Lecture 1

• Text Book: Bhagavad Gita As It Is

His Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, Mumbai Introduction to Bhagavad-gita (Class notes and T1: introduction + R1: Introduction )

Srila Vyasa Deva: Compiler of Bhagavad-gita

� Literary incarnation of Supreme Lord

�  Son of Parasara � Compiler of original Vedic

literatures � Written 1010 slokas

Srila Vyasa Deva: Compiler of Bhagavad-gita

�  Selflessly thought of people in kaliyuga i.e. us

� His vision is perfect � His fame is spotless �  Firm in vow and truthfulness

What are Vedas? � Root word vitta i.e. to know � Vedas are known as sruti i.e. that which is

heard � Vyasdeva compiles four vedas

What are Vedas? �  One veda is divided into four vedas ◦  Samveda 1000 sakas (divisions) ◦  Rgveda 100 sakas ◦  Yajurveda 21 sakas ◦  Atharvaveda 9 sakas

�  Each saka is further divided into ◦  Aranyakas ◦  Samhitas ◦  Upanishads ◦  brahmanas

What are Vedas? �  Furher, Srila Vyasa deva compiled itihasaas,

puranas. � Total sakas (divisions) are 4520 � And total slokas are 1010

� Vyasa deva has compiled everything for the benefit of human population in Kaliyuga

Unique position of Bhagavad-gita � Bhagavad gita kinchidadhita

ganga jala lava kanika pita sakrdapi ye na murari samarcha kriyate tasya yamenana charcha

Gita mahatmya � Vishnoh padam avapnoti bhaya

sokadi varjitah � Gitadhyayana silasya Pranayama parasya ca Naiva santi hi papani Purva janma krtani ca

Gita mahatmya � mala nirmocanam pumsam Jala snanam dine dine sakrd gitamrta snanam samsara mala nasanam

Gita mahatmya � gita sugita kartavya kim anyaih sastra vistaraih ya svayam padmanabhasya mukha padmad vinihsrta

Gita mahatmya � bharatamrta sarvasvam visnu vaktrad vinihsrtam gita-ganodakam pitva punar janma na vidyate

Gita mahatmya � sarvopanishado gavo dogdha gopala nandanah partho vatsah sudhir bhokta dusdham gitamrtam mahat

Gita mahatmya ekam sastram devaki putra gitam

eko devo devaki putra eva eko mantras tasya namani yani

karmapy ekam tasya devasya seva

Unique position of Bhagavad-gita � vedais ca sarvair aham eva vedyam

vedanta-vid veda-krt eva ca aham (15.15)

�  trai-gunya-visaya veda nistrai-gunyo bhavarjuna nirdvandvo nitya-sattva-stho niryoga-ksema atmavan (2.45)

Bhagavad-gita � Appears as an episode in Mahabharata �  Is spoken by Krishna, the Supreme Lord,

to Arjuna, His devotee and friend � This historical and transcendental event

took place 50 centuries ago, just at the beginning of Kali yuga.

Subject matters of Bhagavada-gita �  Isvara: Controller �  Jiva: living entity � Prkriti: Material nature � Kala: Time � Karma: action

The Infalliable Vedic Knowledge �  E.g. Cow dung �  Beyond four defects ◦  Imperfect senses ◦  Commiting mistakes ◦  Being Illusioned ◦  Tendency to cheat others

Infallible Vedic knowledge � Basis of acceptance �  Four defects �  Faith, integral part of any learning process � Axiomatic truths

Ways of gaining knowledge � Pratyaksha praman � Anuman praman �  Sabda praman ◦ Only way to understand Vedic scriptures

Sanatana Dharma �  Religion ? A kind of faith ! �  Christianity -- Hinduism – Islam – Sikhism - …….. �  Indian – American – European – Tamil – Telugu --.. �  Faith keeps changing! �  Dharma – That which constantly exists with a

particular object �  That which has neither beginning nor end �  Dharma of fire is heat and light �  Dharma of Living entity is to Serve God

Sanatana dharma � What is dharma? ◦  Sanatana dharma – eternal occupation of

living entity