Why Krishna gives an additional description of the demonic in the seventeenth chapter
When Arjuna seeks a nuanced understanding of the divine-demonic categorization (17.01), Krishna answers by providing several subtle and sophisticated parameters (17.09-22). But first Krishna continues [...]
Arjuna’s sixteenth question
Arjuna’s question at the start of the seventeenth chapter is among the few of his questions whose link with the last verses of the previous [...]
Gita 16.19 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Bhagavadgita Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan Next Krishna describes consequences [...]
Why Krishna uses the word ‘soul’ non-literally
Few concepts are as foundational to Krishna’s Gita teachings as the soul. Many religions use the word ‘soul’ primarily in a non-literal sense: as a [...]
How Krishna’s angry words reflect his love
In the Bhagavadgita sixteenth chapter, as Krishna concludes his description of the ungodly people’s destructive and self-destructive activities, his tone changes from neutral to angry. [...]
Gita 12.11 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan Now after this Krishna comes [...]
Why Krishna speaks the sixteenth chapter without being prompted
In the Bhagavad Gita, there’s only one section where Krishna speaks three successive chapters on his own without any prompting question from Arjuna: the section [...]
What Krishna’s analysis of divine and demonic natures means for Arjuna
What Krishna’s analysis of divine and demonic natures means for Arjuna-Throughout the Bhagavad-gita, when Krishna makes any point, Arjuna thinks how that point applies [...]
Gita 15.08 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan So what is the karṣati [...]
What the upside-down tree metaphor means for Arjuna
Krishna begins the Bhagavad-gita’s fifteenth chapter with the upside-down tree metaphor that conveys the topsy-turvy nature of material existence. The metaphor speaks to Arjuna’s personal [...]
Gita 10.37 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan Bg 10.37 vṛṣṇīnāṁ vāsudevo ’smi [...]
What Krishna never mentions to Arjuna in the Gita
Some people think that Krishna spoke the Bhagavad-gita just to get Arjuna to fight. If that were so, Krishna chose a laboriously long-cut method for [...]
Why Krishna mentions Arjuna as his vibhuti among the Pandavas
In the Bhagavad-gita’s tenth chapter, Krishna lists his vibhutis (special manifestations) among various classes of beings. When he comes to the Pandavas as a class. [...]
Gita 14.21 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan So by going beyond modes [...]
What Krishna’s “I am …” declarations mean and don’t mean
In the Bhagavad-gita’s tenth chapter, Krishna equates himself with over fifty things in this world. Are these statements meant to be read literally? Let’s consider [...]
What Arjuna’s eagerness to hear about Krishna signifies
In the Bhagavad-gita’s tenth chapter, Arjuna asks to hear more about Krishna’s glories (10.16), for he never tires of hearing those glories (10.18). Though such [...]
Why Arjuna’s declaration of Krishna’s position is significant
In the Bhagavad-gita, Arjuna speaks metaphysical points the most in the tenth chapter (10.12-18). His speech in the eleventh chapter on seeing the universal form [...]
Arjuna’s fifteenth question: How to transcend the modes
Toward the end of the fourteenth chapter (14.21), Arjuna asks Krishna, “What are the characteristics of those who transcend the modes? And how do they [...]
Why Krishna devotes an entire chapter to the three modes
Whenever Krishna starts a chapter without any starting question from Arjuna, as in the fourteenth chapter, we can infer that Krishna considers the subject important [...]
Gita 12.12 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan This is single most complicated [...]
What the Gita’s questions tell us about Arjuna as a student
During a class, the questions a student asks tells the teacher how much the student is involved in the learning process. Arjuna’s questions in the [...]