INTRODUCTION TO THE BHAGAVAD GITA
Bhagavad Gita is also known as Gitopanishad. It is the essence of Vedic knowledge and one of the most important Upanishads in Vedic literature. The Bhagavad-gita, was first spoken to the sun-god, and the sun-god explained it to Manu, and Manu explained it to Ikshavaku, and in that way, by disciplic succession, one speaker after another, this yoga system has been coming down. But in the course of time it has become lost. Consequently the Lord has to speak it again, this time to Arjuna on the Battlefield of Kurukshetra.
Literally, the name Bhagavad Gita means 'Song of God'. It is in the form of a dialogue between Krishna, the divine incarnation and teacher, and the warrior Arjuna, the disciple. It contains 18 chapters, consisting of seven hundred verses from the Bishma Parva of the epic Mahabharata, written by great sage Ved Vyasa. Chapter I-6 deal mainly with Karma Yoga, 7-12 with Bhakti Yoga, 13-18 with Jnana Yoga. The Bhagavad Gita is a universal scripture for people of all temperaments, all walks of life, all times and all places.
THE STORY OF THE MAHABHARATA
Dhritarashtra and Pandu were two brothers born in the royal family of Hastinapur. Born blind, Dhritarashtra, the elder brother, was barred from being king. He married Gandhari and had 101 children, called the Kauravas, headed by vicious Duryodhana.
Pandu, the younger brother, assumed the throne. His two wives, Kunti and Madri, had five virtuous children, known as the Pandavas: Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva.
Pandu died young; his sons were brought up by Dhritarashtra along with the Kauravas. The young cousins were all trained in the art of kingly conduct and warfare by the great gurus Bhishma and Drona. The Pandavas excelled and were beloved by the people. This inspired great enmity among the Kauravas, who were jealous and plotted against them. When they were old enough, Dhritarashtra gave each group a part of the kingdom. Because of their virtues, the Pandava's kingdom blossomed, and Yudhishthira was declared supreme emperor. Duryodhana, chief of the Kauravas, became increasingly jealous. Knowing Yudhishthira's only weakness, he tricked him into a game of dice. Through cheating, Duryodhana won. The Pandavas had to go into exile for a period of twelve years, and then spend another year incognito. During this period the kingdom was to be ruled by Duryodhana.
The Pandavas, after successfully completing this thirteen year period, facing many obstacles and dangers caused by the Kauravas, approached their cousins to regain possession of their share of the kingdom. Duryodhana flatly refused to return even as much land as could be covered by the point of a needle. The Pandavas were pushed into war to reŽestablish Dharma, righteousness. The whole of Bharat Varsha (ancient India) was divided in this Mahabharata war.
Krishna, cousin of the Pandavas, was living in Dwaraka. Both Duryodhana, as head of the Kauravas, and Arjuna, chief warrior of the Pandavas went to seek Krishna's help in battle. Finding Krishna resting, Arjuna stood near Krishna's feet. Duryodhana occupied a nice seat at the head of the couch. As Krishna opened his eyes, he naturally saw Arjuna first. According to prevailing custom, he gave the first choice to Arjuna because of his younger age, and also because his first vision had been of Arjuna. Krishna asked Arjuna to choose between Krishna's powerful army or Krishna himself, adding that he wouldn't fight. Arjuna expressed his desire to have Krishna with him. Duryodhana with great delight, thinking Arjuna a fool, expressed his desire for the powerful army to help his side in the battle. Symbolically Arjuna chose right over might. He had Krishna, the divine avatar, as his charioteer. When Krishna asked Arjuna why he had made this choice, Arjuna replied, "0 Lord! You have the power to destroy all the forces by a mere sight. Why, then should I prefer that worthless army? I have long cherished a desire in my heart that you should act as my charioteer. Kindly fulfill my desire in this war." After Duryodhana's return from Dwaraka, Krishna himself went to Hastinapura and tried to prevent the war. The egoistic Duryodhana refused to agree to the peace mission and even tried to imprison Krishna. Dhritarashtra, because of his attachment to his sons, failed to control them. The Kauravas, led by Duryodhana, decided to meet the Pandavas in the war. Sage Veda Vyasa offered Dhritarashtra the opportunity to see the battle. The Kaurava king refused saying, "I have no desire to see this slaughter of my family, but I should like to hear all the details of the battle." The sage conferred the gift of divine vision on Sanjaya, Dhritarashtra's trusted counselor. The blind king asks Sanjaya to narrate the details of the war. Here commences the Bhagavad Gita, the dialogue between Sri Krishna and Arjuna on the Kurukshetra battlefield.
The Mahabharata war was supposed to have taken place around 3000 BC. But the battle can also be interpreted as the battle between the lower mind (Kauravas) and the higher mind (Pandavas), in which the higher mind wins due to the grace of God (Krishna), even if sometimes the lower mind seems to be stronger.
MAIN CHARACTERS:
Dhritarashtra: Father of 101 wicked Kauravas -the 'blind' king.
Sanjaya: Narrator of the Bhagavad Gita to Dhritarashtra.
Duryodhana: Eldest and leader of the Kauravas.
Drona: Teacher of both the Pandavas and Kauravas. Because of certain allegiances he must fight on the side of the Kauravas.
Bhishma: Often referred to as the 'grandsire', he is the uncle of both the Pandavas and Kauravas. Because of the duties that bind him, he must fight on the side of the Kauravas.
Veda Vyasa: Sage who recited the Bhagavad Gita to the scribe Ganapati, while in the transcendental state.
Pandu: Brother of Dhritarashtra; father of the five Pandava brothers.
Kunti: Wife of Pandu and mother of the Pandavas.
Yudishthira: Eldest of the Pandava brothers; the embodiment of Dharma.
Bhima: Second of the Pandavas; the embodiment of physical strength.
Arjuna: Third-born and leader of the Pandavas, renowned as the greatest bow-man in the world.
Sahadeva and Nakula: Twins; the youngest Pandavas.
Draupadi: Wife of all five Pandavas.
Krishna: Eighth avatar of Vishnu; cousin of the Pandavas on their mother's side.
Questions:
Q1. What is the Mahabharata?
Q2. What is the literal meaning of the name Bhagavad Gita?
Q3. Describe the chief characters in the Bhagavad Gita.
Q4. Was the war necessary? Why?
Q5. How can the Bhagavad Gita be divided?
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