INTRO & CHAPTER

BHAGAV
AD GITA AS IT IS
INTRODUCTION

5 TOPICS OF THE GITA

▸ Isvara
▸ Jiva
▸ Kala
▸ Prakriti
▸ Karma
CHAPTERS

DIVISION OF 18 CHAPTERS

▸ Chapter 1-6 - Karma yoga, Dhyana yoga, Jnana yoga,

Ashtanga yoga

▸ Chapter 7-12 - Bhakti yoga

▸ Chapter 13-18 - Jnana yoga and conclusion in 18th

CHAPTER 1 - OBSERVING THE ARMIES ON THE BATTLEFIELD

ARJUNA VISADA YOGA

1-27 28-46
INTRODARJUNA’S REASO
UCTION NOT TO FIGHT
CHAPTER 1 - OBSERVING THE ARMIES ON THE BATTLEFIELD

PREPARATION FOR WAR (1-11)

CHAPTER 1 - OBSERVING THE ARMIES ON THE BATTLEFIELD

PREPARATION FOR WAR (1-11)

CHAPTER 1 - OBSERVING THE ARMIES ON THE BATTLEFIELD

SIGNS OF VICTORY (12-20)

CHAPTER 1 - OBSERVING THE ARMIES ON THE BATTLEFIELD

CONFIDENCE DUE
TO KRSNA
When Bhīṣma and the others on the side of
Duryodhana blew their respective conchshells,
there was no heart-breaking on the part of the
Pāṇḍavas. Such occurrences are not
mentioned, but in this particular verse it is
mentioned that the hearts of the sons of
Dhṛtarāṣṭra were shattered by the sounds
vibrated by the Pāṇḍavas’ party. This is due to
the Pāṇḍavas and their confidence in Lord
Kṛṣṇa. One who takes shelter of the Supreme
Lord has nothing to fear, even in the midst of
the greatest calamity.

Bhagavad gita 1.19 purport

CHAPTER 1 - OBSERVING THE ARMIES ON THE BATTLEFIELD

KRSNA AS BHAKTA VATSALA (1.21-27)

Arjuna uvāca - rathaṁ sthāpaya me ’cyuta
CHAPTER 1 - OBSERVING THE ARMIES ON THE BATTLEFIELD

1ST REASON NOT TO FIGHT -

COMPASSION (1.28-30)
The words nimittāni viparītāni are
significant. When a man sees only
frustration in his expectations, he
thinks, “Why am I here?” Everyone
is interested in himself and his own
welfare. No one is interested in the
Supreme Self. Arjuna is showing
ignorance of his real self-interest by
Kṛṣṇa’s will. One’s real self-interest
lies in Viṣṇu, or Kṛṣṇa. The
conditioned soul forgets this, and
therefore suffers material pains.
Arjuna thought that his victory in the
battle would only be a cause of
lamentation for him.

Bhagavad Gita 1.30 purport

CHAPTER 1 - OBSERVING THE ARMIES ON THE BATTLEFIELD

2ND REASON - ENJOYMENT (1.32-35)

kiṁ no rājyena govinda

kiṁ bhogair jīvitena vā

yeṣām arthe kāṅkṣitaṁ no

rājyaṁ bhogāḥ sukhāni ca

3RD REASON - FEAR OF SIN (1.36-38)

According to Vedic injunctions there are six kinds of aggressors: (1) a poison giver, (2) one who
sets fire to the house, (3) one who attacks with deadly weapons, (4) one who plunders riches, (5)
one who occupies another’s land, and (6) one who kidnaps a wife. Such aggressors are at once to
be killed, and no sin is incurred by killing such aggressors. Such killing of aggressors is quite
befitting any ordinary man, but Arjuna was not an ordinary person. He was saintly by character, and
therefore he wanted to deal with them in saintliness.

Bhagavad Gita 1.36 purport

CHAPTER 1 - OBSERVING THE ARMIES ON THE BATTLEFIELD

4TH REASON - DESTRUCTION OF

DYNASTY (1.37-43)
▸ Death of elders
▸ Family tradition vanquished
▸ Family involved in irreligion
▸ Degradation of women
▸ Unwanted progeny
▸ Community projects and family welfare vanquished
CHAPTER 1 - OBSERVING THE ARMIES ON THE BATTLEFIELD

STUDY BHAGAVAD
GITA
Where is the difficulty to understand
Kṛṣṇa consciousness? Everything is there
in the Bhagavad-gītā. If you diligently
study and try to understand, you remain
fully Kṛṣṇa conscious always. Everything
is there. What is my position, how I am
working, how I am dying, how I am getting
body, how I am wandering. Everything in
detail is there. Simply one has to become
little intelligent.

Lecture on BG 2.21-22 -- London, August

26, 1973