The Bhagavad-gita’s first chapter contains the words of primarily two characters: Duryodhana (01.03-11) and Arjuna (01.21-23; 01.28-45). Why does the Gita include Duryodhana’s speech, when [...]
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan Bg 1.39 kula-kṣaye praṇaśyanti kula-dharmāḥ [...]
In the Bhagavad-gita, the last instructive verse spoken by Krishna is one of its most oft-quoted verses. Celebrated by Ramanujacharya as the Gita’s crest-jewel verse, [...]
In the Bhagavad-gita (17.15), Krishna outlines the characteristics of disciplined speech. Let’s consider how those characteristics are demonstrated by Krishna’s words in the Gita. Non-agitating: [...]
In the Bhagavad-gita’s first chapter, Arjuna refuses to fight, giving several reasons for his unexpected choice. Arjuna’s actions may evoke a wide range of reactions [...]
When faced with the gravity and brutality of war, soldiers sometimes choke, being overwhelmed by the chilling fear of deadly injury or even death. They [...]
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan So in next statement we [...]
In the Bhagavad-gita’s last verse (18.78), the narrator Sanjaya indirectly answers Dhritarashtra’s unspoken question in the Gita’s first verse (01.01). The blind king’s literal question, [...]
In the last verse that Krishna speaks in the Bhagavad-gita (18.72), Krishna asks Arjuna two questions: Has he heard attentively? And has his illusion been [...]
After Krishna reveals his message of love to Arjuna (18.64-66), he issues a surprising caveat (18.67): don’t share this message with the spiritually unevolved. Why [...]
Good movies often use plot twists to captivate their audiences. When events are moving in a particular direction and suddenly something unexpected happens, that makes [...]
The Bhagavad-gita is the song of God, or more precisely, Krishna’s poetic words of philosophical wisdom to Arjuna. Yet it’s noteworthy that the Gita begins [...]
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 [...]
Bg 4.18 karmaṇy akarma yaḥ paśyed akarmaṇi ca karma yaḥ sa buddhimān manuṣyeṣu sa yuktaḥ kṛtsna-karma-kṛt Synonyms: karmaṇi — in action; akarma — inaction; yaḥ — one who; paśyet — observes; akarmaṇi — in [...]
Apart from several general meanings of the word ‘karma’, the Bhagavad-gita uses this word in certain specific senses. Action that give good results: In this [...]
Bg 3.5 na hi kaścit kṣaṇam api jātu tiṣṭhaty akarma-kṛt kāryate hy avaśaḥ karma sarvaḥ prakṛti-jair guṇaiḥ Word for word: na — nor; hi [...]
Karma is among several Sanskrit words that have entered into mainstream English vocabulary. It is used widely to convey some sense of causality: some kind [...]
Confused by Krishna’s emphasis on knowledge in the fourth chapter (04.34-42) and especially by his concluding call to fight with the metaphorical sword of knowledge [...]
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan Bg 12.18-19 samaḥ śatrau ca [...]
Specifying a critical element in the acquisition of wisdom, Krishna highlights the importance of learning from the wise. Arjuna should reverentially approach seers who have [...]
Continuing his description of how the wise act without being bound, Krishna states that they give up worldly desires, discipline their mind, step away from [...]
