What Arjuna knew about the soul — and what he didn’t
In the Bhagavad-gita’s first chapter, Arjuna expresses apprehension about going to hell (01.43). His mention of an afterlife indicates that he knows about the soul. [...]
How Duryodhana’s speech reveals his mentality
The Bhagavad-gita’s first chapter describes how the sight of the Pandavas’ formidable military formation had Duryodhana unnerved (01.02). Given that his eleven divisions (akshahunis) far [...]
Gita 01.28 – Explanation from Bhakti Shastri Class
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan Now for the first time [...]
Gita 01.29 – Explanation from Bhakti Shastri Class
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan Arjuna is describing further symptoms [...]
What Arjuna saw changed how he saw
In the Bhagavad-gita’s first chapter, when Arjuna wanted to see those on the opposite side, he referred to them as “allies of the evil-minded [...]
How could Arjuna speak when he couldn’t even hold his bow?
In the Bhagavad-gita’s first chapter, when Arjuna saw his relatives in the opposite army, he was so emotionally overwhelmed that his bow started slipping out [...]
Gita 01.27 – Explanation from Bhakti Shastri Class
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan In the middle of the [...]
Why the Gita begins with Dhirtarashtra’s words
The Bhagavad-gita is, as its very name indicates, God’s message in the form of a song. Why does the Gita begin with the words of [...]
Gita 01.25 – Explanation from Bhakti Shastri Class
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan Bg 1.25 bhīṣma-droṇa-pramukhataḥ sarveṣāṁ ca [...]
Why did Arjuna feel overwhelmed at Kurukshetra but not at Virata?
The Bhagavad-gita’s first chapter depicts how Arjuna was overwhelmed on seeing his relatives assembled on the battlefield of Kurukshetra (01.27). Why was Arjuna so [...]
Krishna’s only words in the Gita’s first chapter
In the Bhagavad-gita’s first chapter, Krishna speaks only once (01.25): “O Partha, behold the Kurus assembled on the battlefield.” And he speaks these [...]
Gita 01.14 – Explanation from Bhakti Shastri Class
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan Now the scene shifts to [...]
Why is the book called Bhagavad-gita when it contains words other than those of Bhagavan?
Among the Gita’s 700 verses, Krishna speaks 574 verses, Arjuna speaks 84, Sanjaya speaks 41 and Dhritarashtra 1. When the Gita contains words in addition [...]
Krishna’s remarkable first appearance in the Gita
In movies, the first appearance of the hero tells a lot about the hero’s character and about the movie’s caliber too. The first impression lasts. [...]
How re-envisioning the Gita can help us relish it more
The Bhagavad-gita is often seen as a philosophical treatise that contains many profound truths. While the Gita is certainly philosophical, it is simultaneously conversational. And [...]
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 [...]
How sorrow points us toward spirituality (Why the Gita’s first chapter matters 5)
How sorrow points us toward spirituality - Loss and the resulting sorrow are unpalatable yet unavoidable experiences during our life-journey. When we lose something desirable, [...]
Gita 01.45- Explanation from Bhakti Shastri Class
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan Now he will express the [...]
No time to think? (Why the Gita’s first chapter matters 4)
No time to think? - The Bhagavad-gita’s first chapter describes its setting: a battlefield where two huge armies were assembled, ready to fight. Wars are [...]
From the specific to the universal (Why the Gita’s first chapter matters 3)
From the specific to the universal - We learn best by an expert combination of the specific and the universal. Specifics catch our attention as [...]
The QUEST acronym (Why the Gita’s first chapter matters 1)
The QUEST acronym - The Bhagavad-gita is widely known as a book of profound philosophy. Why does such a book start with an entire chapter [...]