Essence of Bhagavad Gita

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Bhagavad Gita or simply 'Gita' as it is commonly referred to, literally means 'Song of the Lord' (In Sanskrit).

Considered as the crown jewel of India's ancient Vedic culture and the essence of Indian scriptures (Vedas), Gita is a dialog between the teacher Lord Sri Krishna and the disciple Sri Arjuna in the battlefield of Kurukshetra. Kurukshetra is the place in North India where Mahabharata war (literally  means 'The Great war of India') was fought in antiquity between two opposing factions -- The Kauravas and The Pandavas, who were cousins and members of the same Royal family (Kuru dynasty) for supremacy & control of their kingdom. This place Kurukshetra is still a thriving place of pilgrimage in India.

Gita describes systematically and in detail the True meaning of Yoga delivered by the Master of all Yoga (Sri Krishna, who is thus also referred to as Yogeshwar or the Lord of Yoga). Thus Gita is the authoritative text on the subject matter of Yoga. The text form of Gita comprises of 700 verses divided into 18 chapters. It appears as a part of the great historical epic - The Mahabharata which is compiled by Sage Veda Vyas some 5000 years ago in India.

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The context of Gita is that the great war is about to begin, the armies are assembled, a fierce bloodbath is about to start. And at that precise moment, as Arjuna the famous warrior of the Pandavas sees his blood relatives assembled in the battlefield ready to kill or die in the war, is highly distressed and disturbed at the thought of having to fight to kill his own kith and kin for a piece of land. As such his mind wavers and he concludes that it is better to give up this war and retire to a forest as an ascetic in isolation instead of having to commit the great sin of killing members of his own family for a kingdom, a throne and associated material pleasures. What is the use of a throne that is stained with blood of ones own family, Arjuna argues?  

It must be noted that Arjuna is not a coward, he is a valiant fighter of Kshatriya blood (Kshatriya = warrior & royal class of society), he has successfully fought and won several wars before, so killing or possibility of being killed in war is not the reason for his distress. Rather the distress he undergoes is because here the price of the throne is the blood of his own family AND the gravely unpleasant consequences of such terrible action.

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In such a condition, Arjuna is highly dismayed and unable to conduct his duties as a Kshatriya. In this predicament he speaks his grief, dismay and doubts to his Guide (and charioteer) Lord Sri Krishna, who being the Supreme Lord, all knowing and merciful, instructs his disciple in the form of the Gita about various paths of Yoga practices and especially the Yoga of Detached, Inspired Action (Karma Yoga) and offering such selfless Action as Devotional service to the Lord (Bhakti Yoga). Karma = Action or prescribed duties for oneself (per scriptures), Bhakti = Devotional service to the Lord. And the Lord assures that for the surrendered devotee who wishes nothing for himself but undertakes action only for the pleasure of the Lord, He the Lord personally takes the responsibility of delivering the devotee from this cycle of birth, death, old age & disease. This deliverance or freedom is accepted as the sole and highest purpose of human life per Vedic culture.

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Subsequently, after listening to and understanding Lord Krishna's instructions in Gita, Arjuna is rid of his delusions, doubts, griefs and worries and is able to fight the war and in this process conduct his duties as an offering to the Lord.

 

In practical sense, a serious lifelong study and practice of active Bhagavad Gita living is as relevant today in modern society as it was back then. This is because, Gita teaches us the perfection of Yoga which is the skill of efficiency in action as Selfless Devotional Service to the Lord leading to the Ultimate goal of Human Life which can be summarized as the attainment of complete physical, mental, spiritual Peace and Freedom by permanent release from the cycle of birth & death, old age & disease. This state of existence is God realization or Krishna Consciousness that every spirit soul is ultimately destined for. 

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For reference to the text of Bhagavad Gita, please go here.

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