Reading Shrimad Bhagwad Gita & Realisation

We should read Shrimad Bhagwad Gita because Shri Krishna is God and the creator, maintainer and destroyer of this universe. He is the owner and controller of everything that exists, so it’s important to know what He says about life, the universe and everything. If you read Shrimad Bhagwad Gita As It Is at least once you will be in a position to chose to follow the recommendations of Shri Krishna or ignore them. That is the facility of human life. Humans are different to animals because humans can understand the concept of God and make choices as a result. Animals are not given this option. It is the most important distinction between a human and an animal or any other lower species. It is a valuable opportunity to enquire into the Absolute Truth, and failure to take advantage of it is a great waste.

If one reads Shrimad Bhagwad Gita one will be able to hear, directly from the Supreme Lord Himself, what He suggests, what His opinion is, what He recommends and what He doesn’t recommend. There are 700 verses arranged in 18 chapters so it is not a mammoth work that requires months of study to understand the gist of it. Months and years of study will deepen your appreciation, but even on the first reading many mysteries will be solved and solutions become apparent. With the internet all kinds of knowledge and opinions are easily available, there are so many it is often more of a problem than a help. If you search for reviews of a product there will be those saying it’s great and those saying it’s terrible. How should one decide? Go by the numbers, and see which has more positive reviews? Or look for a product that has no negative reviews? Or look for trusted and reliable sites and see what reviews they give?

If we take the material world to be a product then we can read the description of life in the material world given by Shri Krishna. Obviously it’s intelligent to read the manufacturers manual that accompanies their product. That doesn’t mean everyone does it. Many people like to find out by trial and error, and some people think they are smart enough that they don’t need to bother with the instructions. Often due to excitement people start using their new product without bothering to read all that boring stuff about how to use it. I mean how complicated can it be to live your life? Obviously the pursuit of happiness is the main thing and that’s pretty straight forward right?

Well, if you’ve got a handle on the whole ‘life’ business then you don’t need Shrimad Bhagwad Gita. Press on with your life confident that you are getting everything possible from it, at the highest level. But if you get a nagging feeling that there might be more to life than you’re getting, and you’d like to know about it then Bhagavad Gita is more than useful, it’s essential. It’s the quick start guide to give you the basics so that you don’t misuse the rare opportunity of a human birth.

I will give a brief chapter by chapter analysis including relevant verses. I don’t expect many to read it, but if it’s not here then definitely no one will read it. In Shrimad Bhagavad Gita Lord Shri Krishna instructs Arjuna on many different topics, and gives many different angles to see things from. The following verses are from Shrimad Bhagavad Gita As It Is by Srila Prabhupada in bold text and inset, with explanation in regular text to accompany the verse. Everyone of the 700 verses is important, but if you want to go straight to the conclusion then just read the last two texts. If you want to see the progression through all the different topics and aspects then start here.

Shri Krishna starts by telling Arjuna to fight because it is his duty as a kshatriya to fight so he should do so to avoid bad karma. Shrimad Bhagwad Gita. 2.31 - Considering your specific duty as a kshatriya, you should know that there is no better engagement for you than fighting on religious principles; and so there is no need for hesitation. Shrimad Bhagwad Gita. 2.33 - If, however, you do not perform your religious duty of fighting, then you will certainly incur sins for neglecting your duties and thus lose your reputation as a fighter. Shrimad Bhagwad Gita. 2.38 - Do thou fight for the sake of fighting, without considering happiness or distress, loss or gain, victory or defeat-and by so doing you shall never incur sin. Then He tells Arjuna to rise above the modes of nature.

Shrimad Bhagwad Gita. 2.45 - The Vedas deal mainly with the subject of the three modes of material nature. O Arjuna, become transcendental to these three modes. Be free from all dualities and from all anxieties for gain and safety, and be established in the self. Then Krishna tells Arjuna to work for the satisfaction of Vishnu. Shrimad Bhagwad Gita. 3.9 - Work done as a sacrifice for Vishnu has to be performed, otherwise work causes bondage in this material world. Therefore, O son of Kunti, perform your prescribed duties for His satisfaction, and in that way you will always remain free from bondage. Then in the next chapter Shri Krishna says to approach a spiritual master and learn the truth from him, because knowledge gained like this will free him from illusion

Shrimad Bhagwad Gita. 4.34 - Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth. Shrimad Bhagwad Gita. 4.35 - Having obtained real knowledge from a self-realized soul, you will never fall again into such illusion, for by this knowledge you will see that all living beings are but part of the Supreme, or, in other words, that they are Mine. Now Arjuna is a little confused because Krishna has first told him to fight because he is a kshatriya, then to work for the pleasure of Visnu, and now he has told him to approach a guru and acquire transcendental knowledge, so he asks which is better.

Shri Krishna replies that they are the same. Shrimad Bhagwad Gita. 5.4 - Only the ignorant speak of devotional service [karma-yoga] as being different from the analytical study of the material world [Sankhya]. Those who are actually learned say that he who applies himself well to one of these paths achieves the results of both. Shrimad Bhagwad Gita. 5.5 - One who knows that the position reached by means of analytical study can also be attained by devotional service, and who therefore sees analytical study and devotional service to be on the same level, sees things as they are. Then Krishna describes dhyana yoga which requires living in a secluded place and sitting in meditation controlling the senses rigidly.

Arjuna says such a process seems very hard to him and Shri Krishna agrees and concludes by saying that the yogi who renders loving service to Him is the topmost yogi. Shrimad Bhagwad Gita. 6.47 - And of all yogis, the one with great faith who always abides in Me, thinks of Me within himself, and renders transcendental loving service to Me - he is the most intimately united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all. Then in the seventh chapter Krishna gives Arjuna knowledge by which he can practice this yoga in full consciousness of Him.

Shrimad Bhagwad Gita. 7.1 - The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Now hear, O son of Partha, how by practicing yoga in full consciousness of Me, with mind attached to Me, you can know Me in full, free from doubt. Then in the eighth chapter Krishna explains how this knowledge will free one from material bondage at the time of death. Shrimad Bhagwad Gita 8.5 - And whoever, at the end of his life, quits his body, remembering Me alone, at once attains My nature. Of this there is no doubt. Shrimad Bhagwad Gita 8.6 - Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, O son of Kunti, that state he will attain without fail.

In the ninth chapter Shri Krishna expands on the knowledge He has already given with still more confidential knowledge. This is knowledge that is for devotees, it is not for the envious because they cannot understand it. Krishna clearly explains that He alone is behind whatever takes place in the universe; He is the controller of material nature; and anyone can approach Him and attain perfection. Shrimad Bhagwad Gita 9.1 - The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: My dear Arjuna, because you are never envious of Me, I shall impart to you this most confidential knowledge and realization, knowing which you shall be relieved of the miseries of material existence.

Shrimad Bhagwad Gita 9.2 - This knowledge is the king of education, the most secret of all secrets. It is the purest knowledge, and because it gives direct perception of the self by realization, it is the perfection of religion. It is everlasting, and it is joyfully performed. In tenth chapter Shri Krishna lists how we can see Him through the different manifestations of material nature, and in eleventh chapter He reveals His credentials as the Supreme Lord by manifesting His universal form. In twelfth chapter Arjuna asks which is better, worshipping Krishna or worshipping impersonal Brahman. Shri Krishna replies worshipping Him is better.

Shrimad Bhagwad Gita 12.1 - Arjuna inquired: Which are considered to be more perfect, those who are always properly engaged in Your devotional service or those who worship the impersonal Brahman, the unmanifested? Shrimad Bhagwad Gita 12.2 - The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: Those who fix their minds on My personal form and are always engaged in worshiping Me with great and transcendental faith are considered by Me to be most perfect. Then Krishna tells Arjuna to concentrate on fully on Him.

Shrimad Bhagwad Gita 12.8 - Just fix your mind upon Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and engage all your intelligence in Me. Thus you will live in Me always, without a doubt. But in case one can’t do that, then Shri Krishna gives four other options each one less demanding then the previous. Chapters 13 – 17 are an analysis of the material world, the modes of nature, the good and the bad and the different categories of all that exists within the universe. Chapter 18 is the summary. Shri Krishna give His judgement on renunciation in response to Arjuna’s asking Him what the purpose of it is.

Shrimad Bhagwad Gita 18.9 - O Arjuna, when one performs his prescribed duty only because it ought to be done, and renounces all material association and all attachment to the fruit, his renunciation is said to be in the mode of goodness. So this much is clear, one should perform one’s prescribed duties. Then Shri Krishna explains about knowledge, action, the performer of actions, their understanding and their determination. Then the different types of happiness, all in the context of the three modes of nature. This Krishna declares to be even more confidential than everything He has spoken so far. He urges Arjuna with all this extremely confidential knowledge that is not explicitly revealed in the Vedas, to surrender to the Lord after thinking it over. Jay Shri Krishna