The Bhagavad Gita – A Summary
The Bhagavad Gita opens up on a scene overlooking a battlefield between two armies. The armies are divided and consist of old, middle-aged, and young men. We read about Arjuna’s army lined up and composed of fathers, sons, and teachers being described as fearless warriors and loyal servants to Arjuna.
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Arjuna views his opponent’s army and sees that they also have sons, fathers, and teachers on the opposing side. Arjuna asks to be set in between these armies to speak with Krishna about his fear of fighting for the love of humanity.
Arjuna expresses to Krishna that he is sad and drops his weapons on the battlefield to make a statement that he does not want to fight. Krishna then explains that it is OK to fight because he cannot kill another person’s soul, the soul will travel into another body after it leaves the body of the deceased.
If he gives up, he will live in dishonor which is worse than dying. Arjuna asks how could this be and Krishna takes the opportunity to introduce Yoga, the state of perfect balance and peace with harmony. Krishna emphasizes the importance of being good. This takes the sacrifice of wants and desires.
Arjuna asks “What is it that makes men evil?”. Krishna answers with “desire”; it clouds the minds of all men. Krishna also instructs Arjuna to fight to set the proper example of duty.
Because of man’s wants and desires, he must strive to be good explains Krishna. A man should work and be happy with what is given to him. This is how man will move forward in his life to attain Nirvana.
Chapter Four ends with Krishna glorifying transcendental knowledge and requesting Arjuna to arm himself with this knowledge and fight! But after hearing about working hard and attaining knowledge, Arjuna is still perplexed about why he should fight. Krishna continues explaining that although independent and aloof, He pervades, creates, and annihilates the entire cosmos through His material energy.
Krishna then explains the fortunate position of such devotees: If one worships Krishna, Krishna cares, compensates for his deficiencies, and preserves his strengths. There is a lot of focus on having knowledge and energy. A person must constantly study and be aware of their state of being.
Krishna then tells of his divine manifestations within this world – the Super soul, the ocean, the Himalayas – which merely indicate His limitlessness. Arjuna notices that God is still in his two–arm form, so he asks him to show himself in the Universal all-mighty form. Krishna responds that any God who talks about being the all-mighty God must show proof of this claim.
Krishna then shows his “celestial forms of innumerable shapes and colors”. Krishna must first give Arjuna divine site and when he does, Arjuna sees Krishna as time, from many dimensions – it is all infinite. Having seen this firsthand, Arjuna devotes himself to Krishna without a doubt. Krishna can only be known through surrendering oneself to devotion and service to the all-mighty.
The devote should always think, worship, and offer all homage to Krishna.
Arjuna returns to the battlefield and is ready for combat. Remembering the two-armed Krishna, Arjuna is set on winning the battle in honor of Krishna.
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