BHAGAVAD GITA

RESOURCE AND RECOURSE TO MANKIND

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When doubts haunt me, when disappointments stare me in the face, and I see not one ray of
hope on the horizon, I turn to Bhagavad-Gita and find a verse to comfort me; and I
immediately begin to smile in the midst of overwhelming sorrow. Those who meditate on the
Gita will derive fresh joy and new meanings from it every day." – Mahatma Gandhi

Bhagavad Gita is a compendium of knowledge which translates into devotion, spirituality and
philosophy which every mankind requires in distress, happiness, love and togetherness. If a
series of questions disturb us for a peaceful living, the Gita finds us an answer. We are all in
the same state of mind one time or another as Arjuna was in the battle field. Love for
relatives, respect for Gurus, caring for friends and illusion of own powers. His thoughts were
not different from our thoughts. Our feeble mind always comes at cross roads when we have
to decide what is right and wrong, what is to be done and not to be. Our mind will not be able
to direct us to the right path of righteousness. In such situations when perplexed mind fails to
understand the karma and action, duty and perfection, happiness and sorrow, Bhagavad Gita
will find us right answers and perfect direction to reach the God. It is a marvel to find
answers to revelations of life. It suits to everybody’s needs. It does not cite a specific path for
all. Purely the decision is of the reader. Whether it speaks of Karma yoga, Bhakti yoga or
Jnana yoga, the reader has to choose a path which he can tread easily provided his ultimate
goal is to reach the Lord. It is an ancient philosophical classic happened in Dwapara yuga, but
holds good and even more relevant today. It awakes the spiritual righteousness and
transforms ordinary lives into extraordinary. It has an universal application. It is essence of
vedas and cream of all upanishads.

Each one of us is a jewel. We need to cut the loose ends, polish it and then we will shine. Gita
tells us how to do it in simple lucid way. When Lord says, “Leave everything to me in
devotion, I will take care of you”, what additional assurance is required to mankind. He also
said that he is there to protect the righteous people. He indirectly advised that one has to be
righteous in his actions, words, thoughts, character and heart. He also indicated in Chapter
10, Stanza 11 that he would dwell upon in our hearts to destroy darkness and ignorance by
shining the lamp of knowledge. We only have to realize this truth and direct ourselves to
steer into right path. Rest will be taken care by HIM and it has Lord Krishna’s assurance.

PATH SHOWN BY LORD.

The righteousness to good life was prescribed by the Lord in three chapters, namely Karma
Yoga (Yoga of action), Bhakti Yoga (Yoga of renunciation of action) and Jnana Yoga (Yoga
of wisdom).

KARMA YOGA

Karma yoga is the unlimited sacrifice of all our actions both inward (thought) and outward
(action) to the Lord to synchronize our energies and austerities.

Bhagavad Gita preaches one to do his duty. Lord Krishna said that “you have the right to do
your duty and but never to its results. Let not the fruits of action be your motive nor let your
attachment be to inaction.” One day two men were walking on the banks of a river. They
suddenly found that two young ladies were drowning in the river. Both jumped into the river
and saved their lives. One of them asked a lady to marry him. The other man said to the other
lady that God had given him an opportunity to save her and he has done bounden duty
bestowed upon him. He saluted the lady and thanked her for giving him an opportunity to
save her. Infact both men have done the same act, ie saving the ladies but the results expected
out of their actions were different. The first man was caught in the web of materialistic
perversions and expected a result of his actions. The second one has in spirit followed what
Lord Krishna said above. Our actions should lead to attainment of the Lord and not to
attachments of worldly pleasures. “Keep your thoughts positive because your thoughts
become your words. Keep your words positive because your words become your behaviours.
Keep your behaviours positive because your behaviours become your habits. Keep your
habits positive because your habits become your values. Keep your values positive because
your values become your destiny.”   (Mahatma Gandhi). This exactly replicates what Lord
had preached in the theory of Karma Yoga.

One should have right attitude to do a right activity with a right motive to the best of his
ability. He should always leave the results to God. Once, a poor man has cultivated
thotakoora (vegetable crop) in the backyard of his house. When the crop was plenty, he
distributed it to all people. Pleased with the actions of the poor man, God had given him
plenty of Gold to live rest of the life happily. Taking a clue out of it, the King of the town
also grew plenty of thotakoora and distributed to everyone in the town. Despite having
capacity to give better in alms, the king preferred to give thotakoora only. God had given him
more vegetable crop than giving gold. The karma yoga preaches that one should do karma to
the best of his ability.

BHAKTI YOGA

Lord Krishna elaborately discusses the role of devotion, devotional worship, adoration to
one’s personal deity. The concept of Bhakti does not end with sitting at home and spending
hours in devotion. It also includes singing prayers, conducting satsang (holy congregation),
and group bhajans in the praise of the lord. Visiting holy places and taking direction from
guru are also the part of bhakti yoga. Lord says in chapter XIV (verse 26) that those who
serve him with the unswerving yoga of devotion, transcending the gunas (qualities) gains the
qualification to become like unto Brahman.

There is a relation between Karma yoga and Bhakti Yoga. While the former teaches
individualistic approach through action of self, the latter speaks about the method of
detachment through participation. Both options prescribed by the Lord will ultimately lead to
the path of the Godhead.

JNANA YOGA

Once a person perfects Karma and Bhakti yogas, there is no ending to him. His soul now
craves for reaching the abode of the Lord and that what precisely is Jnana yoga. It is evident
from verse 38 of chapter IV that there is no parallel and pious as is obtaining jnana. Those
disciples who achieved this state would eventually obtain that state of peace. In the next
verse, Lord said that those who have faith in the words of Guru and devotion to the
scriptures, concentrated actions, and who won over the desires of the materialistic body
would easily obtain jnana and such person would obtain eternal peace. This state of
renunciation will be achieved only when one passes through both Karma Yoga and Bhakti
Yoga.

CONCLUSION

Thus human journey is a river. It separates itself from the place of birth. During its course of
flowing adds up several rivulets, gathers mass, sand, dirt and filth. It grows in size and
sometimes turns turbulent. When it finally merges with a mighty ocean, it leaves behind all
its credentials and qualities. The final destination is mightier than what it was when it started
its journey. The essence of Bhagavad Gita is, whatever path a human being chooses, the
culmination should be in merging with the God.

The day when Sanjay revealed the discourse between Lord Krishna and Arjuna on the battle
field of Kurushetra to the universe is celebrated as Gita Jayanti. On this great day, let us take
the blessings of this magnum opus, Bhagavad Gita.

Om Paarthaaya pratibodhitaam bhagavataa Naaraayanenaswayam, 

Vyaasena grathitaam puraanamuninaa madhye Mahaabhaaratam; 
Advaitaamritavarshineem bhagavateem ashtaadashaa dhyaayineem, 
Amba twaam anusandadhaami bhagavadgeete bhavadweshineem. 

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CONTRIBUTED BY : P.T.S. MURTHY