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Bhagavad Gita

T. K. G. NAMBOODHIRITHIRUVALLA, KERALA

INDIA

BHAGAVAD GITA – THE DIVINE SONG-An Introduction

Bhagavad Gita-Part of the Sanskrit Epic Mahabhaaratha.(200 BC to 200 AD)

700 verses in 18 chapters.

A conversation between Lord Krishna and his close friend Arjuna in the middle of the battlefield just before the start of the Kurukshetra battle.

Arjuna loses his heart and refuses to fight his teachers and relatives, and Krishna revives him by his wise words of wisdom.

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Bhagavad GitaCHAPTER 8

AKSHARABRAHMA YOGATHE YOGA OF THE INDESTRUCTIBLE

BRAHMA

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Bhagavad GitaKIM THAD BRAHMA KIMADHYAATHMAM KIM KARMA PURUSHOTHAMA, ADHIBHOOTHAM CHA KIM PROKTHAM ADHIDAIVAM KIMUCHYATHE’, ADHIYAJNAM KATHAM KO ATHRA DE’HE’ ASMIN MADHUSOODANA. (8.1&2)

In the last verse in Chapter 7 the Lord used few words which Arjuna did not understand. So he asks the meaning of those words here: What is that Brahman? What is the inner self? What is work? What are elements & divinities? Who in this body operates the sacrifices & how?

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Bhagavad GitaAKSHARAM BRAHMA PARAMAM SWABHAAVO ADHYAATHMAMUCHYATHE’, BHOOTHABHAAVODBHAVAKARO VISARGAH KARMA SAMJNITHAH. (8.3)

The supreme indestructible entity is Brahman. The same Brahman existing in each living being as the individual Soul is Adhyaathma. Work is manifest creation, bringing beings into existence.

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Bhagavad GitaADHIBHOOTHAM KSHARO BHAVAH PURUSHASCHAADHIDAIVATHAM, ADHIYAJNO AHAME’VAATHRA DE’HE’ DE’HABRITHAAM VARA. (8.4)

The elements are all the perishable objects; the individual souls are the divinities. I Myself, dwelling in the body as the inner witness, alone am related to sacrifices.

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Bhagavad GitaYAM YAM VAAPI SMARAN BHAAVAM THYAJATHYANTHE’ KALEBARAM, THAM THAME’VAITHI KAUNTHE’YA SADA THADBHAAVA BHAAVITHAH. (8.6)

Remembering whatever being one gives up the body at death, that very being one reaches & takes a body ever conforming to that being. The final recollection causes the assumption of a new body.

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Bhagavad GitaTHASMAAL SARVE’SHU KAALE’SHU MAAMANUSMARA YUDHYA CHA, MAYYARPITHA MANOBUDHIR MAAME’VYSHYASYASAMSAYAM. (8.7)

Therefore, at all times think of Me, & do your duty. With mind & intellect surrendered to Me, rid of all doubts, you will undoubtedly reach Me.

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Bhagavad GitaABHYAASAYOGAYUKTHE’NA CHE’THASAA NAANYAGAAMINAA, PARAMAM PURUSHAM DIVYAM YAATHI PAARTHAANUCHINTHAYAN. (8.8)

Arjuna, steadily thinking with an unswerving mind, disciplined in the Yoga of repeated practice, one proceeds to the Supreme, Divine Spirit

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Bhagavad GitaKAVIM PURAANAMANUSAASITHAARAM ANORANEEYAAM SAMANUSMARE’DYAH, SARVASYA DHAATHAARAMACHINTHYAROOPAM AADITHYA VARNAM THAMASAH PARASTHAATH. (8.9).

Wise people contemplate on God as the all-wise, ageless Ruler, who is smaller than the atom, but the sustainer of the entire universe, shining like the Sun & far beyond the darkness of ignorance, & with an incomprehensible form.

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Bhagavad GitaANANYACHE’THAAH SATHATHAM YO MAAM SMARATHI NITHYASAH, THASYAAHAM SULABHAH PAARTHA NITHYAYUKTHASYA YOGINAH. (8.14)

Arjuna, whosoever with undivided mind always thinks of Me (God), to that person, ever-absorbed in Me, I am easily attainable.

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Bhagavad GitaAVYAKTHO AKSHARA ITHYUKTHASTHAMAAHUH PARAMAAM GATHIM, YAM PRAAPYA NA NIVARTHANTHE’ THADHAAMA PARAMAM MAMA. (8.21)

The supreme goal of all living beings is to reach that eternal, unmanifest & indestructible abode of God, attaining which, none has to return to this mortal world.

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Bhagavad GitaPURUSHAH SA PARAH PAARTHA BHAKTHYAA LABHYASTHWANANYAYAA , YASYAANTHAH STHAANI BHOOTHAANI YE’NA SARVAMIDAM THATHAM. (8.22)

Arjuna, that eternal, unmanifest, supreme God, in whom all beings reside, & by whom this whole universe is pervaded, is attainable only through exclusive devotion.

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Bhagavad GitaSUKLAKRISHNE’ GATHEE HYE’THE’ JAGATHAH SAASWATHE’ MATHE’, E’KAYAA YAATHYANAAVRITHIM ANYAYAAVARTHATHE’ PUNAH. (8.26)

There are two courses, the light & the dark, of knowledge & work, held to be eternal for the world( for those eligible to travel the path of knowledge, or the path of work as ordained in the Vedas, etc.). By means of the first one goes(after death) & does not return; by the other one comes back again.

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Bhagavad GitaVE’DE’SHU YAJNE’SHU THAPASSU CHAIVA DAANE’SHU YATH PUNYAPHALAM PRADISHTAM, ATHYE’THI THATH SARVAMIDAM VIDITHWA YOGEE PARAM STHAANAM UPAITHI CHAADYAM. (8.28)

The meritorious fruits of learning the Vedas, of sacrifices, penances & gifts-all these the Yogi transcends by knowing what I said above. Besides, he also reaches the supreme Primal State.

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