Why does Arjuna ask Krishna about the identity of the revelation of the Universal Form?
In the eleventh chapter of the Bhagavad-gita, Arjuna initially requests Krishna to show his universal form. When Krishna obliges, Arjuna responds by describing and glorifying [...]
Gita 07.18 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Now Sri Krishna will describe that [...]
Gita 09.31 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan Bg 9.31 kṣipraṁ bhavati dharmātmā [...]
Why does Krishna speak his own glories?
In the Bhagavad-gita’s tenth chapter, Krishna declares that everything attractive emanates from a spark of his own splendor (10.41). This declaration comes at the conclusion [...]
Why does Krishna call those who approach him charitable?
While describing four kinds of people who approach him, Krishna appreciates them as pious and large-hearted. They are large-hearted in the sense that they are [...]
How Krishna protects (Exploring the Gita chapter 9 series – 2)
One of the Bhagavad-gita’s most quoted verses (09.31) declares that Krishna always protects his devotees. While this verse is often used to support the idea [...]
Why can the envious not understand the Gita’s knowledge? (Exploring the Gita chapter 9 series – 1)
Why can the envious not understand the Gita’s knowledge? - When Krishna states that the Gita’s knowledge is not meant for the envious (09.01), why [...]
Gita 5.4 explained
Now Krishna will clarify this point further how one can stay free from bondage Bg 5.4 sāṅkhya-yogau pṛthag bālāḥ pravadanti na paṇḍitāḥ ekam apy [...]
How Krishna’s teachings reflect both unity and diversity (Exploring the Gita chapter 5 series – 4)
How Krishna’s teachings reflect both unity and diversity - In the Bhagavad-gita, Krishna deems as childish those who consider sankhya and yoga to be different [...]
Why a message of peace on a battlefield? (Exploring the Gita chapter 5 series – 3)
Why a message of peace on a battlefield? – The Bhagavad-gita is spoken on the battlefield to a reluctant warrior urging him to fight. Then, [...]
How can Arjuna see everyone equally and still fight? (Exploring the Gita chapter 5 series – 2)
How can Arjuna see everyone equally and still fight? - An often-quoted Bhagavad-gita verse recommends equality of vision (05.18): see everyone equally, because we [...]
Gita 5.1 explained
Let's try to understand what is happening till chapter 5 and further: In Arjun’s mind there were two options: action or renunciation, So Sri Krishna [...]
Gita 09.32 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan In varansharam system higher varan [...]
Arjuna’s repeated question (Exploring the Gita chapter 5 series – 1)
In the Bhagavad-gita’s fifth chapter, Arjuna asks essentially the same question that he asked at the start of the third chapter. “Should he work or [...]
Gita 04.24 explained
Bg 4.24 brahmārpaṇaṁ brahma havir brahmāgnau brahmaṇā hutam brahmaiva tena gantavyaṁ brahma-karma-samādhinā Synonyms: brahma — spiritual in nature; arpaṇam — contribution; brahma — the Supreme; haviḥ — butter; brahma — spiritual; agnau — in the fire [...]
Krishna blends the metaphorical and literal wars (Exploring the Gita chapter 4 series – 7)
Krishna blends the metaphorical and literal wars - In the last verse of the Bhagavad-gita’s fourth chapter (04.42), Krishna urges Arjuna to fight. That is [...]
Krishna’s first assertion of his relationship with us (Exploring the Gita chaper 4 series – 6)
Krishna’s first assertion of his relationship with us - In the Bhagavad-gita (04.35), Krishna describes the fruit of acquiring spiritual knowledge. First, he assures [...]
Krishna’s inclusive explanation of sacrifice (Exploring the Gita chapter 4 series – 5)
Krishna’s inclusive explanation of sacrifice - In the Bhagavad-gita, Arjuna is apprehensive that he will be bound by bad karma if he fights in the [...]
Two purposes of Krishna’s descent (Exploring the Gita chapter 4 series – 4)
In the Bhagavad-gita, Krishna mentions that he descends for two purposes (04.07-08 & 04.09-10). To better understand these purposes, let’s consider two classificatory frameworks: external-internal [...]
Gita 04.15 explained
Bg 4.15 evaṁ jñātvā kṛtaṁ karma pūrvair api mumukṣubhiḥ kuru karmaiva tasmāt tvaṁ pūrvaiḥ pūrva-taraṁ kṛtam Synonyms: evam — thus; jñātvā — knowing well; kṛtam — was performed; karma — work; pūrvaiḥ — by [...]
Krishna’s first direct self-revelation (Exploring the Gita chapter 4 series – 3)
Krishna’s first direct self-revelation - In the Bhagavad-gita’s fourth chapter, Krishna responds to Arjuna’s question (04.04) by revealing his divinity directly for the first time [...]