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− | Bhagavad Gita (Samskrit: भगवद्गीता) is a dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna, narrated in the Bhishma Parva of the Mahabharata. It comprises eighteen discourses of a total of 701 Sanskrit verses. On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Sri Krishna, during the course of His most instructive and interesting talk with Arjuna, revealed profound, sublime and soul-stirring spiritual truths, and expounded the rare secrets of Yoga, Vedanta, Bhakti and Karma.<ref>Swami Sivananda (2000), Bhagavad Gita, Uttar Pradesh: The DIvine Life Society, Preface.</ref> | + | Bhagavad Gita (Samskrit: भगवद्गीता) is a dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna, narrated in the Bhishma Parva of the Mahabharata. It comprises eighteen discourses of a total of 701 Sanskrit verses. On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Sri Krishna, during the course of His most instructive and interesting talk with Arjuna, revealed profound, sublime and soul-stirring spiritual truths, and expounded the rare secrets of Yoga, Vedanta, Bhakti and Karma.<ref name=":2">Swami Sivananda (2000), Bhagavad Gita, Uttar Pradesh: The DIvine Life Society, Preface.</ref> |
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| == The Purpose of Gita == | | == The Purpose of Gita == |
− | It is said that the Kurukshetra lies within us. Once born, there is no escape from this Kurukshetra within us.<ref name=":0" /> The modern man is greatly in need of an effective guide to light. He sees only problems everywhere and no | + | It is said that the Kurukshetra lies within us. Once born, there is no escape from this Kurukshetra within us.<ref name=":0" /> The modern man is greatly in need of an effective guide to light. He sees only problems everywhere and no solutions are to be found anywhere. He does not know which way to turn, what course to adopt and how to move towards a better state of things. Therefore, his life is filled with restlessness, unhappiness and complication. The Bhagavad Gita contains words of wisdom and practical teachings that contain the answers to the above-mentioned condition of the present-day individual.<ref name=":1">Swami Sivananda (2000), Bhagavad Gita, Uttar Pradesh: The DIvine Life Society, Forward.</ref> Lord Krishna guides us to face the kurukshetra boldly and defeat the rajasic and tamasic tendencies within us. And the Gita is the greatest guide he bestowed on us.<ref name=":0">http://hindu-sanathana-dharma.blogspot.com/</ref> |
− | solutions are to be found anywhere. He does not know which way to turn, what course to adopt and | + | |
− | how to move towards a better state of things. Therefore, his life is filled with restlessness, | + | == गीतामाहात्म्यम् ॥ The Greatness of Gita == |
− | unhappiness and complication. The Bhagavad Gita contains words of wisdom and practical | + | The Gita is the cream of the Vedas. It is the essence of the soul-elevating Upanishads. It is a universal scripture applicable to people of all temperaments and for all times. It is a book with sublime thoughts and practical instructions on Yoga, devotion, Vedanta and action. It is profound in thought and sublime in heights of vision. It brings peace and solace to souls that are afflicted by the three fires of mortal existence, namely, |
− | teachings that contain the answers to the above-mentioned condition of the present-day individual.<ref name=":1">Swami Sivananda (2000), Bhagavad Gita, Uttar Pradesh: The DIvine Life Society, Forward.</ref> Lord Krishna guides us to face the kurukshetra boldly and defeat the rajasic and tamasic tendencies within us. And the Gita is the greatest guide he bestowed on us.<ref name=":0">http://hindu-sanathana-dharma.blogspot.com/</ref> Talking of the Gita, Gita Mahatmya (as in the Padma Purana) says,<blockquote>सर्वोपनिषदो गावो दोग्धा गोपालनन्दनः । पार्थो वत्सः सुधीर्भोक्ता दुग्धं गीतामृतं महत् ॥४॥<ref>Abhinavagupta (March 1987), [https://ia800609.us.archive.org/12/items/HindiBook--shrimad-gitartha-sangraha-prabha-devi.pdf/HindiBook--shrimad-gitartha-sangraha-prabha-devi.pdf Shrimad Geetartha Sangraha], Kashmir: Normal Press.</ref></blockquote><blockquote>sarvopaniṣado gāvo dogdhā gopālanandanaḥ । pārtho vatsaḥ sudhīrbhoktā dugdhaṁ gītāmr̥taṁ mahat ॥4॥</blockquote>Meaning: All the Upanishads are cows; the Milker is Krishna, the cowherd boy; Partha (Arjuna) is the calf; men of purified intellect are the drinkers, the milk is the great nectar of the Gita.<ref name=":0" /> | + | * afflictions caused by one’s own body |
| + | * those caused by beings around one |
| + | * those caused by the gods. |
| + | It is said that, in all the spiritual literature of the world there is no book so elevating and inspiring as the Gita. It is the source of all wisdom and an inexhaustible spiritual treasure. It is a fountain of bliss, an ocean of knowledge. It is full of |
| + | divine splendour and grandeur. It is a book for eternity.<ref name=":2" /> |
| + | Talking of the Gita, Gita Mahatmya (as in the Padma Purana) says,<blockquote>सर्वोपनिषदो गावो दोग्धा गोपालनन्दनः । पार्थो वत्सः सुधीर्भोक्ता दुग्धं गीतामृतं महत् ॥४॥<ref>Abhinavagupta (March 1987), [https://ia800609.us.archive.org/12/items/HindiBook--shrimad-gitartha-sangraha-prabha-devi.pdf/HindiBook--shrimad-gitartha-sangraha-prabha-devi.pdf Shrimad Geetartha Sangraha], Kashmir: Normal Press.</ref></blockquote><blockquote>sarvopaniṣado gāvo dogdhā gopālanandanaḥ । pārtho vatsaḥ sudhīrbhoktā dugdhaṁ gītāmr̥taṁ mahat ॥4॥</blockquote>Meaning: All the Upanishads are cows; the Milker is Krishna, the cowherd boy; Partha (Arjuna) is the calf; men of purified intellect are the drinkers, the milk is the great nectar of the Gita.<ref name=":0" /> |
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| + | The Gita is a boundless ocean of nectar. It is the immortal celestial fruit of the Upanishadic tree.It is a rare and |
| + | splendid flower that wafts its sweet aroma throughout the world.<ref name=":2" /> |
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| === Message beyond barriers === | | === Message beyond barriers === |