Is it cowardly to avoid temptations?
On hearing the Bhagavad-gita’s recommendation to withdraw our senses from sense objects (02.58), some people object, “Isn’t it cowardly to avoid such temptations?” No, such [...]
Self-discipline: outside-in and inside-out approaches
For cultivating self-discipline, the Bhagavad-gita recommends two distinct approaches. Let’s understand these approaches. The outside-in approach: When discussing how we can stay steady amid worldly [...]
Gita 02.39 explained
2nd ch - 4th sec 38 to 53 -> Now Krishna will answer Arjuna's fear of sinful reaction argument. He will address it by [...]
Why does the Gita emphasize yoga more than dharma?
In the Bhagavad-gita, Arjuna’s driving question is about dharma, the right thing to do. Yet Krishna’s response contains far more references to yoga than to [...]
Gita 02.10 explained
BG 2.10 tam uvaca hrishikesah prahasann iva bharata senayor ubhayor madhye vishidantam idam vacah SYNONYMS tam -- unto him; uvaca -- said; hrishikesah -- [...]
Gita 02.04 explained
1-10: Arjuna’s further doubts and surrender BG 2.4 arjuna uvaca katham bhishmam aham sankhye dronam ca madhusudana ishubhih pratiyotsyami pujarhav ari-sudana SYNONYMS arjunah uvaca [...]
How could Krishna and Arjuna have had their entire discussion on a battlefield?
Some people ask, “What was everyone else in the two armies doing all that time when Krishna-Arjuna were deep in discussion?” They were waiting for [...]
How Krishna’s teachings in the Gita go far beyond the peace-war polarity
Given that Krishna speaks the Gita on a battlefield, we would expect it to discuss quite a bit about the two binaries: war or peace. [...]
Arjuna’s strong comeback to Krishna’s rebuke
When Krishna rebukes Arjuna for giving in to weakness (02.02-03), Arjuna’s response is not at all weak. He lets it be known that he is [...]
Gita 02.34 explained
31-38 is Karma Kanda (that is the first application of atma jana) And in next verse Krishna will talk about Kirti so remember Krishna [...]
How Krishna uses the same truth to prompt Arjuna to do opposite things
When Arjuna puts aside his bow (01.46) at the start of the Kurukshetra war, one way that Krishna urges Arjuna to pick up his bow [...]
Was Arjuna a pacifist?
Some people allege that Arjuna was a pacifist who was incited to fight by Krishna through the Gita’s message. Was Arjuna a pacifist? Yes, in [...]
Was Krishna a warmonger?
Some people allege that Krishna was a warmonger who goaded Arjuna into fighting. If Krishna had been a warmonger, why would he have personally gone [...]
Arjuna’s first question in the Gita: What is the right thing to do?
The Bhagavad-gita is God’s song as indicated in its very name. But it is a distinctive kind of song because its poetic verses answer Arjuna’s [...]
Gita chapter 2 summary – part 2
Raising Arjuna’s vision above material profit-loss considerations (02.38), Krishna explains that spiritual knowledge needs to be translated into a state of spiritual connectedness (02.39). The [...]
Gita chapter 2 summary – part 1
Though Arjuna has resolved to not fight, his situation still leaves him anguished (02.01). Wanting to relieve his agony, Krishna urges Arjuna to give up [...]
Gita 02.11 explained
2.11-2.30: counters first argument – compassion – by Gyana And now Krishna begins that is the next verse. BG 2.11 sri-bhagavan uvaca asocyan anvasocas tvam [...]
What Krishna’s first and last instructive words reveal
In the Bhagavad-gita, Krishna’s first instructive verse is 02.11. Though he speaks some verses earlier, those verses are either simply indicative (01.25) or friendly exhortative [...]
Gita 02.23 explained
BG 2.23 nainam chindanti sastrani nainam dahati pavakah na cainam kledayanty apo na soshayati marutah SYNONYMS na -- never; enam -- this soul; chindanti -- [...]
What the indestructibility of the soul implies — and what it doesn’t imply
Some people say, “Krishna tells Arjuna in the Gita that the soul is eternal — therefore, there’s nothing wrong in killing anyone.” That’s a distortion [...]
Why Krishna reproaches Arjuna in his first instructive verse
Krishna begins his instruction to Arjuna with a reproach: Though you speak learned words, you lament for that which is not worthy of lamentation (Bhagavad-gita [...]