Bhagavad Gita

This book is not The Hindu Book, only the one I am most familiar with. At my Sunday school, we read a few slokas, or verses, each time. The Bhagavad Gita is structured as a question-and-answer session between the god Krishna and his follower, Arjuna.

The story, said to have occurred three to five thousand years ago, begins with two groups of cousins: the Pandavas and the Kauravas. The Pandavas numbered only five brothers: Dharmaraja (the eldest), Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva (the youngest). They were well-known for their honesty and devotion to God. Their rivals, the Kauravas, were just as well-known for their treacherous and greedy ways. Jealous of their cousins, they continually schemed to conquer the Pandavas' kingdom. After many failures, Duryodhana, the head of the Kaurava family, invited the Pandavas to a game of gambling. With weighted dice, the evil cousins succeeded in driving the Pandavas from their kingdom. They agreed to an exile of 12 years, and a year in disguise upon their return. If any discovered the Pandavas' true identity, they would be punished with another 12 year exile, and another year long in hiding. When the Pandavas finally returned to their kingdom, expecting to regain their ruling positions, the Kauravas refused. Forced to fight, both families consulted Krishna. Duryodhana and Arjuna arrived at the same time, asking for Krishna's help. The God gave two options: Krishna's army, or His Person, which would not fight in the war. Arjuna chose Krishna as his charioteer, leaving Duryodhana elated with Krishna's massive army. On the day of the first battle, Arjuna rode with Krishna to the field. Seeing his entire family and all his teachers against him, the warrior called to Krishna to stop. He would not fight, he announced. His kingdom was not worth the lives of all his loved ones. Upon this pronouncement, Krishna began the Bhagavad Gita.

The Bhagavad Gita literally means "God's Song." Krishna delivered about 675 slokas concerning the nature of the soul, reincarnation, and, most importantly, the nature of duty. As a warrior, Krishna explains, Arjuna's duty lies in fighting. Death is not final, merely another stage in the cycle of reincarnation. Duty is above death, about good deeds and bad deeds, all sensations and emotions. The path to God demands detachment from all life, including the lives of his family. Duty is everything, and therefore Arjuna must fight. Upon hearing these slokas, Arjuna agreed to fight, and regained the kingdom.

Continue on The Paths to God/return to living room