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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
The Bhagavad-gita’s thirteenth chapter is its most philosophically dense chapter. How is all this philosophy relevant to Arjuna on the battlefield? To understand, we need [...]
Suppose a cricket umpire constantly rules in favor of one side. That’s unfair, we will exclaim. We often extend this expectation of impartiality to all [...]
Some people think of God as demanding, but Krishna’s self-revelation in the Bhagavad-gita shows him to be a very understanding God. A demanding God expects, [...]
In the Bhagavad-gita, Krishna demonstrates a remarkable blend of both universality and specificity. Universality in analyzing for Arjuna a broad gamut of paths to choose [...]
After the revelation of the universal form in the Bhagavad-gita’s eleventh chapter, Arjuna’s question at the start of the twelfth chapter seems like a non [...]
In the Bhagavad-gita, Krishna describes the death of the assembled warriors using two metaphors: they are like rivers entering into an ocean (11.28) and like [...]
Which form of God is most special: universal form, four-handed form or two-handed form? The universal form revealed by Krishna in the Bhagavad-gita’s eleventh chapter [...]
In the Bhagavad-gita’s eleventh chapter, Krishna states twice that his revelation of the universal form is unprecedented (11.06: adrishta-purvani, 11.47: na drishta-purvam). Arjuna too confirms [...]
In the Bhagavad-gita’s eleventh chapter, Arjuna beholds the universal form. What he speaks while beholding that cosmic theophany (11.15-31) gives us a sense of his [...]
The Bhagavad-gita uses a distinctive structure for introducing the universal form. First, Krishna explains to Arjuna what he will be showing; then, Sanjaya explains to [...]
When Arjuna asks Krishna to display the universal form, Krishna obliges, but also displays something extra: his form as time. Why this bonus revelation? Because [...]
In the Bhagavad-gita, Krishna deems as childish those who consider sankhya and yoga to be different (05.04). Here, sankhya refers to metaphysical analysis that entails [...]
An often-quoted Bhagavad-gita verse recommends equality of vision (05.18): see everyone equally, because we all are souls. In the Gita’s immediate context, this verse raises [...]