Seeking guidance from Krishna
Bad situations can explain bad decisions, but they don't excuse bad decisions. Life sometimes puts even the best of us in bad situations. That means [...]
How to deal with trauma
There has been an alarming increase in the number of people, especially war veterans, suffering from PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder). The cause of PTSD is [...]
Gita 01.01 explained
Chapter 1 – OverviewTotal 46 verses, preparation for Krishna to speak His message. In the original Mahabharata written by Srila Vyasa Deva, and the Mahabharata [...]
Gita 01.01 explained: How each word of the Bhagavad-gita’s first verse is pregnant with meaning — 2
Let's look at the significance of the last three components of the Bhagavad-gita 01.01: Historical significance (samaveta yuytsavah): Literally, this describes the juncture when the [...]
Gita 01.01 explained: How each word of the Bhagavad-gita’s first verse is pregnant with meaning — 1
The Bhagavad-gita’s first verse (01.01) can be said to have six key components: dhritarashtra uvaca, dharma-kshetra, kuru-kshetra, samavetah yuyutsavah, mamakah pandavas caiva and kim akurvata. [...]
The cause of fights — a deeper examination
Whenever fighting breaks out between two sides, we may naturally ask: “What is the cause?” While a particular issue may be stated as the cause, [...]
Understanding the message of silence
Suppose we are discussing an important issue with an expert. To understand their position on the issue, we will contemplate the words they speak. Significantly, [...]
Gita 01.19 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan Now after they blew it [...]
Why Arjuna’s refusal to fight was like a mental knock-out blow for his army
War is not just a physical conflict between two armies; it is also a mental conflict between the fighting spirit of the two armies. And [...]
How the Bhagavad-gita’s first chapter spotlights the power of the Gita’s message
If a coach had given a good motivational talk to their team before a major match, we might be somewhat interested in what the [...]
Gita 01.36 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan Now after describing this Arjuna [...]
The tension that tore Arjuna apart
When we read in the Bhagavad-gita’s first chapter how Arjuna experienced an emotional breakdown, we may wonder: why was he so overwhelmed? To understand, we [...]
Why Duryodhana’s illusion remained, whereas Arjuna’s was removed
The Bhagavad-gita’s first chapter contains the words of primarily two characters: Duryodhana (01.03-11) and Arjuna (01.21-23; 01.28-45). Why does the Gita include Duryodhana’s speech, when [...]
Gita 01.39 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan Bg 1.39 kula-kṣaye praṇaśyanti kula-dharmāḥ [...]
Gita 01.30 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan So now Arjuna is describing [...]
How the Gita’s first chapter reveals Arjuna’s qualification for receiving spiritual wisdom
In the Bhagavad-gita’s first chapter, Arjuna refuses to fight, giving several reasons for his unexpected choice. Arjuna’s actions may evoke a wide range of reactions [...]
Was Arjuna’s refusal to fight due to fear of his death?
When faced with the gravity and brutality of war, soldiers sometimes choke, being overwhelmed by the chilling fear of deadly injury or even death. They [...]
How Arjuna’s plight reflects a universal human predicament
The Bhagavad-gita’s first chapter concludes with a confused Arjuna putting aside his bow in confusion and dejection (01.46). While addressing Arjuna’s concerns, the Gita focuses [...]
How the Gita’s initial plot twist increases the appeal of its central message
Good movies often use plot twists to captivate their audiences. When events are moving in a particular direction and suddenly something unexpected happens, that makes [...]
Why does the Gita begin with Dhritarashtra’s words, not Krishna’s or Arjuna’s?
The Bhagavad-gita is the song of God, or more precisely, Krishna’s poetic words of philosophical wisdom to Arjuna. Yet it’s noteworthy that the Gita begins [...]
Gita chapter 1 summary
The Bhagavad-gita’s first chapter usually has two titles: observing the armies or Arjuna’s lamentation. These titles broadly indicate the two main sections of the chapter. [...]