FAQ on Bhagavad Gita

Here are a few Frequently Asked Questions on the Bhagavad Gita and my answers to them.

1. Did Arjuna and Krishna actually talk so much in the battlefield?

When chanted, Bhagavad Gita takes about 90 minutes. So, it is natural that people ask this question. There are rules for warfare. If you have watched a badminton match, you will know that before serving, the player has to get acknowledgement from the other player that he or she is ready. Similarly, in the days of Mahabharata, two warriors can engage in a battle only upon mutual consent. So, it is possible for Arjuna and Krishna to be talking to each other in the background of the war.

2. Are the words of the Bhagavad Gita those of Krishna, Arjuna, etc?

The actual words are of Sage Vyasa, who wrote the Mahabharata, which has the Bhagavad Gita in it. Krishna, Arjuna, etc. may have spoken words, mostly in prose form. Sage Vyasa has reported the dialogues in his own words, in poetry form, keeping the meaning and message intact. Also, when we quote verses from the Gita, we should ensure that we use only sentences spoken by Krishna. Sentences by Arjuna, Sanjaya, Duryodhana, etc. are also there in the Gita text. But they do not form the Gita teaching.

3. Did the Mahabharata war really happen?

According to the astronomical observations recorded in the Mahabharata about various events, the entire story line, including the war has been dated. It matches with the tradition of events like Gita Jayanti (the day the Mahabharata war started and the dialogue happened between Krishna and Arjuna), Bhishma Ekadasi (the day Bhishma left his body after reciting Vishnu Sahasranama in front of Krishna) and Kali Yugadi (the day when Kali Yuga started after Krishna left his body 26 years after the Mahabharata war). The number of warriors, horses, elephants, etc may be an exaggeration. However, the people and events mentioned in the Mahabharata appear to be based on real people and events.

4. Does Gita advocate violence?

Gita talks about love and non-violence at several places (eg. 10.5, 11.55, 12.13, 13.7, 16.2, 17.14), as the general rule of life. Arjuna’s case was different. Arjuna was a soldier. Doing his duty in the battlefield by a soldier cannot be considered as personal violence. His entire life was that of military training. He enjoyed the luxuries and allowances of a soldier. Having chosen this for the entire duration of his life, at the time when he is called to do his duty to the society as a soldier, he cannot refuse. It is like a soldier, who being trained as a commando for several years and having enjoyed all the privileges of a soldier during peace time, refuses to fight at the crucial moment of battle. Krishna asks Arjuna to do his duty. This instruction must be translated into exhortation to each of us to do our respective duties.

5. Does Gita advocate caste system and discrimination based on birth?

Gita clearly mentions in verse 9.32 that there is no discrimination based on gender or birth or profession in spiritual life. Gita talks about division of labour in the society of those times – rulers, teachers, traders and artisans. In verses 18.41 to 18.44, it gives advice on what characters should be developed by people of which professions. It calls these “varna”. It says that these divisions are based on character and profession. It does not talk about any division or discrimination based on birth.

6. Is Gita a scripture for the followers of Vishnu only?

Gita is Universal. The verse 7.21 says, “Whoever worships any form through any procedure, I respond to that worship through the same form, thus enhancing the faith of that person.” In the verse 10.23, Krishna says that He Himself is Shiva. He says that He is everything that is adored by people. Thus, Gita talks of one God who is called and worshiped by different people by different names. This includes all forms of worship by people of all religions in all countries. This includes worship of Nature, natural elements, ancestors, etc. also. Gita does not condemn any form of worship. It fully accepts all forms of worship of God by any name. It says devotion is what is important. Thus, Gita is an Universal scripture.

7. Does Gita teach Dvaita, Vishishtaadvaita or Advaita?

Gita teaches all of them. It considers these attitudes as different ways of devotion. A person can consider himself as a servant of God, part of God or as pure Consciousness Itself. However, Gita says in verse 12.5 that considering oneself and God as pure Consciousness is very difficult. In verses 12.6 and 12.7, Gita says, if a person meditates on God as the essential principle in all living beings, does every action as a gift to God and faces all situations as gift from God, then God will take care of the rest.

8. Is Gita for monks or householders?

Gita was taught by one king (Krishna) to another king (Arjuna). Arjuna wanted to take to the life of a monk. Krishna advises Arjuna that he is not ready for that life and asks him to do his duty as a householder. In due course of the conversation, Krishna also talks about the life of a monk. Thus, Gita is predominantly for the householder and also has some advice for monks.

9. What is the central teaching of the Gita?

Gita teaching starts at verse 2.11. The central teaching is summarized in that verse in the words “na anusocanti panditaah” – “wise men don’t grieve”. Thus, Gita gives the solution to the problem of human sorrow. The solution is wisdom. The wisdom is that our happiness does not depend on people, objects and situations. Freedom from sorrow is our true nature. It is a delusion to think that happiness comes from outside. We are always free to be happy in any situation. Problems will be there in life. We need to do what is necessary to address the problems to the best of our knowledge, intelligence, skill, time and energy. But we need not become subject to sorrow. We should face and work on all the problems with cheer, diligence and enthusiasm. Based on several factors, the problem may or may not get solved. Our happiness does not depend on the success or failure of our endeavours in life. Happiness is an attitude that is solely in our hands. This wisdom is the goal. Wise men don’t grieve.

A person who has established his source of happiness within, will naturally be moral and compassionate. He will be free from desire, anger, jealousy, arrogance, attachment, etc. These are the external signs of the person who has attained the goal.

Lethargy, attachment to pleasure, people and possessions, and wrong understanding are impediments to the wisdom, which is the goal. Gita gives several disciplines to reach this goal overcoming the impediments, based on the current understanding and temperament of the aspirant. The core disciplines to attain this wisdom, that are applicable to most people are:

• accept all situations in life as gifts from God
• do all your duties as a gifts to God
• lead a truthful and compassionate life with moderation in food, sleep and activity
• spend some time everyday in reading, chanting, singing and meditating about God
• spend some time regularly in the company of holy people to listen about God

These disciplines will develop the right mindset to gain the wisdom that happiness is our own true intrinsic nature.

10. Which is the best translation or commentary of the Gita?

Several translations and commentaries on the Gita are available. Some of them address specific social situations. Some of them are from the commentator’s specific point of view. Some are academic. Some focus on the practical aspects. Some focus more on devotion. Some focus more on action. Depending on the need, you can pick. Here are some modern translations and commentaries which are quite unbiased and balanced:

• Pocket books by Gita Press or Ramakrishna Math – These are good translations for a handy reference.
• Translation by Swami Swaroopananda, Ramakrishna Math – This has word by word meanings. The translations are short and good. Explanations are provided where needed. If you are looking for a slightly deeper study, this can help.
• Sadhaka Sanjivani by Swami Ram Sukh Das, Gita Press – This is a two volume detailed commentary for spiritual aspirants of all streams.
• Universal Message of the Bhagavad Gita by Swami Ranganathananda, Ramakrishna Math – This is a detailed commentary in three volumes from a modern perspective.
• The Holy Geeta by Swami Chinmayananda, Chinmaya Mission – This is a good modern commentary.

If you are looking for a traditional commentary, these two are good:

• Srimad Bhagavad Gita, Sridhara Swami Gloss, translated by Swami Vireswarananda, Ramakrishna Math – This is a short traditional commentary with additional words to make the meaning clearer.
• Bhagavad Gita With the Annotation Gudhartha Dipika by Madhusudana Sarasvati, translated by Swami Gambhirananda, Ramakrishna Math – This is a detailed traditional commentary with detailed discussions on important concepts.

If you want to still more traditional, you can read Sankara’s and Ramanuja’s commentaries. Both are available as translations published by Ramakrishna Math, translated by Swami Gambhirananda and Swami Adidevananda respectively.

11. How should I start studying the Gita?

The best way to study Gita is to first get an overview of the teaching. You can read these articles in the order given:

• Essential Bhagavad Gita – Vedanta Kesari, November 2018
• Bhakti According to Bhagavad Gita – Vedanta Kesari, December 2015
• Philosophy of the Gita – Vedanta Kesari, August 2019

After you have grasped the important concepts, then you can read the summary of each chapter. Here are two links to some chapter summaries.

• Chapter summaries by Swami Tapasyananda, Ramakrishna Math
• Chapter summaries by Swami Paramarthananda, Arsha Vidya Gurukulam

Then you can go deeper into some important chapters. Here is a recommended order of reading if you are looking for some instructions for practice: 12, 9, 7, 6, 17. Then you can read chapters 15 and 13 for some dose of theory. Then you can read other chapters in sequence from the beginning.

There are several online lecture series. Chinmaya Mission conducts “Gita Jnana Yagna” in various cities. Almost all centers of Ramakrishna Math will be having classes on Gita. You can look for classes by various teachers of Arsha Vidya Gurukulam also.
If you have more questions, please feel free to write to me.