Bhagavad Gita

PART 1

Reading Check

1. Seeing his kinsmen “established in opposition” (Chapter 1)

2. The “perfect evenness of mind” (Chapter 2)

3. Jnana yoga, the “contemplative path of spiritual wisdom,” and karma yoga, the “active path of selfless service” (Chapter 3)

4. “[F]riend and devotee” (Chapter 4)

5. “The offering of wisdom” (Chapter 4)

6. Krishna advises Arjuna to take the “path of selfless action [over] the path of renunciation.” (Chapter 5)

Short Answer

1. Dhritarashtra is the blind regent leader of the Kurus, who should have allowed his nephew to take the throne, but instead has passed along the right to rule to his own son. This is what initiates the battle between the Pandavas (the rightful heirs to the throne) and the Kauravas (the regent leaders of the throne). Sanjaya is the narrator of the story, who reports the battle’s happenings to the king. (Chapter 1)

2. After seeing that the “enemy” includes both his extended family and his mentors, Arjuna proclaims that he will not fight and asks Krishna for guidance. Krishna responds by introducing the idea of reincarnation, assuring that the battle would not lead to anyone’s death as “[u]nborn, eternal, immutable, immemorial, you do not die when the body dies.” (Chapter 2)

3. In his rebuttal, Krishna introduces the idea of the “Self,” or one’s “everlasting and infinite” entity, which transcends the body and is reincarnated. Krishna urges Arjuna to remember his duty (i.e., dharma) as a soldier, and says that the “dishonor” of not engaging in battle “will be repeated endlessly: and for a man of honor, dishonor is worse than death.” (Chapter 2)

4. Krishna stresses the importance of selfless action, which can be obtained only “without any thought of personal profit.” He specifies that inaction is not a form of selflessness; in fact, inaction may lead to a “chaos” as one’s inaction leads to a chain of inactivity amongst people. Therefore, one must act in accordance with their dharma. (Chapter 3)

5. Krishna reminds Arjuna that due to the cycle of reincarnation (samsara), Krishna manifests himself “in every age to protect the good, to destroy evil, and to reestablish dharma.” In this way, there is unity with his Self and the Self of others who reach this understanding. (Chapter 4)

6. Krishna notes, “Those who aspire to the state of yoga should seek the Self in inner solitude through meditation.” He follows with a guide for meditation, such as how to hold one’s posture, the process, and recommendations for eating and drinking. Despite its difficulties, Krishna notes that the mind  can be conquered through “regular practice and detachment.” (Chapter 6)

PART 2

Reading Check

1. “[J]nana and vijnana” (Chapter 7)

2. “Earth, water, fire, air, akasha, mind, intellect, and ego” (Chapter 7)

3. “[O]btaining both jnana and vijnana, you will be free from all evil” (Chapter 9)

4. Krishna says, “I am time, the destroyer of all; I have come to consume the world.” (Chapter 11)

Short Answer

1. In response to Arjuna’s query, Krishna states that people who remember him will come to him in death. Similarly, a true yogi is one who is not attached to anyone but Krishna, which is the only way out of samsara. (Chapter 8)

2. Arjuna asks to see Krishna’s immortal self. In response, Krishna appears “with an infinite number of faces, ornamented by heavenly jewels, displaying unending miracles and the countless weapons of his power.” Krishna then commands Arjuna to fight. (Chapter 11)

3. Krishna describes his devotees as those who can view life with detachment, such as looking “upon friend and foe with equal regard,” not being  “buoyed up by praise nor cast down by blame,” and tolerating other contradictory states “in harmony everywhere, firm in faith.” (Chapter 12)

PART 3

Reading Check

1. His womb is prakriti, from which everything born comes. (Chapter 14)

2. On the “immutable ashvattha tree” (Chapter 15)

3. A person’s nature (Chapter 17)

4. “To refrain from selfish acts is one kind of renunciation, called sannyasa; to renounce the fruit of action is another, called tyaga.” (Chapter 18)

5. “Through Vyasa’s grace, I have heard the supreme secret of spiritual union directly from the Lord of Yoga, Krishna himself.” (Chapter 18)

Short Answer

1. Krishna states that the body is the field, and the one who knows it is called the “Knower of the field,” with the specification that he is the “knower.” (Chapter 13)

2. The three gunas are sattva, rajas, and tamas. Krishna notes that “Sattva binds us to happiness; rajas binds us to action. Tamas, distorting our understanding, binds us to delusion.” (Chapter 14)

3. Krishna notes that there are mortal and immortal beings, and the “Supreme Atman” (i.e., Krishna) transcends all. (Chapter 15)

4. If a person possesses “divine” qualities of “vigor, patience, will, purity” and avoids malice and pride, they will attain freedom. Conversely, the “demonic” qualities of “hypocrisy, arrogance, conceit, anger, cruelty, ignorance” lead to “bondage.” Those who have the latter qualities must renounce lust, anger, and greed. (Chapter 16)

5. Krishna explains that each type of worshipper conforms with that person’s nature, which can be seen in their habits—in particular, he explains, “in the food they like, the work they do, the disciplines they practice, the gifts they give.” (Chapter 17)

6. The text ends with Krishna reminding Arjuna that he must fulfill his dharma in order to “attain perfection” and follow on the path of non-attachment. Arjuna replies, “My faith is firm now, and I will do your will,” with the implication that he will go to battle. The text officially concludes in the present moment, with Sanjaya reporting that this is how he heard the story. (Chapter 18)