The Bhagawat Gita-A Synopsis

By Venkataraman M

The Bhagawat Gita is one of the main religious literature in the Hindu way of life. It contains about 700 verses divided into 18 cantos. It is the essence of the philosophy contained in the Upanishads and is a part of the Mahabharata which describes the story of the Pandavas and the Kouravas. The development of the various incidents in the life of the Pandavas and the Kouravas ultimately leads to the war in Kurukshetra wherein the Pandavas finally win the battle.

When Arjuna, the great warrior of the Pandava brothers sees the Kourava army in the battlefield, he is overwhelmed with concern because they are all his kinsmen. He gets terrified. Not because of fear of battle but because of emotions.  Krishna who is the incarnation of the Almighty God was acting as his  charioteer. Arjuna tells Krishna, 'My limbs give way. My mouth is getting parched. I feel shaky. My bow slips from my hand. My skin burns all over. My mind is whirling as though I cannot hold on to myself. I see evil portends.' A conversation ensues between Krishna and Arjuna and this conversation is the Bhagawat Gita.

This book is a brief synopsis of the Bhagawat Gita.

• Language: English
• Publisher: M. VENKATARAMAN
• Release date: Mar 20, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215014813

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The Bhagawat Gita

A Synopsis

M. Venkataraman

Year of Publication-2022

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Copyright - M. Venkataraman

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M.Venkataraman,

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An audio book on this in three parts has  also been  published. The audio book also contains recitation of all the slokas of all the cantos of the Bhagawat Gita. The author himself has narrated the book and has also recited the slokas. This is available with leading audio booksellers. The audio book will be a good supplement for listening to the contents of this book and also all the slokas of the Bhagawat Gita.

Contents

Introduction

Canto 1

Canto 2

Canto 3

Canto 4

Canto 5

Canto 6

Canto 7

Canto 8

Canto 9

Canto 10

Canto 11

Canto 12

Canto 13

Canto 14

Canto 15

Canto 16

Canto 17

Canto 18

Books by the Author

Audio Books by the Author

Introduction

The Bhagavat Gita is well known. It is one of the main religious literature in the Hindu way of life. It is a part of the great epic Mahabharata which describes the story of the Pandavas and the Kouravas. The Pandavas represent the quality of righteousness and Kouravas that of unrighteousness. The development of the various incidents in the life of the Pandavas and the Kouravas ultimately leads to the war in Kurukshetra wherein the Pandavas finally win the battle.

The Pandavas and the Kouravas are the first cousins and so the war is one within the family. Arjuna, the great warrior among the Pandavas is face to face with his cousins on the battlefield. Bhagawan Krishna, one of the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu is acting as the charioteer to Arjuna.

When Arjuna sees the Kourava army, he is overwhelmed with emotion and concern because they are all his kinsmen. He feels as to why he should fight with his grandfather, the great Bhishma, his teacher, the respectable Dronacharya, his cousins, uncles and so on. Arjuna, the brave and great warrior, gets terrified. Not because of fear of battle but because of emotions.  He says ‘My limbs give way. My mouth is getting parched. I feel shaky. My bow the Gandipa slips from my hand. My skin burns all over. My mind is whirling all over as though I cannot hold on to myself. I see evil portends.’ So saying Arjuna drops his bow and arrows and sinks into the hinder parts of his chariot.

A conversation ensues between Krishna and Arjuna. The Gita presents whatever Krishna speaks as ‘Bhagawan uvacha’ meaning ‘The Almighty God says’. This is the greatness of this literature. Whatever is said comes from God. Krishna begins the systematic process of explaining why it is Arjuna's duty to fight. This conversation revolves around three major themes namely knowledge, action and devotion.

Krishna tells Arjuna that his grief is misplaced since the eternal soul, unlike the body, cannot be slain. He urges Arjuna to acquire the discriminative wisdom namely, the ability to distinguish the eternal from the transient. One can acquire this wisdom by cultivating steadiness of mind. Attainment of the stability of mind requires practice.

In so far as action is concerned, it is necessary for everyone to perform action. In fact, it is not possible to remain without action. But what is necessary is to perform all actions without a sense of attachment and without expecting the fruits of action. One must bring steadiness of mind into action. Through yoga, one can cultivate a sense of detachment from the outcome of action.

The third theme is Devotion to God. Krishna tells that we should dedicate all our action in devotion to God. God is the supreme