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 [...]
Gita 12.12 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan This is single most complicated [...]
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 [...]
Why does Krishna call those who approach him charitable?
While describing four kinds of people who approach him, Krishna appreciates them as pious and large-hearted. They are large-hearted in the sense that they are [...]
Gita 02.54 explained
Overview of second chapter (5 sections): 1-10 Arjuna’s question and further surrender. 11-30: Atma Jnana: Fight: As the soul is eternal, compassion for the [...]
Krishna’s first indirect self-revelation (Exploring Gita chapter 2 series – 5)
Krishna’s first indirect self-revelation - The Bhagavad-gita develops its message gradually and systematically. It starts by stressing our spiritual identity (02.13) and concludes by proclaiming [...]
Why our mood matters in our bhakti practice (Chatur-Shloki Gita analysis 10)
Why our mood matters in our bhakti practice - Suppose we meet someone whose words or gestures convey that they don’t want to be with [...]
Chatur-Shloki Gita illustrated in the Krishna-Arjuna relationship (Chatur-Shloki Gita analysis 8)
Chatur-Shloki Gita illustrated in the Krishna-Arjuna relationship - The Chatur-Shloki Gita (10.08-11) can be analyzed in terms of what devotees do for Krishna (10.08-09) and [...]
Chatur-Shloki Summarized in terms of reciprocation (Chatur-Shloki Gita analysis 7)
Chatur-Shloki Summarized in terms of reciprocation - If we read the Bhagavad-gita’s Chatur-shloki (its four-verse summary:10.08-11), it becomes evident that its essential theme is bhakti-yoga. [...]
Why speech matters so much in devotion (Chatur-Shloki Gita analysis 6)
Why speech matters so much in devotion - In its second verse, the Chatur-Shloki Bhagavad-gita (10.08-11) states the characteristics of the devoted in terms of [...]
Devotion is seen through dedication (Chatur-Shloki Gita analysis 5)
Devotion is seen through dedication - Suppose someone claims that they are strong patriots. On observing them, if we find that they hardly do anything [...]
Devotion changes our inner home (Chatur-Shloki Gita analysis 4)
Devotion changes our inner home - The Bhagavad-gita’s Chatur-Shloki (10.08-11) begins by stating that Krishna is the ultimate reality, loved by the enlightened (10.08). The [...]
How devotion balances the head and the heart (Chatur-Shloki analysis 3)
The first verse of the Chatur-Shloki characterizes those devoted to Krishna as buddha (enlightened) and bhava-samanvitah (infused with emotion). These two describers point to a [...]
The impact of knowing about God (Chatur Shloki Gita analysis 2)
The impact of knowing about God - The second half of the first verse of the Chatur-Shloki (10.08) states the result of knowing about Krishna: [...]
Defining and identifying the ultimate reality (Chatur-Shloki Gita analysis 1)
Defining and identifying the ultimate reality - The first verse (10.08) of the Chatur-Shloki Gita (10.08-11) gives the definition and identification of God. In its [...]
Gita 06.40 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya 38-45: If the mind deviates the [...]
How Krishna precedes enlightenment with encouragement (Balancing independence and guidance 7)
How Krishna precedes enlightenment with encouragement - In the Bhagavad-gita’s sixth chapter, Arjuna enquires about the fate of the unsuccessful yogi. In a question that [...]
Does the Gita’s conclusion contain a self-contradiction? (Balancing independence and guidance series 5)
Does the Gita’s conclusion contain a self-contradiction? - When nearing the end of the Bhagavad-gita (18.63), Krishna shows respect for Arjuna’s independence by stating: “Deliberate [...]
Gita 15.07 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan Chp15 Overview 1-6: Attain Liberation [...]