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Srimad Bhagavad Gita : A Journey of Bhakti & Self Discovery

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The grand epic Mahabharata, written by Veda Vyasa is the repository of exceptional ancient wisdom, compiled astutely to represent the essence of Indian society. The text is divided into 18 Parvas, in which the Bheeshma Parva contains the famous Srimad Bhagavad Gita, arguably the most powerful gift of the Mahabharata to the world. Endowed to Arjuna standing on the brink of the war of Kurukshetra, Bhagavad Gita is also known as “Gitopnishad”, equating it to the Upanishads which form a part of the sacred Vedic corpus. Gita in its potencies is compared to the wish-fulfilling Kamadhenu cow and Kalpavriksha tree, since reading the book is believed to satiate one’s spiritual as well as material appetites.

Written in Sanskrit, the text of Srimad Bhagavad Gita is today read across the world in different languages, versions, and through the interpretations of many intellectuals. The original text along with its related books has formed an independent genre of books on Indian culture and religion. Let us delve deeper into the astute wisdom of Gita, through some of the most commonly posed questions around its components, themes, and meanings.


गीतामृत, श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता का हिन्दी काव्यानुवाद: Gita Amrita, Hindi Poetic Translation of Srimad Bhagavad Gita

What are the Topics Discussed by Srimad Bhagavad Gita?

Srimad Bhagavad Gita comprises 18 chapters or Adhyaya. Out of these the first six are dedicated to Karma-Yoga or union with the divine through action, the last six focus on Gyan-Yoga or the way of knowledge, and the middle part is dedicated to Bhakti or devotion.

1. Karma Yoga

Sri Krishna reveals the secret of action (karma) in this human realm to Arjuna in the Gita. According to Krishna, Karma should be done by an individual to please Him and all Karma should be dedicated to His lotus feet. Any action done in this manner becomes laced with Bhakti or devotion and is considered the highest level of Karma.

2. Gyana Yoga

A true seeker of knowledge, who begins the quest for wisdom by putting total faith in the benevolence of Sri Krishna, becomes the recipient of Brahma-gyana or supreme wisdom. Affection and devotion towards Him ensure the achievement of Gyana, thus Bhakti becomes key in the journey towards Brahma-gyana. 

3. Bhakti Yoga

The crown jewel and the primary message of the Srimad Bhagavad Gita are Bhakti or devotion. The other goals of Yoga (union with the divine) through Karma and Gyana are achievable only through Bhakti. The Vishwarupa of Sri Krishna, seen by Arjuna is comprehensible only to those who look at Him with nothing but devotion. In any way a person chooses in life, the preeminence of devotion is mandatory. Only in this manner, as per Sri Krishna, one can move towards Him. 

Devotion to the supreme divine, which is manifested in the Sri Krishna avatar, is the key and binding agent between action and knowledge. Thus, though Bhagavad Gita talks in great detail about Karma, Gyana, and Mukti (salvation), it gives primacy to Bhakti- pure and unwavering devotion to the divine, as the greatest way to achieve higher consciousness and true knowledge.

What are the Rules for Reading the Bhagavad Gita?

The Gita is a pious text for the Hindus who worship it and read it as the words of Lord Krishna himself. It is also read by a vast number of non-Hindus and people who approach it as a philosophical text leading to a contradiction in the ways of interacting with the book. Though there are no strict rules and rituals for reading Bhagavad Gita, one must be in a hygienic condition, place the book in a clean space and begin reading it with due respect and thoughtfulness. Only by esteeming the Gita as a priceless source of wisdom can one truly experience its magnificence.


गीतापथ: Gitapath

Is the Bhagavad Gita a Religious or Spiritual Book?

1. Religious Book

Among those who read the Bhagavad Gita as words sprouting from the mouth of Sri Krishna himself, the Gita is undoubtedly a sacred, religious book. In the literary tradition of Hinduism, the category of Vedanta- texts that supplement the Vedas as the last node of Vedic literature contains the Upanishads (Shrauta or heard tradition), Gita (Smarta tradition) and Brahmasutra (Philosophical tradition). In this manner, the Gita is a religious book that is an integral part of Hindu religious thought.

2. Spiritual Book

A second way of looking at Srimad Bhagavad Gita and its contents is how several world leaders and spiritual beings saw the book. Readers even today find relevant answers to their modern and everyday conundrums in the pages of the Gita. For them the universality in the message of the Gita is undeniable and its description of metaphysical ideas is beyond the watertight compartments of time, region, or religion. This makes the Srimad Bhagavad Gita a spiritual book, which is used by people belonging to different religions as a guidebook for navigating through their lives.

Which is the Best Hindi Translation of the Bhagavad Gita?

Any translation of the Bhagavad Gita by Gita Press, Gorakhpur can be read if one is looking for translations of the book. Srimad Bhagavad Gita (With Sadhak Sanjeevani Commentary by Swami Ramsukhdas) of Gita Press is an excellent Hindi translation of Bhagavad Gita, which provides the reader with a simple yet powerful version of Krishna’s sacred message. 

Bhagavad Gita in Hindu tradition is a one-of-its-kind book, filled with the holiness of the Vedas. The timelessness of Gita’s message can be seen from the fact that great sages such as Adi Shankaracharya and Ramanujacharya read and wrote commentaries on the text, starting a tradition of literature create around Gita which continues to date. People from different faiths and countries see a reflection of their lives in the pages of the Bhagavad Gita, which speaks for the awe-inspiring wide range of this ancient text. 

To explore the collection of Srimad Bhagavad Gita's original text, translations, and commentaries, visit Exotic India Art, and take a dip into this perennial stream of heavenly Indian wisdom. 

 

Sources-

 

>> Srimad Bhagavad Gita (With Sadhak Sanjeevani Commentary by Swami Ramsukhdas) of Gita Press

 

>> The Bhagavad Gita: With the Commentary of Sri Shankaracharya

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