Chapters in Bhagvat Gita

Chapters included in Bhagvat Gita are as follows:


1. Chapter 1 - Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kuruksetra
2. Chapter2 - Contents of the Gita Summarized
3. Chapter 3 - Karma yoga
4. Chapter4 - Transcendental Knowledge
5. Chapter 5 - Karma yoga - Action in Krsna Consciousness
6. Chapter 6 - Dhyana -yoga
7. Chapter 7 - Knowledge of the Absolute
8. Chapter 8 - Attaining the Supreme
9. Chapter 9 - The Most Confidential Knowledge
10. Chapter10 - The Opulence of the Absolute
11. Chapter 11 - The Universal Form
12. Chapter 12 - Devotional Service
13. Chapter 13 - Nature, the Enjoyer and Consciousness
14. Chapter 14- The Three Modes of Material Nature
15. Chapter 15 - The Yoga of the supreme Person
16. Chapter 16 - The Divine and Demoniac Natures
17. Chapter 17 - The Divisions of Faith
18. Chapter 18 - Conclusion - The Perfection of Renunciation.

What is Bhagvad Gita?

Well everyone has heard a lot about Bhagvad Gita, but very few actually can get the actual knowledge hidden in Bhagvat Gita. One of such persons is His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada -founder of ISKCON. Bahgvat Gita As it is , is a exemplary work of translating the sanskrit verses into simple understandable english for a general mass of people.

The whole purpose of Reading Bhagavat Gita is not to solve our economic ,social, work or family problems, but to know the real pupose of our very existence. This great literature if read carefully and with full concentration will give you all answers to everyones problem. Bhagavat Gita is said to be the first step in the ladder of spiritual understanding.

One may ask why is this spiritual Understaning necessary. The answer to this is very vividly explained in the Gita. The First chapter starts with the real identity of ourselves as spirit souls and not the body which one is possessing. Hence we are trapped as spirit souls in these material bodies. This concept is very elobarely explained with relevant examples in the Gita. This is lesson one in Bhagavat Gita which further mitigates all the miseries and the misconceptions we are all illusioned under because of the bodily concept of life.

Thus Bhagavat Gita has in all 18 Chapters. Gradually as you advance through Gita , answers to the Questions like, Who are we? What are we doing here ? What is the purpose of our existence? Why are we forced to accept this body? Why are we sufferring various miseries? How to get out of this misery? What are the procedures to be followed? Who is the Supreme Being?What is his nature? How is he related to us ? any much more things are explained .
But the main purpose of Bhagvat Gita is to know GOD and our relation with him.

Universal Form of Lord Sri Krishna

Baby Krishna

Why one should read Bhagavat Gita?

1. For people with First Misconception :

“Bhagavat Gita is very intense and grave subject matter beyond our understanding”

Suppose we believe the above hypothesis

Proof:

Bhagavat Gita is spoken by Lord Sri Krishna , to Arjun who was a military man , a householder. He wasn’t a philosopher , not a scientist or a vedantist or a Brahmin.

Arjuna was a very dear friend of Lord Sri krishna and a great devotee. He understood Gita when he took Sri Krishna as his teacher, without arguing with him on any point , which means one has to understand Gita as a devotee of the Lord , thus taking each word of Bhagavat Gita to be true. Even if it does not suit ones belief or faith. Faith can be changed to streamline with the teachings of Bhagavat Gita. There should not be any difficulty in changing of faith for a sane man , since he knows that faith is temporary since different people have faith in different things as per their own mental comfort. But Bhagavat Gita is for everyone , as proved by Arjuna.

The subject matter is certainly very intense and grave, hence it requires that a person accepts the teachings of the LORD without interpretations and apply it practically to see its effect. But one has to remember one has to read it very seriously submissively and everyday and apply what is learned on a daily basis. But is should be noted that though the subject matter is grave and intense it is not impossible to understand it, since GOD is for everyone and he will not give instructions to only certain intelligent class of people. Only qualification hence required is to be a devotee and sincerely take the teaching to heart and execute them with determination.

2. For people with Second Misconception :

“Bhagavat Gita is a Hindu Scripture I will read my own Scripture”

Proof:

Archaelogical findings 2000 years ago prove the existence of INDUS valley , which was a Vedic Civilization , there were no Hindus, Muslims or Christians then. All these sects have been made recently by men according to their different followers. Hence it can be safely concluded that 5000 years ago there was only Vedic culture all over the world.

Hence Bhagavat Gita was spoken by GOD for everyone, not specifically for Hindus. When a group of people formed the Hindu sect, they accepted Bhagavat Gita as their scripture hence this misconception.

Bhagavat Gita is a scientific book which explains the anatomy of a human being, his functions, purpose of existence, How to be happily situated in his work, his duties and how to execute them which is beyond the mundane or modern day science. So it is a practical book of guidance which will take you through life without being trapped in grave miseries.

If some one argues that their scriptures are equally informative, then reading them carefully, to find the answers to above questions should be the purpose.

3. For People with Third Misconception:

“ Bhagavat Gita is a book of religion and todays world is more about being practical, It might have been true 5000 years ago, but not today”

Proof:

Human Beings existed 5000 years ago and are existing today. They had the same problems of birth, disease, old age and death 5000 years ago and they have the problems still today. Infact 5000 years ago the people suffering due to miserable conditions of health , mental disorders and physic problems, suicides were less as compared to today. So as per modern world if everyone is thinking we have advanced then think again. By advancing in technology we have shortened our life span and invited even more troubles like, cold wars, pollution, terrorists atomic bombs which only increase our miseries rather than mitigating them.

So all these problems has infact increased the necessity of understanding the teachings of Sri Krishna , through Bhagavat Gita in todays world and applying them for good.

Stalwarts and Famous personalities like Mahatama Gandhi , Albert Eistien were dedicated students of Bhagavat Gita who were born in the modern age.

4. For People with Fourth Misconception:

“As long as you are living enjoy, earn money and spend as you wish since life is short and there is nothing after death”

Proof:

The first conception which deny’s life after death is wrong , since we are in a cycle of brith and death and how our work is resulting our next birth is very vividly explained in Bhagavat Gita with practical instances. Which has to be known by general populace. But in order to understand that people have to let go of this attitude of enjoying life by partying every moment, since it is not practically possible to party every moment. As long as you have money and people to enjoy with the idea seems good, but on an average if you scrutinize this enjoyment is only for a few years in young age and then once they get older the energy and enthusiasm to enjoy is extinguished , Moreover the mind and intelligence become weak and the ambition to earn more money and have more fun becomes to diminish. Also After enjoying the materially for so long one is bored with the same party and same things over and over again and he comes to a point where he nolonger enjoys and , he is left alone with nothing but confusion as to what is to be done in life.

Bhagavat Gita gives a method to live happily enjoying whatever material gains you need through out life , without much hassels. The best part is this happiness never diminishes it increases with time. It looks difficult to follow the instructions of Bhagavat Gita at start but once you follow them with determination happiness is assured.

5. For people with Fifth Misconception :

“ Bhagavat Gita is for old people and we will enjoy our youth and then read it when we are old”

That is a very good plan, but the problem is, Bhagavat Gita is science which has to be understood as early in one’s life as possible, since , it requires a little intelligence and brain power to understand Bhagavat Gita. Also since it is a practical science unless it is practically applied it is impossible to understand the philosophies, which are not possible in old age. Old age diminishes the mental strength and intelligence, Also when one is old , there is not much scope left to practice the teachings.

Hence sooner the better should be the plan.

6. For People with Sixth Misconception:

“I don’t believe in GOD , show me GOD if there is GOD”

For such people I have a counter question , Let them answer if they are so confident that there is no GOD.

“ I don’t believe in air , show me Air if there is air”

As you cannot see air, but you feel it, similarly you have to feel the presence of GOD around you.

Infact You can feel the presence of GOD in all the material things present around you, Only if you have a observing eye and a little intelligence. One may see the natural resources, iron ore, mountains, sky, fire, trees, animals, so many varieties of living entities, so the Question is Who made all this. Certainly not humans. So where have all these things come from, some body must have made it. Well the answer is that is GOD.

Still if you wish to see GOD you have to read his teachings first and be qualified to understand him and then you can see Him. So reading Bhagavat Gita is the first step towards seeing GOD.

Bhagavat Gita -Lost treasure

Some 5000 year Ago the Creator of this world Lord Sri Krishna , spoke the Bhagavat Gita to a exalted devotee Arjuna for the enlightenment of everyone and to teach the people in general of their goal of existence.

5000 years later in the Modern world , Bhagavat Gita is know as a Hindu religious scripture and is studies with great interest by many , to interpret it as per their whims. The essence of Bhagavat Gita could be understood only when it is accepted as Arjuna did 5000 years ago , as stated by Srila Prabhupada – Founder acharya of ISKCON.

Common Misconceptions:

Misconception1

Common populace is under the impression that Bhagavat Gita is something very grave and intense book of knowledge which is beyond their understanding, so they just don’t bother to read it. Unless you have actually experienced or read Bhagavat Gita, the assumption that it is not for common people is unintelligent . Infact 5000years ago it was spoken to Arjuna, who was a fighter, not any scholar. Moreover he understood it perfectly and carried out the orders of Sri Krishna. As stated by Prabhupada and from Vedic wisdom that only qualification needed to understand Bhagavat Gita is to understand it submissively, considering yourself to be a devotee of Sri Krishna. Thinking that whatever is said in the Gita is true since it is spoken by GOD, and at any moment we don’t try to interpret the teachings of Gita. The teachings in Gita are forbidden from interpreting since, interpretations are done by human beings who are imperfect ,as we all know we are always prone to make mistakes, we some times get illusioned .But God is perfect so his teachings can never be wrong.

Misconception 2

Some other people think that Bhagavat Gita is a scripture of Hindus. This misconception holds no ground either, since 5000 years ago there was no Hinduism, Christianism, or Muslimism, only religion followed then was Vedic. This is proved from the excavations of Indus Valley which was more than 2000 years ago. Hindus happen to accept it as their scripture on the basis of the profound scientific knowledge it possesses. Some people even think that since it is a religious scripture it talks about the moral codes what a person living in this world should follow, again this is a wrong conception since, Bhagavat Gita is a scientific book of knowledge which is beyond the mundane knowledge. It explains more about the real indentity of living entity, its nature, its relation with this material nature or this world and its relation with the Supreme living entity GOD.

Misconception 3

Some also think Gita is a book which talks about religion and so they read it as a novel and never try to understand what actually it says. This conception is also wrong since, Bhagavat Gita is not a philosophical literature written by some mundane person, it is practical science and can be applied in your life which would lead to happy life, if read properly from proper sources.

Misconception 4

Many people are misled today that only objective of their lives is to earn money live happily enjoying all kinds of sense enjoyment common phrase used by modern generation in “living in the moment”. Some people even think that life is to have fun, drink, party and enjoy. Such people often find out in their later stages of lives that they are in constant distress, till end of their lives. This happens because while they are young and rich they forget that this enjoyment is temporary. Everyone gets old and when there is no one to enjoy with, lonliness leads to all kinds of mental stress and physic disorders.

Misconception 5

Also many of the young people think that reading Bhagavat Gita or going to temples is for old people and they shall pursue it when they become old, till then enjoy. Well by the time a person grows old, he has already lost most of his life working and struggling hard for sense gratification, and at this point the person is habituated to the sense gratification and also the intelligence and mind becomes weak to grasp the concepts of Bhagavat Gita due to the disturbed mindset. So sooner people realize better will be the outcome.

Misconception 6

Some others today defy the existence of GOD. They say they don’t believe in GOD, this is like saying that I do not believe in air. You do not see air but you feel it , Similarly you cannot see GOD that does not mean GOD does not exists, you have to feel His presence and for that to happen the senses have to be developed so that One can feel GOD.

Moreover, If there is no GOD how can anyone explain the existence of so many natural resources , like , Iron ore , Trees, Oil, Stones, Mountains, Snow, etc, which man uses to make buildings, roads, or for that matter every material thing. Also the variety of living entities present around us. If you observe our surroundings, you will find that everything existing is not manufactured by humans, Infact human beings just manipulate the existing resources for their use. If one believes that it is nature, that’s how things work, then one should be aware that nothing is created or manufactured by chance or nothing drops from the sky and automatically exists, there has to be a controller to produce all the things we see around us. This is also found in our daily dealings, Even when we manufacture some thing, there are people behind it, some one uses intelligence some one is a controller etc. So how is that we can believe that such a complex creation where in human, animals, trees exist was created by chance. Also the human body which is so complex is not possible to be created by chance or from monkeys as some of the evolutions theories teach us.

So these misconceptions and many such other misconceptions have occupied the minds of the people and have diverted innocent and sincere people from the real knowledge which should be perceived by the every human being, since, human beings are bestowed with higher intelligence than the other animals or living entities by GOD, which should be used for higher pursuits. The things going on at present are centered on eating, sleeping, mating and defending in every aspect of human life which is seen also in the animals and they are living comfortably, without creating any industries or bars or sophisticated computers or atomic bombs. They are regularly supplied with the four necessities of life namely eating, sleeping, mating and defending, so why should a human being worry so much for these four things, they will be supplied as much one deserves as per his actions in previous lives by the arrangement of GOD.

Now some might say this article has been written by someone who is imperfect a human being how can we believe all this. For that I have experienced the difference in the life before and after reading Bhagavat Gita. Therefore it is not something which could be explained and people can understand. Best way to understand is to experience it by reading Bhagavat Gita. Hence I request you to please visit the following sites and just take some time to read some of the literatures which will appeal to a sane man. People in ISKCON are doing a great humanitarian work, look at the scientific evidences which will convince you at the authenticity and importance of All important and the Greatest book of all BHAGVAT GITA , which has being lost due to ignorance of this age.

http://www.gitamrta.org/audio/english/bg_english.html

www.krishna.com

http://www.prabhupadavani.org/

http://www।krishnascience.com/

http://www.gitananda.org/wisdom-from-the-gita/index.php

You can also order a copy of Bhagvat Gita As it is through krishna.com.

You can find more links in the first link (gitamrta)

Everything written in this article is taken from the lectures of Srila Prabhupada-founder acarya of ISKCON and his teachings which can be seen in various sites listed above.