
Chapter 6: Aatmasanyam Yoga
All spiritual exercises are performed to control one's senses. Some exercises are revealed by Lord Krishna.
Chapter 7: Gyanvigyan Yoga
Spiritual world does not ignore the world but shows a truth beyond the material. One needs to harmonize the basic rules of nature with life. Such science will certainly lead to the ultimate truth.
Chapter 8: Aksharbrahma Yoga
Lord Krishna answers to Arjuna's questions "What is Brahm? What is spiritualism? What is Karma?
Chapter 9: Rajvidyarajguhya Yoga
Why worship all the deities when the same kind of devotion can bring about a union with the Supreme?
Chapter 10: Vibhooti Yoga
Where is God- is an ignorant question. He is there in every manifestation.
Chapter 11: Vishwaroopadarshan Yoga
Arjuna realises that Krishna is God himself and devotingly asks Krishna to show his real form. Krishna blesses Arjuna with divine eyesight as mere human eyes cannot bear the sight. Then he proceeds to show his real form. Sanjaya too sees this vision as he was blessed with diviine vision by Sage Vyas (so that he can relay the war to King Dhritharashtra).The truth of God emerges when all the positives are merged with negative. Only those who has the courage to see this harsh reality can face God.
Chapter 12: Bhakti Yoga
Devotion, total surrender, too can lead to the supreme union.
Chapter 13: Kshetrakshetragyavibhag Yoga
This body is like a field where inspirations are the seeds whcih harvest deeds. Deeds begets deeds and thus, keep multiplying. The one who masters the field and gains knowledge of life in such form leads to god.
Chapter 14: Gunatrayvibhag Yoga
The one who understands the (Satva, Rajas, Tamas) tendencies and controls them finds God.
Chapter 15: Purushottam Yoga
The Universe is a tree. Eternal Para Power Supreme is its root. The main branch is Brahma and the Vedas are its leaves. A man who sees the basic truth in such form is the one who knows the meaning of Vedas.
Chapter 16: Daivasursampadvibhag Yoga
Discourse on spiritual and material world.
Chapter 17: Shraddhatrayvibhag Yoga
Devotion is the basic element of spiritual progress. But one must avoid devotion to goals of attachments and evil.
Chapter 18: Mokshasanyas Yoga
Lord Krishna gives a discourse on renunciation and asceticism. At the end of this chapter Arjuna confirms that his confusions are cleared and he is ready to fight.
Gita Upadesam can also be seen as a metaphor where Arjuna is our Ego, the horses are the senses, chariot is our body and Krishna is (the intellect/supreme) guiding us. Only when we surrender our ego and let the reins of our senses and body be run by the intellect/supreme, we will not have any conflicts and we might get enlightened.
To finish off, let me give a little excerpt from the back of the book(which I used to get the summary of the chapters).
All Upanishads are like a cow, child god Krishna is the milker, Arjuna is the calf and the great Gita wisdom is the milk and pure minded faithful is its user.
