[25][29][30] The word Vyasa literally means "arranger, compiler", and is a surname in India. [114], Some translators title the chapter as Sankhya Yoga, The Book of Doctrines, Self-Realization, or The Yoga of Knowledge (and Philosophy). While Duryodhana presents it as a matter of status, social norms, and fate, Vidura states that the heroic warrior never submits, knows no fear and has the duty to protect people. [170][11][12], The Gita, states Fowler, "thoroughly accepts" atman as a foundational concept. Anger is a specific mental attitude which appears in one who experiences separation at the time of loss of cherished objects. [185] To a karma yogi, right work done well is a form of prayer,[186] and karma yoga is the path of selfless action. [197] The chapter 4 of the Bhagavad Gita is dedicated to the general exposition of jnana yoga. [190] Theologian Catherine Cornille writes, "The text [of the Gita] offers a survey of the different possible disciplines for attaining liberation through knowledge (Jnana), action (karma), and loving devotion to God (bhakti), focusing on the latter as both the easiest and the highest path to salvation. what is enjoined or prohibited, [Ast. The Gita accepts atman as the pure, unchanging, ultimate real essence, experiencer of one's being. The Bhagavad Gita is universally famous as the treasure of India’s spiritual wisdom. Further, such a Buddhi is capable of distinguishing between what ought to be done and what ought not to be done by persons of different stations in life, having as their duty activity or renunciation at particular places or times. Like the Upanishads, the Gita focuses on what it considers as Real in this world of change, impermanence, and finitude. This can be understood by the question: Is there enough Bhagavad Gita - … [207][208], According to Edwin Bryant, the Indologist with publications on Krishna-related Hindu traditions, the Gita rejects "actionless behavior" found in some Indic monastic traditions. [212] In Chapter 1, responding to Arjuna's despondency, Krishna asks him to follow his sva-dharma,[213] "the dharma that belongs to a particular man (Arjuna) as a member of a particular varna, (i.e., the kshatriya – the warrior varna)". [162], The Gita adopts the Upanishadic concept of Absolute Reality (Brahman), a shift from the earlier ritual-driven Vedic religion to one abstracting and internalizing spiritual experiences. [231], In Aurobindo's view, Krishna was a historical figure, but his significance in the Gita is as a "symbol of the divine dealings with humanity",[232] while Arjuna typifies a "struggling human soul". [190] While bhakti is mentioned in many chapters, the idea gathers momentum after verse 6.30, and it is chapter 12 where the idea is sustainly developed. [162] It begins with discussion of spiritual pursuits through sannyasa (renunciation, monastic life) and spiritual pursuits while living in the world as a householder. Lord Krishna, who is the sovereign Personality of Godhead, spoke the Bhagavad Gita. [114] The issue is, states Arvind Sharma, "is it morally proper to kill? It was considered a spiritual dictionary by Mahatma Gandhi and was a book of inspiration for many leaders of the Independence movement. [86] The Bhagavad Gita is a Brahmanical text which uses the shramanic and Yogic terminology to spread the Brahmanic idea of living according to one's duty or dharma, in contrast to the ascetic ideal of liberation by avoiding all karma. What had previously been known of Indian literature in Germany had been translated from the English. [351] According to Dnyaneshwar, the Gita starts off with the discussion of sva-dharma in Arjuna's context but ultimately shows that caste differences are not important. The Pandava prince Arjuna asks his charioteer Krishna to drive to the center of the battlefield so that he can get a good look at both the armies and all those "so eager for war". [280] He wrote a commentary on the Gita as Gitartha-Samgraha, which has survived into the modern era. [278], The oldest and most influential surviving commentary was published by Adi Shankara (Śaṅkarācārya). [119], Some translators title the chapter as Karma yoga, Virtue in Work, Selfless Service, or The Yoga of Action. birth and death. [376][377], Philip Glass retold the story of Gandhi's early development as an activist in South Africa through the text of the Gita in the opera Satyagraha (1979). Krishna says that such self-realized people are impartial to friends and enemies, are beyond good and evil, equally disposed to those who support them or oppose them because they have reached the summit of consciousness. In 1808, passages from the Gita were part of the first direct translation of Sanskrit into German, appearing in a book through which Friedrich Schlegel became known as the founder of Indian philology in Germany. "[217] The Udyoga Parva presents many views about the nature of a warrior, his duty and what calls for heroic action. The Gita, as it is popularly known, is a part of the Hindu epic, Mahabharata, written by the sage Ved Vyasa. [115] The war feels evil to Arjuna and he questions the morality of war. This chapter is an overview for the remaining sixteen chapters of the Bhagavad Gita. [246]:525–530, According to the exegesis scholar Robert Minor, the Gita is "probably the most translated of any Asian text", but many modern versions heavily reflect the views of the organization or person who does the translating and distribution. wood to cook the food? [214] According to Paul Hacker, the term dharma has additional meanings in the context of Arjuna. [369], According to Ronald Neufeldt, it was the Theosophical Society that dedicated much attention and energy to the allegorical interpretation of the Gita, along with religious texts from around the world, after 1885 and given H. P. Blavatsky, Subba Rao and Anne Besant writings. [40] According to the Indologist Arvind Sharma, the Gita is generally accepted to be a 2nd-century-BCE text. [88], The Bhagavad Gita manuscripts exist in numerous Indic scripts. [178] According to Raju, the Gita supports this identity and spiritual monism, but as a form of synthesis with a personal God. These are the three starting points for the Vedanta school of Hindu philosophy. [193], Jnana yoga is the path of knowledge, wisdom, and direct realization of the Brahman. [31], Swami Vivekananda, the 19th-century Hindu monk and Vedantist, stated that the Bhagavad Gita may be old but it was mostly unknown in the Indian history till early 8th century when Adi Shankara (Shankaracharya) made it famous by writing his much-followed commentary on it. Arjuna is distressed and in sorrow. is situated in sattva guna the mode of goodness as only they have the The 94-episode series was produced by acclaimed Hollywood producer B. R. Chopra and directed by his son Ravi Chopra. [157][158][159] Some of the verses in Chapter 16 may be polemics directed against competing Indian religions, according to Basham. [101] He sees that some among his enemies are his own relatives, beloved friends, and revered teachers. [116] Krishna answers. [18][112][113] The chapter opens with Krishna continuing his discourse from the previous chapter. [10][11][12] The synthesis is at both philosophical and socio-religious levels, states the Gita scholar Keya Maitra. [108][web 3] For example, Swami Chidbhavananda describes each of the eighteen chapters as a separate yoga because each chapter, like yoga, "trains the body and the mind". Everything that constitutes prakriti (nature, matter) is process driven and has a finite existence. The Bhagavad Gita is the compilation of Arjuna's questions and moral dilemma, Krishna's answers and insights that elaborate on a variety of philosophical concepts. Geeta Anand talks about the story behind the movie “Extraordinary Measures,” about a father driven to find a cure for Pompe disease, the rare and often fatal illness that struck his children. [271], Bhagavad Gita integrates various schools of thought, notably Vedanta, Samkhya and Yoga, and other theistic ideas. —Bhagavad Gita 6.1Eknath Easwaran[128][note 14], Some translators title the sixth chapter as Dhyana yoga, Religion by Self-Restraint, The Practice of Meditation, or The Yoga of Meditation. [161] It covers many topics, states Easwaran. [47][48], According to Jeaneane Fowler, "the dating of the Gita varies considerably" and depends in part on whether one accepts it to be a part of the early versions of the Mahabharata, or a text that was inserted into the epic at a later date. [367] Aurobindo saw Bhagavad Gita as a "scripture of the future religion" and suggested that Hinduism had acquired a much wider relevance through the Gita. [32], According to J. कार्याकार्ये what ought to be done and what ought not to be done? This verse from Bhagavad Gita Karma Yoga simply means “be yourself”. [18][112][113] The second chapter begins the philosophical discussions and teachings found in Gita. Religious leaders and scholars interpret the word Bhagavad in a number of ways. [120] Those who act without craving for fruits are free from the karmic effects, because the results never motivated them. [14][52] Gerald James Larson – an Indologist and classical Hindu Philosophies scholar, states "if there is any one text that comes near to embodying the totality of what it is to be a Hindu, it would be the Bhagavad Gita. It teaches both the abstract and the personalized Brahman (God), the latter in the form of Krishna. Even a monk should strive for the "inner renunciation", rather than external pretensions. [13] While Hinduism is known for its diversity and its synthesis therefrom, the Bhagavad Gita has a unique pan-Hindu influence. Now the threefold nature of the intellect is described. In India, its Sanskrit name is often written as Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, श्रीमद् भगवद् गीता (the latter two words often written as a single word भगवद्गीता), where the Shrimad prefix is used to denote a high degree of respect. The chapter summarizes the Hindu idea of rebirth, samsara, eternal soul in each person (Self), universal soul present in everyone, various types of yoga, divinity within, the nature of Self-knowledge and other concepts. A Father's Quest to Cure His Children - The New York Times [194][195] In the Bhagavad Gita, it is also referred to as buddhi yoga and its goal is self-realization. [5], Bhagavad Gita comprises 18 chapters (section 23 to 40)[107][web 2] in the Bhishma Parva of the epic Mahabharata. [360] Hindus have their own understanding of dharma that goes much beyond the Gita or any particular Hindu text. What is the self? [224], Unlike any other religious scripture, the Bhagavad Gita broadcasts its message in the centre of the battlefield. A synthesis of knowledge, devotion, and desireless action is offered by Krishna as a spectrum of choices to Arjuna; the same combination is suggested to the reader as a way to moksha. Some translators title the ninth chapter as Raja–Vidya–Raja–Guhya yoga, Religion by the Kingly Knowledge and the Kingly Mystery, The Royal Path, or The Yoga of Sovereign Science and Sovereign Secret. 6) moksa is liberation from material existence and release from samsara [49] While the year and century is uncertain, states Richard Davis, the internal evidence in the text dates the origin of the Gita discourse to the Hindu lunar month of Margashirsha (also called Agrahayana, generally December or January of the Gregorian calendar). [18][112][113] The chapter starts by presenting the tension in the Indian tradition between the life of sannyasa (monks who have renounced their household and worldly attachments) and the life of grihastha (householder). The person of sattvika intelligence understands the difference between fear caused by samsara and fearlessness caused by freedom from samsara. He wonders if fighting the war is "not so important after all" given Krishna's overview on the pursuit of spiritual wisdom. [83] It then presents different spiritual paths for each personality type respectively: the path of knowledge (jnana yoga), the path of devotion (bhakti yoga), the path of action (karma yoga), and the path of meditation (raja yoga). Scholars accept dates from the fifth century to the second century BCE as the probable range, the latter likely. 18.30 प्रवृत्तिम् action? The setting of the Gita in a battlefield has been interpreted as an allegory for the ethical and moral struggles of the human life. With the preponderance of vice, O Krishna, the women of the family become immoral; and from the immorality of women, O descendent of Vrishni, unwanted progeny are born. [181], The Gita teaches the path of Karma yoga in Chapter 3 and others. [76][77][78] Desires, selfishness and the craving for fruits can distort one from the dharmic action and spiritual living. [237] Christopher Chapple – a Comparative Theology scholar focusing on Indian religions, in Winthrop Sargeant translation of the Gita, states, "In the model presented by the Bhagavad Gītā, every aspect of life is in fact a way of salvation. [248] These translations vary,[249] and are in part an interpretative reconstruction of the original Sanskrit text that differ in their "friendliness to the reader",[250] and in the amount of "violence to the original Gita text" that the translation does. [352][353], According to Swami Vivekananda, sva-dharma in the Gita does not mean "caste duty", rather it means the duty that comes with one's life situation (mother, father, husband, wife) or profession (soldier, judge, teacher, doctor). However, its composite nature also leads to varying interpretations of the text and historic scholars have written bhashya (commentaries) on it. - Choose music wit… च and? The final verses of the chapter state that the self-aware who have reached self-realization live without fear, anger, or desire. [210] According to Jacqueline Hirst, the "field of dharma" phrase in the Gita epitomizes that the struggle concerns dharma itself. the instrument. [263] The most significant French translation of the Gita, according to J. Bhagavad-Gita is 700-verse Hindu scripture, written in Sanskrit, contains a vast sea of knowledge and practical guide to life. This dharma has "resonances at many different levels". [46], Linguistically, the Bhagavad Gita is in classical Sanskrit of the early variety, states the Gita scholar Winthrop Sargeant. [342], The Gita presents its teaching in the context of a war where the warrior Arjuna is in inner crisis about whether he should renounce and abandon the battlefield, or fight and kill. In 1966, Mahārishi Mahesh Yogi published a partial translation. This is not to be confused with the Shrimad Bhagavatam, which is a Purana dealing with the life of the Hindu God Krishna and various avatars of Vishnu. In light of the Ahimsa (non-violence) teachings in Hindu scriptures, the Gita has been criticized as violating the Ahimsa value, or alternatively, as supporting political violence. Arjuna inquired: O my Lord, O Supreme Person, what is Brahman? death According to Deutsch and Dalvi, the Bhagavad Gita attempts "to forge a harmony" between these three paths. Knowledge is different from the intellect.Pravritti Action The cause of bondage the path of action. [120] Those who act selflessly for the right cause and strive to do their dharmic duty do God's work. abstinence from unrighteousness. [344] According to Chatterjee, the Hindus already understand the meaning of that term. The text explores the "paradoxical interconnectedness of disciplined action and freedom". I suppose we all thought that, one way or another. This contrasts with a few competing schools of Indian religions which denied the concept of self, soul. 17 Oct 2012 Leave a comment. This verse from Bhagavad Gita Karma Yoga simply means “be yourself”. [234][235], Indian independence leaders like Lala Lajpat Rai and Bal Gangadhar Tilak saw the Gita as a text which defended war when necessary and used it to promote armed rebellion against colonial rule. The Lord, states Chatterjee, created millions and millions of people, and he did not ordain dharma only for Indians [Hindus] and "make all the others dharma-less", for "are not the non-Hindus also his children"? Aurobindo writes, "... That is a view which the general character and the actual language of the epic does not justify and, if pressed, would turn the straightforward philosophical language of the. [183] This is where one determines what the right action ought to be and then acts while being detached to personal outcomes, to fruits, to success or failure. The dating of the Gita is thus dependent on the uncertain dating of the Mahabharata. It weighs 800 kg and measures over 2.8 metres. [note 13] Every time he returns, he teaches about inner Self in all beings. [...] Having experienced that Truth oneself, all doubts are dispelled. [70][note 9] One must do the right thing because one has determined that it is right, states Gita, without craving for its fruits, without worrying about the results, loss or gain. The text states that Dasasloki – possibly authored by Nimbarka – teaches the essence of the Gita; the Gita tattva prakashika interprets the Gita also in a hybrid monist-dualist manner.[290][291]. With regard to action leading to seen or unseen, results, undertaken according to place, time, etc. The Bhagavad Gita is universally famous as the treasure of India’s spiritual wisdom. Filled with introspection and questions about the meaning and purpose of life, he asks Krishna about the nature of life, soul, death, afterlife and whether there is a deeper meaning and reality. [58], Some Hindus give it the status of an Upanishad, and some consider it to be a "revealed text". [273], According to Richard Davis, the Gita has attracted much scholarly interest in Indian history and some 227 commentaries have survived in the Sanskrit language alone. Death is but a change of attire in an uninterrupted continuity of immortality. [102] He drops his bow, wonders if he should renounce and just leave the battlefield. [246]:514 According to Larson, there is "a massive translational tradition in English, pioneered by the British, solidly grounded philologically by the French and Germans, provided with its indigenous roots by a rich heritage of modern Indian comment and reflection, extended into various disciplinary areas by Americans, and having generated in our time a broadly based cross-cultural awareness of the importance of the Bhagavad Gita both as an expression of a specifically Indian spirituality and as one of the great religious "classics" of all time. [143][144] Chapter 11, states Eknath Eswaran, describes Arjuna entering first into savikalpa samadhi (a particular), and then nirvikalpa samadhi (a universal) as he gets an understanding of Krishna. [229], Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, in his commentary on the Gita,[230] interprets the battle as "an allegory in which the battlefield is the soul and Arjuna, man's higher impulses struggling against evil". It’s a primary source of inspiration for Mahatma Gandhi and many other famous leaders like Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Carl Jung. The Gita text he commented on, is slightly different recension than the one of Adi Shankara. unrighteous actions lead to the bondage of samsara the perpetual cycle of Oppenheimer later recalled that, while witnessing the explosion of the Trinity nuclear test, he thought of verses from the Bhagavad Gita (XI,12): दिवि सूर्यसहस्रस्य भवेद्युगपदुत्थिता यदि भाः सदृशी सा स्याद्भासस्तस्य महात्मनः ॥११- १२॥ [236], Liberation or moksha in Vedanta philosophy is not something that can be acquired. Paramahansa Yogananda's commentary on the Bhagavad Gita called God Talks with Arjuna: The Bhagavad Gita has been translated into Spanish, German, Thai and Hindi so far. Fortitude also is only a particular function of the intellect. Such a Buddhi discerns transgression of the Sastras as the cause of fear and observance of the Sastras as the cause of fearlessness. Because of differences in recensions, the verses of the Gita may be numbered in the full text of the Mahabharata as chapters 6.25–42 or as chapters 6.23–40. Savarkar "often turned to Hindu scripture such as the Bhagavad Gita, arguing that the text justified violence against those who would harm Mother India. [210] Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, a professor of Philosophy at the Oxford University and the second president of India, saw "The Field of Dharma" as the world (Bhavsagar), which is a "battleground for moral struggle". [97], The Gita is a dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna right before the start of the climactic Kurukshetra War in the Hindu epic Mahabharata. [42] On the basis of the estimated dates of Mahabharata as evidenced by exact quotes of it in the Buddhist literature by Asvaghosa (c. 100 CE), Upadhyaya states that the Mahabharata, and therefore Gita, must have been well known by then for a Buddhist to be quoting it. "[13][15], The Bhagavad Gita is part of the Prasthanatrayi, which also includes the Upanishads and Brahma sutras. [233] However, Aurobindo rejected the interpretation that the Gita, and the Mahabharata by extension, is only "an allegory of the inner life", and it has nothing to do with our outward human life and actions. According to Chatterjee, the Krishna's religion of Gita is "not so narrow-minded". Theirs is true renunciation. righteous actions lead to moksa or liberation from material existence and [18][112][113] The chapter opens with Arjuna asking questions such as what is Brahman and what is the nature of karma.