Essays

The Shrimad Bhagwad Geeta is an integral part of Mahabhararta, which is our third important scripture. From Mahabharata, a vital section of 700 verses spread over 18 chapters has been compiled to form Shrimad Bhagwad Geeta.

In the battlefield of Kurukshetra when Kauravas and Pandavas came face to face in armed conflict with their relatives, cousins and loved ones in opposite camps, it was natural for Arjuna to get confused and confounded.

They were his cousins and relatives, how could he slay them? Although Pandavas had been wronged, betrayed, harassed and insulted, yet Arjuna's mind witnessed an intense duel. He could not decide the right course of action for himself.

He remembered all the wrongs, deceptions and tortures of the Kauravas, yet questions like "How can I fight them?" "What should one do in such a situation?" boggled his mind. These were perplexing questions, which posed a big problem for him.

At that time Lord Krishna advised and guided Arjuna. He explained, "You are not fighting relatives; you are fighting intruders and aggressors. If one is fighting for selfish interests one should yield and leave. But if one is fighting for common good - for the entire society, then one must destroy the unrighteous, anti social elements." When a mother kills her unrighteous son, she does it because it is just and righteous."

It was natural for Arjuna to grieve the situation he faced. People who are fighting for the cause of righteousness have to adopt the best possible means without taking into consideration their Likes and dislikes of them as individuals. It is the most important principle.

Hence this was a very significant event. The message and the guidance that Lord Krishna gave to Arjuna, the spiritual wisdom imparted by him, is termed Shrimad Bhagwad Geeta. It comprises the essence of all knowledge and wisdom expounded in the Upanishads. Bhagwad Geeta consists of the conversations between Dhritarashta and Sanjay, which contain in itself dialogues between Krishna and Arjuna. It basically talks of the larger interests of humanity and not of personal interests of the individual. Krishna, as the speaker of the Bhagavad Gita, is referred to within as Bhagavan (the divine one). The verses themselves, using the range and style of Sanskrit meter (chhandas) with similes and metaphors, are written in a poetic form that is traditionally chanted; hence the title, which translates to "the Song of the Divine One". The Bhagavad Gita. is revered as sacred by

Hindu traditions, and especially so by Vaishnavas (followers of Vishnu). It is commonly referred to as The Gita. The content of the text is a conversation between Krishna and-Arjuna taking place on the battlefield of Kurukshetra just prior to the start of the Kurukshetra war.

Responding to Arjuna's confusion and moral dilemma, Krishna explains to Arjuna his duties as a warrior and Prince and elaborates on different Yogic and Vedantic philosophies, with examples and analogies.

This has led to the Gita often being described as a concise guide to Hindu philosophy and also as a practical, self-contained guide to life.

During the discourse, Krishna reveals his identity as the Supreme Being Himself (Bhagavan), blessing Arjuna with an awe- inspiring glimpse of His divine universal form.