Summary of Bhagavad Gita — 700 verse scripture of Hindu Epic Mahabharata

Image Source

Bhagavad-Gita is the holy book of Hindus just like Bible for Christians, Guru Granth Sahib for Sikhs and Quran for Muslims, etc.

All of the above contains the summary of life and life lessons worth reading.

Below is the summary of The Gita, giving some glimpse of all the chapters.

PreScript: Below is the scene of a war where Lord Krishna preached Arjuna and these teachings are now known as The Gita.

The war was a result of series of thoughtful events, all plotted by Lord Krishna.

After the war begun,

The blind King — called Dhritarashtra — asks Sanjaya, his secretary, to tell him what happens in a battle between his sons (the Kauravas) and their cousins (the Pandavas).

Arjuna, a Pandava Prince, is preparing for the battle at Kurukshetra (in today’s northern India). Krishna (in Hindu belief the Supreme Personality of the Godhead) agrees to be Arjuna’s charioteer. Taking up his bow, and preparing to fight, Arjuna sees Dhritarashtra’s sons who are also preparing to do battle.

Arjuna realizes that these friends and near-relatives will be his battle opponents.

Krishna, adhering to Arjuna’s wishes, drives the chariot in between the two fighting forces. When he is between both armies, Arjuna becomes very upset. With his mind reeling, he foresees not just a battle between people who know each other, he also foresees the imminent death of people who are (or have been) close to him: his teachers; his relatives; his friends.

Throwing down his bow and his arrows, Arjuna decides he will not participate in this battle. He will not fight this day (or any other) if the battle requires him to fight against such people.

All of those events occur, however, before Arjuna realizes the true nature of his charioteer. He recognizes that Krishna is very knowledgeable about life, but he doesn’t know that Krishna is an avatar for Vishnu (a supreme being in Hindu religious teachings).

Source

Once Krishna has shown Arjuna his four-armed and universal forms, the Pandava Prince is stunned at the power of his charioteer. Far more than a man of knowledge, Krishna is all-powerful. Not only does he hold the reins of Arjuna’s chariot, he holds the reins of the entire universe.

He is not just a leader, he is the Supreme Being whom Arjuna should not just respect but should worship. All of this fundamentally changes Arjuna’s perspective.

Initially, the Prince put-down his bow and arrows because he thought it would be sinful to battle his friends, teachers and near-relatives. After seeing Krishna’s universal form, and understanding Krishna’s teachings, Arjuna realizes that Krishna would not encourage him to fight if engaging in this battle would result in sinful actions.

Arjuna has learned something else. A person can only know Krishna by surrendering to him in devotional service. In chapter 18 of the Bhagavad-Gita, Krishna tells Arjuna (in English translation):

Become My devotee, always think of Me, act for Me, worship Me, and offer all homage unto Me. Surrender unto Me alone. Do not fear sinful reactions.

Hearing all of this, how could Arjuna do anything but fight? He retrieves his bow and arrows and engages his military opposition.

As Sanjaya relates all of this to King Dhritarashtra, the secretary predicts that Arjuna will win. Not only is the Padavan Prince a supremely good archer, but Arjuna has also surrendered himself to Krishna. Under such circumstances, how could he lose?

Sanjaya’s prediction comes true. On this day, and in this battle, Arjuna and his side prevail.

Without the support of Krishna, Arjuna could not face the battle at Kurukshetra. With Krishna by his side, and driving his chariot, Arjuna can do more than fight in battle — he can live his life in a much better way.

Some key learnings:

1. When meditation is mastered, the mind is unwavering like the flame of a lamp in a windless place.
2. Whatever happened, happened for the good. Whatever is happening, is happening for the good. Whatever will happen, will also happen for the good.
3. There is neither this world nor the world beyond. nor happiness for the one who doubts.
4. Change is the law of the universe. You can be a millionaire or a pauper in an instant.
5. Always focus on the work, fruits will follow. You have control over the work that you will do, not the fruit.
6. You came empty-handed, and you will leave empty-handed.
7. The soul is neither born and nor does it die.
8. We’re kept from our goal not by obstacles, but by a clear path to a lesser goal.
9. A person can rise through the efforts of his own mind; or draw himself down, in the same manner. Because each person is his own friend or enemy.
10. Lust, anger, and greed are the three gates to self-destructive hell.
11. Man is made by his belief. As he believes, so he is. (Refer Law of Attraction for more)

Stay tuned for more such blog posts.

Hit claps to show appreciation.