The Dhaarmik Traditions - Indic Studies Foundation

Chapter 5
The Essential teachings of the Bhagavad Gita
5.1 Introduction
भगवद् गीता
The discourse on the Bhagavad Gita begins before the start of the climactic battle at
Kurukshetra. It begins with the Pandava Prince Arjuna, as he is beset with doubt on
the battlefield. Realizing that his enemies are his own relatives, beloved friends, and
revered teachers, he turns to his charioteer and guide, Sri Krishna (an avatar of Sri
Vishnu), for advice.
Sri Krishna counsels Arjuna, beginning with the tenet that the soul is both eternal and
immortal. Any 'death' on the battlefield would involve only the shedding of the body
but the inner soul is permanent. Sri Krishna goes on to expound on the yogic paths of
devotion (Bhakti), action (Karma), meditation (Raja) and knowledge (Jnana).
Fundamentally, the Bhagavad Gita proposes that true enlightenment comes from
growing beyond identification with the Ego, the 'False Self', and that one must identify
with the Truth of the immortal Self, (the soul or Atman). Through detachment from the
material sense of Ego, the Yogi, or follower of a particular path of Yoga, is able to
transcend his illusory mortality and attachment from the material world and enter into
the realm of the Supreme.
To demonstrate his divine nature, Krishna grants Arjuna the boon of cosmic vision
(albeit temporarily) and allows the prince to see His 'Universal Form'. He reveals that
He is fundamentally both the ultimate essence of Being in the universe, and also its
material body. This is called the Vishvarupa/Viratrupa.
The Gita refers to the war as Dharma Yuddha, meaning a just war. Chapter 4, verse 7,
clearly states that God takes on incarnations to establish righteousness in the world.
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