Gita for the Beginners

Dear friends,

As you might be aware The Bhagavad Gita ('The Gita' for short) is the essence of Upanishadic Teachings told for the welfare of humanity by Sri Krishna. Arjuna acted as the medium through which the Lord made available these pearls of wisdom to the whole world generation after generation.

The very fact that the Gita is still relevant today points to two interesting facts:

1) There must be some great Truth contained in it, and,

2) Unfortunately we still need the Gita, for most of us are yet to assimilate its essence in our life!

Historically speaking, Sri Krishna told The Gita to Arjuna at the beginning of the War of Mahabharata, or The War of Kurukshetra as it is known. The period can be put at 3200 BCE. Later Vyasa Rishi compiled these immortal words of 'perennial philosophy' into 700 verses grouped in eighteen chapters. Along with the Vedas, Upanishads, and the Brahma Sutras, the Gita is adored as the most important scripture of ancient India. We should not call it Hindu scripture because at the time of its birth there was no Hinduism, no Islam, no Christianity, no Buddhism, no Jainism, and no Sikhism! Therefore, it can be truly said to have universal relevance.

Metaphysically, the 'Song of God' is written in the form of a dialogue between Sri Krishna and his friend and disciple Arjuna. This Krishna is the Divine One, the 'Lord who abides within the heart of all beings'. He represents the basic Indian religious concept that all existence is a manifestation of God, and that God exists in all beings as the innermost Self. In every heart Sri Krishna is hidden, and when the veil of ignorance is withdrawn, we hear the very voice of God. In the Gita Sri Krishna openly declares Himself to be one with Brahman, the Infinite Self. Thus Sri Krishna as the historical personage has but a secondary importance.

And Arjuna, the disciple is typically human, being neither saint nor a sinner, but a struggling soul seeking to escape from grief and sorrow. He is a man of action, a fighter - a man living in the world, but confused as to his duty and true meaning and goal in life. Like many of us he is eager to find a way to peace and freedom.

What does the Gita contain? According to swami Ranganathananda: "The Gita summarizes the essential teachings of Vedanta and presents them in a popular manner. That is why it has become the scripture of the vast masses in India (and now also abroad!). When we study the Gita, we are not merely studying Upanishadic philosophy, but also the ethical implications of that philosophy."

It provides ethical guidance with reference to our everyday life. And lastly, the Gita for the first time introduces the concept of four Yogas, to name - Jnana, Dhyana, Karma, and Bhakti to realize higher truth in our life.

Gita 1: Chapter 1

The conflict between righteous Pandavas and non-righteous Kauravas reached the point of no return. The injustice done to the five Pandavas and their lone wife Draupadi by the Kaurava prince Duryodhana crossed all limits of toleration. Lord Krishna who was always on the side of Dharma - righteousness - pleaded with the King Dhritarashtra and his son Duryodhana to avoid the war at any cost. The statesman Krishna advocated peace by encouraging the Kauravas to grant the Pandavas their legitimate right over half of the kingdom of Hastinapur.

But, no! The war of Mahabharata (or Kurukshetra) was destined to follow.

It is such a dramatic setting that we get as a start to The Gita. The brave warrior Arjuna with Lord Krishna as his charioteer are standing between the two arrayed armies ready to start the battle. Duryodhana on one side and Krishna-Arjuna on the other! However, King Dhritarashtra, father of Kauravas, was blind and hence unable to witness the actual war. Therefore, by the grace of the Lord, special power to visualize the warfront was conferred on his minister Sanjaya.

The Gita opens with the first verse when King Dhritarashtra inquires of Sanjaya: "O Sanjaya, having assembled in the battlefield, what did my sons and the sons of Pandu do?"

It is obvious that two armies assemble to fight! But King Dhritarashtra had a faint hope and wish that the war should be averted. For he knew on whatever side Sri Krishna was that side was sure to win. But such reason and wisdom was covered by his infatuation and love for Duryodhana. As with any worldly father King Dhritarashtra was also attached to his sons, and hence even though he knew they were wrong in denying Pandavas their legitimate right, he could not resist the temptation of siding with "my sons" even though wrong!

To the inquiry by King Dhritarashtra, Sanjaya describes the situation on the battleground. The two armies were arrayed opposite one another. On the Kaurava side there were Bhishma, Guru Drona, Krupacharya, Karna and many more brave and powerful generals, and on the side of Pandavas were Sri Krishna, Arjuna, Yudhishthira, Bhima, Drupad, and others.

Duryodhana, boasting of his superiority in numbers (out of 1.8 million soldiers 1.1 millions were on Kaurava side and 0.7 million were on the side of Pandavas), predicted easy defeat and fall of Pandava army.

Here Arjuna and his brothers had also come well prepared for the war and its consequences. No one comes to the battlefield for fun and compromises. For only when all avenues fail the war is declared. Thus Arjuna was well aware that he has come to kill/defeat his cousin brothers and relatives, and win his legitimate right to half the kingdom.
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Continued part 2: "Chapter one and introduction to chapter 2"
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C S Shah