How Krishna offers a nuanced understanding of faith
In the Bhagavad-gita’s seventeenth chapter, Krishna indicates that faith isn’t just about something we believe; it is integral to our very existence, it’s about how [...]
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 [...]
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. [...]
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 to [...]
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 [...]
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. [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
What the Gita’s questions tell us about Krishna as a teacher
Good teachers are concerned about knowing and delivering their lessons well. Great teachers are concerned about ensuring that their students understand the subject. To that [...]
The Gita’s seventeen questions at a glance
Out of the Bhagavad-gita’s seventeen chapters, where Krishna is the main speaker, nine begin with a question: 2.7, 3.1-2, 5.1, 8.1-2, 11.1-4, 12.1, 13.1, 17.1 [...]
Why does Krishna give Arjuna special eyes to see the universal form?
The universal form is a revelation, which essentially means it is something not normally accessible to us humans, but made accessible by divine intervention. How [...]
What is the universal form? Why does Arjuna want to see it?
The term ‘universal form’ essentially refers to a form that shows Krishna’s presence, power, purpose spread across the entire universe. The universal form pervades the [...]
How Krishna tests Arjuna in the Gita
When giving a class, good teachers want to know how well their students are hearing and understanding. To that end, they sometimes include in their [...]