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 [...]
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 [...]
The Gita’s seventeen questions at a glance
Out of the Bhagavad gita 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, [...]
Why does Krishna give Arjuna special eyes to see the universal form?
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 [...]
What is the universal form? Why does Arjuna want to see it?
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 [...]
What does the complex philosophy of the Gita’s thirteenth chapter mean for Arjuna?
The Bhagavad gita thirteenth chapter is its most philosophically dense chapter. How is all this philosophy relevant to Arjuna on the battlefield? What does the [...]
How Krishna is both impartial and reciprocal (Exploring the Gita chapter 9 series – 3)
How Krishna is both impartial and reciprocal - Suppose a cricket umpire constantly rules in favor of one side. That’s unfair, we will exclaim. We [...]
How Krishna is understanding not demanding
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, [...]
How Krishna is both universal and specific
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 [...]
How the thread of a loveable God links the Gita’s eleventh and twelfth chapters
How the thread of a loveable God links the Gita’s eleventh and twelfth chapters - After the revelation of the universal form in the Bhagavad-gita’s [...]
How Krishna addresses Arjuna’s apprehensions about the death of Bhishma
How Krishna addresses Arjuna’s apprehensions about the death of Bhishma - In the Bhagavad-gita, Krishna describes the death of the assembled warriors using two metaphors: [...]
Which form of God is most special: universal form four-handed form or two-handed form?
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 [...]
What is unprecedented about Krishna’s revelation of the universal form to Arjuna
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 [...]
How a thrilling vision turns chilling
How a thrilling vision turns chilling - In the Bhagavad-gita’s eleventh chapter, Arjuna beholds the universal form. What he speaks while beholding that cosmic theophany [...]
How the Gita describes the universal form
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 [...]
Why does Krishna reveal his form as time?
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 [...]
How Krishna’s teachings reflect both unity and diversity (Exploring the Gita chapter 5 series – 4)
How Krishna’s teachings reflect both unity and diversity - In the Bhagavad-gita, Krishna deems as childish those who consider sankhya and yoga to be different [...]
How can Arjuna see everyone equally and still fight? (Exploring the Gita chapter 5 series – 2)
How can Arjuna see everyone equally and still fight? - An often-quoted Bhagavad-gita verse recommends equality of vision (05.18): see everyone equally, because we all [...]
Arjuna’s repeated question (Exploring the Gita chapter 5 series – 1)
In the Bhagavad-gita’s fifth chapter, Arjuna asks essentially the same question that he asked at the start of the third chapter. “Should he work or [...]