BHAGAVAD GITA

FOR STUDENTS

BY
K.V.krishnamachari
Teacher(Retd.) Hindu High School Ambur, N.A.A.Dt.

Forward
By
Lion.Dr.M.R.Kanthiraj, M.B.B.S.,
Hon.Secretary and Correspondent
Hindu Educational Society and
Hindu Higher Secondary School, Ambur.

Second edition published

Published by in 1994
(2000 copies)
P.Srinivasan , B.A.
© Author
L.I.C.
“ASHEERVAD”
Tatabad 2nd Street,
Coinbatore-12

Dedicated to
Sri P.Parthasarithi Iyengar.
(Retd., Teacher, Hindu High School, Ambur

Typeset by:
FINE GRAPHICS PVT.LTD.,
Madras-600011 Ph.5371522

Printed at:
UNIQUE GRAPHIC PRINTERS
Madras-600006
 PRAYER

! salute Thee, O! Krishna

Thou that blessest all,
Thou that givest to those,
That come to Thee, all that they want.
Thou art the giver of all gifts.
Thou art the chastiser of the wicked.
Thou art the source of all knowledge.
Thou art the ONE who give us,
The life giving GITA.

! salute Thee, Thou god among Gods,

Thou the son of Vasudeve,
Thou the destroyer of Kamsa and Chanura,
Thou the eternal joy of Devaki.
Thou, O! Krishna, art the world’s Supereme
Teacher.

! salute, Thee, O! Madhava,

Thou alone makest the mute eloquent
And the cripple scale mountains.

! seek thy Grace, Lord

From Thee alone floweth the stream of BLISS
 PUBLISHER’S NOTE FOR THE 2nd EDITION

Sri Bhagavad Gita is an important message conveying the age old tradition
and culture of our beloved country Bharath Varsha. It conveys the
fundamental philosophical ideas in full. It is a sure guide to show human
being as to how they should live in this world, a life worth living.

My beloved father, lat Sri R.Parthasarithi Iyengar’s life long friend and
retired teacher of the Hindu High School, Ambur, Sri K.V. Krishnamachari
has done a deep study of Bhagavatd Gita. I consider it a privilege and I
honour to bring out this small publication with the message of great
importance which will be very useful to the modern youngsters,
particularly students.

The publisher is glad to inform the readers that about 4000 copies of this
small book were printed in the first edition and they were well received by
the public. The aim of this venture is to create an awareness in the young
students. If we make the young students know their duty and if we
succeed in inculcating the students the importance, advantage and the
pleasing results by doing so and above all if the students get accustomed to
performing their duty regularly, I am sure most problems would be solved.

Only I wish Teachers, parents and elders take interest in cultivating this
aspect by explaining the guiding the young students properly.

As already decided these books would be presented to the out-going XII

Std.students of the Hindu Higher Secondary School, Ambur, N.A.A.Dt.,
every year, where my father poojya R.Prasanthi Iyengar, to whose memory
this book is dedicated, served as a teacher for nearly 42 years, from the
very inception of the school, that is 1923. My thanks are due to my
teacher Sri K.V.Krishnamachari for getting the second edition of this book
printed at Madras.

It is our earnest wish to bring out such useful books of and on through our
Trust to be useful to society.

“Aseervath’ (Sd)P.Srinivasan
2nd Street, Tatabad, Managing Trustee
Coimbatore –12 Namagiri Trust.
 Sri R.Parthasarathi Iyengar

This small book is dedicated to the sweet memory of my friend, guide and
colleague, Sri R.Parthasarathi Iyengar.

Sri Iyengar has toe credit of working in the Hindu High School, Ambur,
from its inception in 1923. He retired after forty two long years of sincere
and selfless service. As he grew in years the school too steadily grew in
fame, name and quality. I could without any reservation call him as one of
the architects of that great and institution.

He was well versed in both the English and Tamil languages. He was a
successful orator. I had the privilege of working with him in the same
school for thirty years.

During his career as a teacher, he had the unique privilege of translating

the English speeches of very great people into Tamil. He has translated
MAHATMA GANDHI’s speech in Ambur. This was the occasion of
GANDHIJI’s visit to Ambur during his lightning tour of South India in the
early thirties. He addressed the public in the vast space of the Hindu High
School grounds.

To quote a few more eminent people, he had the opportunity of translating

the speeches of the RAJA of BOBBILI, His Excellency the Governor SRI SRI
PRAKASA, His Excellency the Governor Sri BISHNURAM MEHDI and many
other prominent men besides highly placed officials.

He was a man of sterling character and maintained his self-respect and

dignity throughout.

He had a cosmopolitan out look in matters religious and social.

He commanded the respect of all. Ambur and its surroundings cannot

afford to forget him.

Let me take this opportunity to pay my reverence to this great son of

Ambur through this small book “THE BHAGAVAD GITA for students”

K.V.KRISHNAMACHARI.
 FOREWORD

Educational Institutions are the true seats of learning. The Hindu

Educational Society, Ambur was started in the year 1923 with the noble
aim of imparting education to the children of Ambur and its surrounding
villages. Many Philanthrophic minded gentlemen of those days toiled for
the upliftment of the school. Many selfless teachers dedicated their service
for the cause of education. I should candidly point out here that the two
gems Sri R.Parthasarathi Iyengar and Sri K.V.Krishnamachariar, are ever
remembered by the people of Ambur for their noble and notable service.
They were the torch bearers of the society in those days.

I was an old student of this prestigious institution. I have seen its

development from my boyhood. Chief Ministers of State, Governors,
ministers and notable personalities in various fields have visited the
school. The visit of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, Rajaji and
the Ex.Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi, to the School need special
mention here.

Of all my teachers I have the greatest regard for Sri R.Parthasarathi

Iyengar and Sri K.V.Krishnamachariar, who taught English, History and
Mathematics. Their voice was rich, clear and highly impressive.

What struck me the most intelligent way in which they maintained perfect
discipline in the school. They commanded obedience and respect. Their
command of English was good while the pronunciation and accent line.
They gave hints to students about important things like cleanliness,
politeness and courtesy, good manners punctuality, discipline, fellow
feeling and kindness. Now Sri Parthasarathi Iyengar is nor more. But his
services are ever remembered by all for his absolute simplicity and for a
long and distinguished teaching career and the Hindu High School, Ambur.

I consider it a rare and unique privilege to introduce Sri

K.V.Krishnamachariar to the readers of this book. He is an octogenarian,
who was a teacher in the Hindu High School, Ambur, for several decades.
He was reputed for his efficiency and integrity combined with dedication to
his duties and devotion to the Almighty. He is an erudite scholar. He has
put in years of study and research to bring out this book. He writes in an
English style of striking clarity. He was written this book in his own
simple, inimitable and impressive style. It will be an eye opener to those
who are not familiar with the ‘Gita’.
It is commendable that this author, now in his eighties, is even today
young in spirit. He richly deserved to be congratulated for his tenacious
service to the young readers and I offer him my humble salutations and
good wishes. May this book be useful to all citizen and may the Almighty
bestow on Sri.K.V.Krishnamachariar a long, healthy and prosperous life.

It is my bounden duty to extend my grateful thanks and congratulations to

Sri.P.Srinivasan, B.A. of Coimbatore, the illustrious son of a noble father
Sri R.Parthasarathi Iyengar on behalf of myself and the prestigious Ambur
Hindu Educational Society, for publishing the book and distribute it free to
the out going XII Std. Students of this great and big institution, year after
year, of which he was also a student.
May lord Krishna bless Sri P.Srinivasan and his family with happiness and
prosperity.

Lion.Dr.M.R.Kanthiraj, M.B.B.S,
Hon.Secretary & Correspondent,
Hindu Educational Society and
Hindu Higher Secondary School,
Ambur
16-5-94.
 OM NAMO BHAGAVATHE VASUDEVAAYA
BHAGAVAD-GITA
For Students

INTRODUCTION

The BHAGAVAD-GITA is also known as the Song Celestial. It is

common to all human beings in the world.

Sri Krishna, the God incarnate, gave out the Gita to Arjuna on the
battle field. The war was the result of ADHARMA (un-righteousness).

DHARMA (Righteousness) had to fight Adharma to establish itself.

Whatever is said in the GITA, is very important, God in the form of

Krishna gives us an idea of the spiritual and physical aspects of the human
body, about the duty of every one, about nature, about the right action to
be followed at the right moment, about control of mind, about the results of
meditation, about cultivating good character, about knowing one’s own
defects before finding fault with others, about developing Bhakti, about the
value of utter surrender to god, dedicating all actions to HIM and about
acquiring the knowledge that NOT EVEN AN ATOM WOULD MOVE
WITHOUT HIS WILL, Thus, one would find that this scripture contains the
different duties of an individual, from his birth to death and that one has
to do his duty, dedicating his actions to the Supreme Being. At the same
time, one should never think of the results. The one comes to know that
desire, greed, ego, pride, if these are overcome, one will have perfect peace
of mind. With the result one would develop equanimity of mine and treat
the opposites alike, for example joy and sorrow, prosperity and adversity,
poverty and affluence etc.

So the Gita is one of the most authoritative sources of HINDUISM.

This is accepted by all sects of Hindus. This great scripture is studied by
people belonging to all religious as it contains eternal truths common to all
religions. No wonder GITA is translated in almost all the languages of the
world.

Every one will come across certain very good advice. But sometimes
some young men may find certain statements incompatible to their age and
mental attainment. It may make them scoff at such things. But my
earnest request is that the young student should not stop reading the
book, simply because things are not either interesting or understandable,
at the first reading itself. I would stress that our students and youth read
and re-read the matter. Then they will be able to discern the essence of the
teachings. To give an example, if a 25 year old young man should read the
sentence “Get rid of desire, cultivate renunciation,” he is likely to laugh
within himself. That should not make him stop reading the matter. Once
again, over and over again, he should read the matter.

When the same young man enters his fortieth year and reads the
same passage he will realize the meaning in a better way, the same when
read in his fiftieth or sixtieth year, would certainly make him comprehend
its implications in the best manner. Why you may ask Only a man of
wisdom can interpret and understand the contents of the GITA in the
proper manner. Again you must know who is a wise man or a man of
wisdom. Any one can become a man of knowledge and can be gained by
vast erudition, hearing, undergoing disciplined scholastic life and also
exposure to discourses, man and matter. By this alone one cannot be
called a wise man. As one advances in age he is bound to undergo trials
and difficulties in life, like sorrow, adversity, enmity, jealousy,
bereavements and so on. These are termed as experiences in life, such
experiences are bound to have great influence on the man’s mental
disposition. The knowledge he has already gained blended with such
practical experiences makes him wise. Then he can be called a man of
wisdom. Such men can interpret and understand Gita in a better way.

“Knowledge is proud that it knows so much:

Wisdom is humble that it knows no more.”

Therefore, the reader is requested to begin studying this sacred scriptures,

Gita, with a spirit of respect, reverence, devotion and above all good FAITH.
By doing so he will certainly enjoy the real effects of the study of this
invaluable teaching.
 THE PREAMBLE

It will be interesting to the students to note that such eternal truths

and the principles of the highest philosophy were taught by no less a
person than KRISHNA, the incarnation of God to ARJUNA on the battle
field, just before the beginning of the momentous war of great magnitude,
namely the KURUKSHETRA WAR. The young readers should be informed
of certain facts leading to this.

Before this, let out young readers remember that nearly all great
religions of mankind, arose in the east and, that wonderful civilization grew
up only here, when Europe, and America were still unknown to History.

During the Mahabaratha period, say about 3500 years ago, there
existed very powerful kingdoms in the Indo-Gangetic plain. Magada,
Panchala, Kuru, Chedi were some of them. The Kuru Kingdom was under
the sway of the LUNAR race. Coming under this lineage, were the brothers
DRITHARASHTRA and PANDU. Dritharashtra was the elder, but could not
ascend the throne, as he was blind. So his younger brother Pandu ruled
the kingdom, with HASTINAPURA as its capital. Dritharashtra had a
hundred sons called the Kauravas, the eldest being DHURYODHANA.
Pandu had five sons called the Pandavas, the eldest being YUDHISTRA
(DHARMAPUTRA).

BHISHMA was the elder statesman of Hastinapura and was most

powerful. He was the grandfather of the Kauravas and the Pandavas. Due
to certain political reasons, he took a vow neither to marry, nor to covet the
throne of Hastinapura. But he was held by all, in the highest esteem and
had the overall control of the affairs of State.

Pandu died. According to the norms of the day Yudishtra, the eldest
son of Pandu, became the king. Here started the trouble. Duryodana tried
his best to wrest the power from the Pandava. He miserably failed. At last
with the connivance of his uncle SAKUNI, Duryodana got the Pandavas
exiled for thirteen years.

The good Pandavas underwent several ordeals during the period of

exile and successfully returned. They demanded their portion of the
kingdom. They sincerely tried to get their share of the kingdom, by
peaceful negotiations. But they failed. Krishna himself went to Hastinapur
as an ambassador of peace. He was also disappointed. Duryodana refused
to give even an inch of land to the Pandavas.
 The Pandavas had the right.

But what is the use? The Kauravas had the might.

So a war became inevitable. Both the Kauravas and the Pandavas

gathered their allies and became ready for the war.

Before we enter the main theme of this narration, we have to

mention, that Krishna cleverly managed Duryodana and Arjuna, who
approached him at the same time requesting his help in the ensuing war.
Krishna plainly said, he had vowed not to handle any weapon during this
war. He said that the entire Yadavas army on the one hand and himself
alone on the other were at their disposal, and left the choice to them.
Duryodana hurriedly opted the Yadava army. But Arjuna calmly said he
was perfectly satisfied with the lone and unarmed Krishna. So Krishna
himself willingly chose to be the charioteer to Arjuna during the war.

At last the fateful day dawned. On the great plains of Kurukshetra,

stood the armies drawn up in battle array facing each other. In the midst
of the Kaurava forces stood Duryodana. BHISHMA PITHAMAHA was the
Supreme Commander of the Kaurava army. Behind him were DRONA, the
master of the martial arts and the heroic Karna.

YUDHISTRA was in the midst of the Pandava army on the opposite

side. DRISHTADYUMNA, brother of DRAUPADI was the chief General of
the Pandava army.

BIRTH OF BHAGAVAD GITA

As the clash of arms was about to begin, Arjuna took his bow
(Gandiva) and said, “Krishna, drive my chariot between the two forces and
stop it in a convenient place. I want to see, who are all the people, who are
eager for a battle and who all want to fight me. I want to assess their
strength”. Krishna obeyed as a dutiful driver and stopped the vehicle in a
place, where from Arjuna could have a clear view of the enemy’s battalions.

Arjuna looked at the army for some time. He thought for a few
minutes. Again he saw champions, veterans and soldiers under Bhisma’s
command. He felt dazed. Minutes passed in silence and suspense. Then
Krishna turned round and looked at Arjuna. Krishna did not speak, but
looked into Arjuna’s eyes questioningly. Arjuna said with great
perturbation, “Krishna, I did not want to fight.”
Krishna : Why ? What has come upon you, Partha ? (Partha is another
name of Arjuna)

Arjuna : Because this war and the results of this war are going to
be disastrous and terrible.

Krishna : As a Kshatria and a great warrior, you must have known it

already.

Arjuna : Krishna, you don’t follow what I mean. See, who are all there,
my grandfather Bhishma, my acharyas, my cousins, uncles,
nephews, playmates, friends and a large number of
soldiers.

Krishna : Yes. Who else could be there?

Arjuna : That is not the point, Krishna, if I should fight I should kill
most these people there. If I come out victorious that victory
will be smeared with the blood of my kith and kin, near and
dear. Should I try for such a victory at all?

Krishna : Arjuna, it is surprising to hear these words from you. What for
have we mobilized this great army of soldiers, ready to shed
their blood for you?

What for is the Gandiva, the invincible bow of yours?

What for is this Chariot for you?

What for I taken the role of your charioteer?

Why this impotent talk?

Wherefrom comes this unwanted and cowardly attitude of

yours, at this critical hour?

Have you forgotten that you are Pandu’s son?

Have you forgotten that Pandu ruled this kingdom and

according to regal norms your elder Yudishtra should
inherit the throne?

Have you, again, forgotten all the indignities inflicted upon

you, your brothers and above all your wife and last but not
least, has your memory failed to remember the fact, that you
have a right over half the Kuru Kingdom, if not the whole and I
 should with regret say you have become obvious of the fact that
you are a KSHATRIA.

Shame upon you, Partha, shame upon you !!

There was a pause.

Arjuna : Parandhama (another name of Krishna)

Look at me. You are only partially visible to me, as I am not

able to control my tears. Look at my frame. It is shivering
from head to foot. Look at my legs. My knees bend of their
own accord. Look at my hand. It has become incapable of
holding my bow. Look at my bow, GANDIVA. It is slowly
slipping from my hand.

O ! Krishna, this is my position. He broke down and sat down

with head hung down.

Krishna : There is some confusion in your mind. That must be cleared.

It is unfortunate, that it should be so, at this critical moment.

Arjuna : You are right, my friend, I am utterly confused. My eyes do not

see you, my mind refuses to think, my limbs have become
powerless and they would not obey me. He again broke
down, tears rolling down his cheeks.

Krishna : I understand that you don’t want to kill these people. So you
do not wish to fight. Am I right ?

Arjuna : Yes.

Krishna : Arjuna, I ask you one question. Are you capable of killing any
one ?

Arjuna : Why not ? – Why doubt that ?

Krishna : What do you mean by killing ?

Arjuna : The moment I begin sending my powerful arrows, many will fall
down dead.

Krishna : I see. What do you mean by ‘dead’ ?

Arjuna : They become lifeless.

Krishna : Can you infuse life into a dead body ?

Arjuna : No. It is beyond my power.

Krishna : When you cannot give life, you cannot take away life also.
Don’t you know this simple logic ?

And why do you like to take the credit for killing people ?

Arjuna was silent. Krishna could see confusion in the face of

Arjuna. Krishna gave him some time to calm down.

Arjuna : I accept that I have almost lost my power of understanding.

Still I say what I feel like saying. Anyway in this war many
will be killed. You too can’t deny it. When I think of this – I
mean my kinsmen and people, who are to be revered and
protected would be killed by me - I am overcome with
compassion and I feel, I would rather go abegging, than win a
kingdom under such circumstances.

Krishna : I have now found out the reason for your confusion and it
needs to be cleared. Well. Listen to me.

You accept that you are capable of killing people. At the same
time you accept you cannot make a dead man alive.

Arjuna : Yes.

Krishna : When do you declare a man to be dead ?

Arjuna : When life goes out of his body.

Krishna : What is that life ?

Where does it come from ?
When and how does it come ?
When does it enter the system ?
How long does it stay in, there ?
When and how does it get out ?
Can you please explain ?

Arjuna : Parandhama, don’t confuse my already perturbed mine.

Krishna : Then listen. The life in the body is also known as the SOUL
That animates the body. The body is made of flesh and blood.
Only this body is perishable. The soul is NOT PERISHABLE.
 This body is visible.
The soul is not visible .
The body alone has father and mother.
The soul has no parents.
The soul is eternal.
The soul has neither beginning nor end.

The soul is not affected by the elements like fire, water etc. The
soul, like a tenant, occupies the body for some time and
vacates it when time comes, to occupy another body. (when a
shirt becomes torn and useless you throw it away and put on
another fresh one. It is like that )

Arjuna, my friend, when you say you kill some one, you don’t
kill the soul, but you only make the body inanimate,
making it equal to a log of wood. Do you understand?

THE SOUL IS IMMORTAL.

Arjuna : No doubt what you say is a bit convincing. You forget another
important thing, MADHUSOODHANA (another name of
Krishna) that, when I begin to wield my weapon, those who
are fit to be worshipped by me would lose their lives, also
those who are really innocent would die. Instead of protecting
such people, I become responsible for their death. Imagine
the sin, I will be accumulating.

Krishna : Quite true. But when do you incur any sin ? You must know.
In the very creation there are opposite like pleasure and pain,
victory and defeat, joy and sorrow and so on. When one
prefers pleasure to pain, friends to foes, victory to defeat and
so on, one becomes prone to commit sin.

Arjuna : How does it happen ?

Krishna : When preferences are entertain, one becomes very particular

about the results. If the results are to one’s liking, he is
happy. Otherwise one would become depressed and disgusted.
This attitude may lead to other troubles and naturally, one
becomes obliged to commit sins. But if you begin to treat
pleasure and pain alike, success and failure alike, friend and
foe alike and so on, the results do not affect you at all. You
take the results calmly and your mind is unaffected. Then you
will not commit any sin because you have the satisfaction of
having done your duty perfectly and without any BIAS.
You leave the results to take care of themselves.
Arjuna : Is it possible to treat these opposites alike, as you say ?

Krishna : It is possible when you know your duty and perform it without
any attachment.

Arjuna : If I enter this war it is because I want to come out victorious

and gain something. Do you then want me to fight without
such aims ? How is it possible ?

Krishna : I see your difficulty. But answer me, why you should think,
you will come out victorious at all. A war means only one
side can win. Not both the sides. May be the Kauravas might
win the war.

Arjuna : True.

Krishna : That is why I ask you to remember, you are a Kshatria and do
your duty in a detached manner, not carrying for the results.
Only when you then of the results your mind gets upset,
because doubt and fear take possession of your mind.

Arjuna : Something else also is heavy in my mine. I want to tell you

that plainly. I revere Pithmaha (Grandfather Bhishma) and my
acharyas (preceptors). You know it. So I do not want to harm
them. About the other kith and kin and hordes of innocent
soldiers out of mere sympathy, I want to save them.

Krishna : That means you want to withdraw from the scene !

Arjuna : Yes.

Krishna : Who, you think, will view your withdrawal as an act of respect
to elders and compassion to others ? Your enemies, my dear
man, would mock at you, saying that you are a coward and
that you have run away from the battle field out of diffidence. I
am sorry you have lost your power of reasoning.

Arjuna was silent and Krishna too kept mum for some time.

Arjuna : This point is convincing. Suppose I fight and am defeated,

what is the dishonour to which I will have to submit myself?

Krishna : Dhananjaya ! This is what is known as the defeatist mentality.

I have been harping over one point, that is, you should not
think of the results of your action. And you must know your
own duty (Swadharma). Mark my words. If you are defeated it
 is not going to be worse than your with- drawing from the field
of action. When you withdraw, you will be dubbed as a coward.
I told you already. Then where is your honour ? Know you,
my friend, for a man of honour, dishonour is worse than
death. There cannot be anything more painful than that. You
are a warrior of great repute. Don’t forget that. Think of the
other side. Suppose you are victorious, you get your due and
enjoy your right. But if you are conquered and slain, you
reach the heaven of the heroes (Veeraswargam). Either way
you will be applauded.

Arjuna : I feel I am confused more and more.

Please clarify what my duty is – You are often using this
word. Next you are repeating that I should do my duty
without attachment. What you say and what I have in my
mind are just contradictory. Therefore I cannot decide
whether I should g ahead in this war at all.

Krishna : Do you accept you are a Kshatria ?

Arjuna : Yes.

Krishna : You know the cause of war and do you accept, you have not
gone after this war ?

Arjuna : Yes, I have not gone after this war. On the other hand, It has
offered itself to me.

Krishna : Well then, do you accept that it is a righteous war, You are
going to wage ?

Arjuna : Surely.

Krishna : You say that this is a righteous war (Dharma yudham), You
again own that you are not responsible for this. You also
accept that it has offered itself to you. So then, as a
true Kshatria and a great warrior what should you do ?

Arjuna : I should fight.

Krishna : AND THAT IS THE DUTY OF A KSHATRIA. You understand ?

There was a pause.

Arjuna : This much is alright Krishna. But I am yet to understand

how one could do his duty without attachment. After all we
are human beings.
Krishna ; True. No doubt it will be difficult for you to understand .
Still let me try to explain this point.

What is the immediate cause for this war ?

Arjuna : Refusal to part with a portion of t he kingdom, due to us.

Krishna : Why did you want a portion of this kingdom ?

Arjuna : It is our right as the sons of King Pandu.

Krishna : When you met with a flat refusal, what prompted you to go to
the extent of declaring a war to get it ? You could have as
well gone to the forest and begun living as a hermit.

Arjuna : It is our desire to have atleast half the portion of this famous
Kuru kingdom, over which we have a right.

Krishna : Arjuna - You have come to the; pertinent point.

You mentioned the word ‘DESIRE’ now. You remember.

Arjuna : Yes.

Krishna : It is that ‘Desire’ that is responsible for all the ills in the
world. If you get rid of desire, you will not mind about the
results of your action or work. If you do your duty, (or work)
unmindful of the results, you will have peace of mind.
That means detachment has dawned on you.

Krishna stopped – Arjuna looked at Krishna wonderingly.

Krishna saw a change in Arjuna’s face. His formerly drooping
and melancholic eyes were now bright. Depression on his
face also had vanished. Just then Krishna uttered the
following words “With perfect peace of mind if you
contemplate on me, Partha, you can see ME in EVERYTHING
and you will see EVERYTHING in ME”.

Therefore don’t let lose this good opportunity. Rebut the

brutal refusal of your legitimate share of the kingdom, by
putting in every nerve of yours in this war.

To establish your right,

You have got to fight.
Arjuna : I feel I understand something. At the same time, some other
doubt crops up. Can you make me see things more clearly
? Please don’t talk in riddles, Vasudeva. When you said just
now that I could see you in everything and everything in you,
I get puzzled. Please, my friend, I open my heart to you. I
feel incapable of anything. Even very simple things confuse
me. You are my guide. I can find no better person than you,
to put me in the way right now. Next moment there seems to
be nothing in my mind.

YOU ARE MY SAVIOUR.

YOU ARE MY SOLE REFUGE.

I SURRENDER unto your feet. Please enlighten me. Guide

me as to what I should do at this juncture. At the same time
I am now in a fix to know who, in reality, you are. Are you
my friend and cousin, the Yadava Krishna, or are you
something beyond that. I am bewildered. Please let me know
that also.

Krishna was now happy, as Arjuna had overcome his delusion,

despondency and inertia, though slowly, but steadily.

Krishna ; Partha ! The cause for your confusion is this. Mark my

words. At the very beginning you said, “Krishna ‘I’ want to
see the enemy’s army. Drive ‘My’ cheriot to a place where
from “I” can see things well. “I” want to know who are all
eager to have battle with ME” and so on. Do you remember.

Arjuna : Yes, Krishna, I do remember.

Krishna : Tell me frankly, Arjuna, did you not feel as if, you are the
DOER, when you said so ?

Arjuna : Yes. Lord, I thought “I am the DOER”.

Krishna : Know you Dhananjaya, that you are not the doer.
On the other hand, I AM THE DOER. I AM THE
SOOTHRADHARI and you are only my INSTRUMENT. Only
as my instrument you can achieve every thing. So long as
the feeling “I” which is otherwise called EGO is in you,
nothing can be achieved. Confusion alone will reign over
your mind.

You said I talk the riddles.

 Yes, RIDDLE, AM I. For I am the SOUL seated in the hearts
of beings. I am the word AUM, I am the SUN, the MOON, the
Mountain MERU. I am the BEGINNING, the MIDDLE and the
END. I am ETERNAL. From me proceed all things.
I AM IN ALL and ALL IS IN ME.

These are only a few of my manifestations. O ! Arjuna !

In short I am the UNIVERSE. I pervade the whole UNIVERSE.

Arjuna was stupefied and as he was looking on, KRISHNA changed his
usual form into VISVAROOPA (transcendental form) Wherein, Arjuna saw
the whole universe, the sun, the moon and the starts, the mountains and
the rivers, the plains of Kurukshetra, with two armies on opposite sides,
Bhishma, Drona the Kauravas, his brothers and all, in a miniature form.
In that state of mind Arjuna heard a mystic voice uttering “I am the
mighty all-destroying TIME. The time has come, that even without you all
these men standing on both sides of the battle field shall die. A few things
I myself do. O ! Son of Kunthi ! A great many things I get accomplished
through others ! From time to time, I come down-

From the highest bliss

To such a world as this,
To save the virtuous,
To kill the wicked.
To establish Dharma
And eradicate adharma

Know you, Dhananjaya.

MY DESCENT IS FOR THE ASCENT OF MAN

I have come down at present as Krishna for the same purpose.

You are also here to work with me upholding DHARMA”.

*******
 Arjuna fell prostrate before the Universal form and when he got
up, he saw only his charioteer Krishna. Arjuna bent low and said
“My doubts and delusion have disappeared, Lord.
Command me and I shall obey”.

“Fight and Win” said Krishna.

Twang went the sound of the famous Gandiva and the war began.

PARITRANAYA SAADHOONAM
VINASAYACHA DHUSHKRITHAAM
DHARMA SAMSTHAAPANAARTHAAYA
SAMBHAVAAMI YUGE YUGE
*************
 Now students are requested to go through
the following carefully

At the beginning of this small book it is pointed out that GITA

prescribes different duties to different category of people. You will find
Krishna’s words to Arjuna, “Fight, that is your duty as a Kshatria”. It must
be noted the word ‘FIGHT’ is addressed to ARJUNA only.

To others, it is a direction to do, what is prescribed as their duty.

This little book being mainly intended for students, there must be clear
understanding about duties.

Cleanliness in general is very important. Cleanliness of not only

of the person but the surroundings too. A clean atmosphere leads one to
higher thinking and leads him to higher sphere. This leads one to “simple
living and high thinking”.

Some good habits are to be cultivated and followed by you. Say-

Cleaning your teeth, washing your face, thinking of God for a moment,
paying respects to your mother and father, preparing your lessons for the
day, then taking a bath, praying, going to school in time, listening to the
teacher with rapt attention, having some physical exercise in the evening to
keep your body sound, for only then your mind will be sound,
recapitulating all that was taught in the school that day, noting down the
doubts to be cleared by the teacher the next day, and such other useful
works.

Thus, you will be preparing your daily lessons thoroughly and the
burden at the time of examination will be far less.

Never postpone any work to some other day. That will lead you to
trouble “Procrastination is the thief of time”.

Improve your general knowledge by reading good and standard

periodicals and books and also by associating yourself with good and
learned people.

Blhakthi (devotion to God) is as essential as food for you. This

quality alone will stand by you throughout your life.

Cultivate self-confidence from your young age. Dependence on

others, would prove useless at times.
 Humility is an important trait to be developed from your younger
days. The greater the man, the more humble he should be. Such people
never boast of their achievements. We have never heard the sage Vyasa,
the author of Mahabharatha, talking about himself or the sage Valmiki or
the Poet and Dramatist Kalidasa having trumpeted their achievements.
But how great they are ! So know that “Humility is the mark of greatness”.

Perseverance is another very important quality. This is essential

for all, young and old. You remember the lines, “If at first you don’t
succeed, try, try again”.

Obedience to the words or advice or mandates of teachers,

parents and elders is absolutely necessary. I wish students cultivate this
with the zeal of a soldier. Remember the lines.

There’s not to make reply

There ‘s not to reason why
There’s but to do and die.
Dear Students, I like to bring to your memory and also for
retention of the same in your memory, the following fact.

MAATHA (Mother) PITHA (Father)

GURU (Teacher) DEIVAM(God)

This is the graduation given in the scriptures. Mother is given the

first place. She gives birth to you. She becomes the basic factor.
The father is introduced to you by your mother. Then father comes to the
picture. After a few years your father introduces you to the teacher or
Guru. It is the teacher who makes you a man, by his advice, direction,
guidance, teaching and by his own example. The last but not the least is
DEIVAM (God). The preceptor takes the responsibility of introducing God
to you.

So you have got your duty and responsibility towards all these
people, as they are important in their own way in your life.

- Respect and love, are due to your parents.

- Veneration and love, are due to your teacher.
- Devotion and love, are due to God.
 A word to the parents also will not be
out of place here

Present children are the future citizens. We must make the child an asset
to society and nation. A congenial atmosphere must be created in their
homes. Here, a good part is to be played, only by the parents.

Parents can cite the example of Gandhiji’s Truth, Non-violence, Love and
Ahimsa.

Parents should not be contented, only by simply sending their ;wards to

school and think that the whole responsibility, lies with the teacher.
Parents are requested to remember “MUCH IS TAUGHT, BUT MUCH MORE
IS CAUGHT” by observation. I mean that the daily routine and activities of
the parents, are closely observed by their children and that makes a great
impact on the young, impressionable minds of the wards. So responsibility
of the parents becomes much more and it becomes incumbent on their part
to be very guarded in thought, word and deed. The parents are requested
to remember “Example is better than precept”.

Stories about great people, benevolent kings, valorous warriors, honest

men and persons noted for selfless sacrifice could be advantageously
imparted. Better, parents utilize their leisure hours in a profitable manner
and the children would certainly follow suit.

Tolerance should be inculcated in the young minds. The principle of live

and let live must have a permanent place in the children’s mind.

Matters where the father and mother would disagree, leading to discussion,
should be avoided. Cordially, humility, modesty, contentment, bhakthi –
these good qualities will be imbibed by children more from the domestic
atmosphere than from elsewhere.

SUBHAM