Arjuna’s eighteen questions to Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita

The Bhagavad Gita is one of the important texts of Hinduism. Embedded within the epic of Mahabharat, these 700 verses have been commented upon by countless people over the generations. For the curious, who want to get an idea what it is about without getting into the philosophy, here is an attempt to give that idea just by listing the questions asked by Arjuna.

The Bhagwad Gita is a dialogue between Arjuna and Krishna. A deluded Arjuna, unable to decide if he should fight the war or not, seeks guidance from Krishna and asks him questions. Krishna’s answer to those questions comes from various philosophies that are the foundations of Hinduism.

In the discussion Krishna elaborated on two paths for achieving Moksha, which is Liberation from bondage of Samsara, and in the end asks Arjuna to follow the one that appeals to him. Those two paths are

• Sannyasa which is achieving moksha through knowledge and by renunciation of action
• Karma Yoga which is achieving moksha through action.

So how does getting a clearer understanding of the two paths to moksha tell Arjuna whether he should fight the war or not? What were his questions? Well, here they are.

• Arjuna wants to know how appropriate it is for him to fight against Bhishma and Drona, both of whom he has great respect, in the war. (Chapter 2 Shloka 4)
• Arjuna wants to know what are the characteristics of a person in whom the knowledge is firm (a wise person). (2.54)
• Arjuna wants to know why Krishna wants him to fight the war (engage in action) if the path of knowledge (Sannyasa) is better than the path of action (karma yoga)? (3.1)
• Arjuna wants to know what impels a person to perform bad deeds, even when that person is aware of the fact that those actions are wrong. (3.36)
• Arjuna wants to know how Krishna claims to have given the knowledge of Karma yoga to Vivasvan (the Sun), even though it existed even before him. (4.4)
• Since Krishna keeps praising both Sannyasa and Karma yoga. Arjuna wants a definite answer of which one is better.(5.1)
• Arjuna complains that his mind is difficult to control and compares it to the wind, soliciting the answer to the question of how to control the mind (6.34)
• Arjuna wants to know what happens to the efforts spent by a person that is endowed with trust in god who nevertheless fails to achieve the goal of moksha in his lifetime because of inadequate efforts. Are they wasted?(6.37)
• Krishna uses some technical words in his answers, so Arjuna wants him to elaborate on what Brahman, Adhyatma, Adhibhut, Adhidaiva and Adhiyagnya are (8.1)
• Arjuna is curious to know how he (god) is to be known by a self-controlled person at the time of death. (8.2)
• Arjuna wants to know which are his (god’s) glories in the world upon which he should meditate. (10.17)
• Arjuna asks Krishna to show him his (god’s) perennially eternal self, if possible. (11.4)
• Upon being shown the eternal form of god, unable to comprehend that form, Arjuna asks Krishna to explain what he is seeing. (11.31)
• With his mind afflicted with fear while seeing the eternal form, Arjuna asks Krishna to show him his (god’s) well-known and pleasing form before returning back to his original form. (11.46)
• Arjuna wants to know which of the devotees has a better chance of achieving the goal of Moksha: Is it one that meditates upon a tangible form of god or the one that meditates upon the unchanging, attribute-less and unmanifested. (12.1)
• Arjuna wants to know how one transcends the three attributes (Gunas, namely Sattva, Rajas and Tamas) that determines one’s character. What are the characteristics by which one can know that a person has transcended these attributes? (14.21)
• Arjuna wants to know the guna of a person that is endowed with trust in god but does not perform the rituals as prescribed in the scriptures. (17.1)
• Arjuna wants to know severally the essence of Sannyasa and Tyaga (giving up something). (18.1)

Krishna had made it very clear that he wants Arjuna to fight the war. Arjuna was not convinced in the beginning. After this dialog Arjuna says that with all the doubts and delusions gone and having gained recognition about himself he will do as Krishna says. (18.73)

Krishna’s answers to Arjuna do elaborate on a few other topics from the philosophy of Hinduism, other than the two paths of gaining Moksha.

A Shloka from Gita Dhyana beautifully describes the Gita and equates it to the essence (milk) from the upanishads (cows) extracted by Krishna (cowherd) for his dear Arjuna.

सर्वोपनिषदो गावो दोग्धा गोपालनन्दन: ।

पार्थो वत्स: सुधीर्भोक्ता दुग्धं गीतामृतं महत् ॥

(Sarvopnishado gāvo dogdhā gopālnandanaḥ

partho vatṣ sudhīrbhokta dugdham gītā amrutam mahat)

For the curious, wanting to understand Hinduism and its scriptures, the Bhagavad Gita is an excellent springboard. When one tries to dive deeper into the answers, one gets introduced to Upanishads, Darshanas and other scriptures of Hinduism.

A good online resource for The Bhagavad Gita is by IIT Kanpur.