The Bhagavad Gita records the conversation between Krishna and Arjuna right before the epic battle of
Kurukshetra. Although it is a part of The Mahabharata,
Arjuna, who was geared up to fight, suddenly develops cold feet, when he sees his teachers like
Dronacharaya, Bhishma Pitamaha and scores of relatives, friends in the Kaurava army. He is suddenly
gripped with fear, deep pity and sorrow at the prospect of having to fight and possibly kill the opponents
whom he personally knows. He laments to Lord Sri Krishna on the futility of fighting this war. After
hearing his arguments Lord Sri Krishna gives him a strong tonic of strength to steer him out of this
aggrieved mental condition, in the Bhagavad Gita.
klaibyaṁ mā sma gamaḥ pārtha naitat tvayyupapadyate
kṣhudraṁ hṛidaya-daurbalyaṁ tyaktvottiṣhṭha parantapa
Where have you got this chicken-heartedness from ? Don’t fall a prey to it. It is very unmanly. And it
does not befit you. This is against your heroic [Link] he says “Give up this weakness of the heart.
Stand up and face your problems.”
Sri Krishna’s lucid insights and perspectives enable Arjuna to shed his indecisiveness. After bouncing
back into a state of effective performance, casting aside the doubts thrown up by his mind, Arjuna is
able to move boldly ahead in the discharge of his Dharmic duties.
The Teachings Of The Gita Begin With The True Knowledge Of Spirit And The Physical Body
Lord Krishna said: you grieve for those who are not worthy of grief, and yet speak words of wisdom. The
wise grieves neither for the living nor for the dead just as the soul acquires a childhood body, a youth
body, and an old age body during this life; similarly, the soul acquires another body after death. This
should not delude the wise.
The Spirit Is Eternal, Body Is Transitory
The invisible Spirit (Atma, Atman) is eternal, and the visible physical body, is transitory. The reality of
these two is indeed certainly seen by the seers of truth. The Spirit by whom this entire universe is
pervaded is indestructible. No one can destroy the imperishable Spirit. The Spirit is neither born nor
does it die at any time. It does not come into
being, or cease to exist. It is unborn, eternal, permanent, and primeval. The Spirit is not destroyed when
the body is destroyed.
Death And Transmigration Of Soul
Just as a person puts on new garments after discarding the old ones; similarly, the living entity or the
individual soul acquires new bodies after casting away the old bodies. Even if you think that the physical
body takes birth and dies perpetually, even then, O Arjuna, you should not grieve like this. Because
death is certain for the one who is born, and birth is certain for the one who dies. Therefore, you should
not lament over the inevitable.
Lord Krishna Reminds Arjuna Of His Duty As A Warrior
If you will not fight this righteous war, then you will fail in your duty, lose your reputation, and incur sin.
People will talk about your disgrace forever. To the honored, dishonor is worse than death.
The Vedas Deal With Both Material And Spiritual Aspects Of Life
The misguided ones who delight in the melodious chanting of the Veda without understanding the real
purpose of the Vedas think, O Arjuna, as if there is nothing else in the Vedas except the rituals for the
sole purpose of obtaining heavenly enjoyment.
Theory And Practice Of Karma-Yoga
you have control over doing your respective duty only, but no control or claim over the results. The
fruits of work should not be your motive, and you should never be
inactive.
Marks Of A Self-Realized Person
Lord Krishna said: When one is completely free from all desires of the mind and is satisfied with the
Supreme Being by the joy of Supreme Being, then one is called an enlightened person,
Dangers Of Unrestrained Senses
One should fix one’s mind on God with loving contemplation after bringing the senses under control.
one’s intellect becomes steady when one’s senses are under complete [Link] Of Peace And
Happiness Through Sense Control And Knowledge
There is neither Self-knowledge, nor Self-perception to those who are not united with the Supreme.
Without Self-perception there is no peace, and without peace there can be no happiness.
A yogi, the person of self-restraint, remains wakeful when it is night for all others. It is night for the yogi
who sees when all others are wakeful