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 chapter 1 summary
The Bhagavad-gita’s first chapter usually has two titles: observing the armies or Arjuna’s lamentation. These titles broadly indicate the two main sections of the chapter. [...]
Gita 15.10 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan Bg 15.10 utkrāmantaṁ sthitaṁ vāpi [...]
Why does Krishna analyze yajna dana and tapa in the three modes?
When analyzing faith in the three modes in the Bhagavad-gita’s seventeenth chapter, Krishna focuses on three particular activities: yajna (sacrifice), dana (charity) and tapa (austerity). [...]
How does knowing Krishna enable Arjuna to know everything
In the Bhagavad-gita’s fifteenth chapter, Krishna declares (15.19) that those who know him truly know everything. What does this statement mean for Arjuna? First, to [...]
How do the Gita’s eyes of knowledge help Arjuna
In the Bhagavad-gita’s fifteenth chapter (15.07), Krishna cautions that our senses can mislead us, subjecting us to stress and distress. This caution echoes events in [...]
How can Arjuna practice undeviating bhakti when the modes are causing his deviation?
On the Kurukshetra battlefield, Arjuna was deviated by the lower modes — under their influence, he was fixating on the agony of fighting against his [...]
How Krishna helps Arjuna make philosophical sense of his inner conflict
Krishna demonstrates how to make philosophy relevant when presenting the concept of the modes in the Bhagavad-gita’s fourteenth chapter. Krishna first outlines the main characteristics [...]
Why is Krishna’s description of devotion so unemotional?
In the Bhagavad-gita’s twelfth chapter, Krishna’s list of qualities of devotees (12.13-20) don’t include any descriptions of devotional ecstasy. Far from it, the list stresses [...]
What Krishna’s promise of deliverance means for Arjuna
In the Bhagavad-gita’s twelfth chapter (12.07), Krishna declares that he personally delivers from the ocean of material existence those who devotedly fix their minds on [...]
Why does Krishna take sides when he is equal to everyone?
Krishna states in the Bhagavad-gita’s ninth chapter he is equal to everyone (09.29). Then why is he taking one side on the Kurukshetra battlefield: Arjuna’s, [...]
Gita 07.14 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya So now naturally the question will [...]
If everything happens by Krishna’s will was Duryodhana too doing Krishna’s will?
In the Bhagavad-gita’s tenth chapter, Krishna declares that material nature works under his supervision (09.10). Some may find this declaration similar to a common saying, [...]
Gita 07.23 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Bg 7.23 antavat tu phalaṁ teṣāṁ [...]
What Krishna’s warning about the power of the illusory energy means for Arjuna
In the Bhagavad-gita’s seventh chapter, Krishna warns that the illusory energy is formidable (07.14). Later, he specifies her three principal agents: lust, anger and greed [...]
Gita 08.28 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Bg 8.28 vedeṣu yajñeṣu tapaḥsu caiva [...]
Was Arjuna less intelligent in worshiping the devatas?
In the Bhagavad-gita’s seventh chapter, Krishna’s statement (07.23) is sometimes read to imply that the worshipers of the devatas (cosmic administrators) are less intelligent (alpa-medhasam). [...]
Why does Krishna follow his call for ‘surrender’ with ‘go’ not ‘come’?
Some Gita interpreters highlight the word ‘vraja’ in the Bhagavad-gita’s concluding verse (18.66), emphasizing that its literal meaning is ‘go’, not ‘come.’ That Krishna wants [...]
Gita 10.15 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan Bg 10.15 svayam evātmanātmānaṁ vettha [...]
Do Krishna’s third-person references in the Gita point to some higher Divinity other than Krishna?
Some Gita interpreters claim that Krishna is just a medium for transmitting the wisdom coming from some higher, impersonal divinity. To support this, they point [...]
How can we know Arjuna’s understanding of Krishna’s position?
To know Arjuna’s understanding, we need to look at his words in the Gita. Arjuna’s words fall in four categories: Questions, which he asks throughout [...]