4 Incredible Benefits of Studying The “Bhagavad-Gita”
At the outset, let me clarify that I am not an expert in The “Bhagavad-Gita”. However, I am a student and have been going through the process of learning it on my own. I have now gathered enough courage to share it with you in anticipation that it meets your expectations on the subject of this article.
Stephen R. Covey in his book - The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, suggests that, in everything you do, you should begin with the end in mind. Start with a clear destination. In that way, you can ensure the steps you’re taking are in the right direction. This self-awareness empowers you to shape your own life.
Keeping that cue in mind, let me help you explore the end when you begin to read The “Bhagavad-Gita”. Here is what Albert Einstien had to say-
According to Sri Aurobindo, the “Bhagavad-Gita is a true scripture of the human race a living creation rather than a book, with a new message for every age and a new meaning for every civilization.”
Metroman, E.Sreedharan, said “You see, spirituality has no religious overtones. The essence of spirituality is to make a person pure in his mind and his thoughts. When I started reading our old scriptures, like the “Baghavad-Gita,” I found it was useful for day-to-day life, so I started practicing it.
Hollywood superstar Will Smith, recently on a trip to India said that he has 90% read through the “Bhagavad-Gita” and that his “inner Arjuna” is being channelled.
American Astronaut, Sunita Williams, who held the record for most space walks by a woman took the “Bhagavad Gita” to space. She added that it enlightened her about what she was doing and why she was doing things, and also showed her the purpose of life.
Indian Prime Minister Modi urges youth to read the “Bhagavad-Gita”, says it is ‘practical guide for life’. “In the middle of the fast-paced life, the Gita will provide an oasis. It is a practical guide for several dimensions of life,”
So what is The “Bhagavad-Gita” or (The Song of God) is the next moot question?
The Mahābhārata, one of the two major Sanskrit epics (ithihasas) of ancient India, revolves around the dynastic succession struggle between two groups of cousins — Kauravas and Pandavas for the throne of Hastinapura. It has been described as “the longest poem ever written”. Its longest version consists of over 100,000 śloka or over 200,000 individual verse lines (each shloka is a couplet). The Mahabharata has 18 parvas or books and The Bhishma Parva is sixth of the eighteen parvas. The Bhishma Parva describes the first 10 days of the 18-day Kurukshetra War between Kauravas and Pandavas.
The Bhishma Parva recites the story of Bhishma, the commander in chief of the Kaurava armies, who was fatally injured and lost the ability to lead. It then describes the deaths of Uttar (brother-in-law of Abhimanyu and brother of Uttara — wife of Abhimanyu), Vrishasena (elder son of Karna), and also Bhishma’s fall, respectively on the 1st, 3rd, and 10th days of the war. Karna did not fight in these first ten days, on Bhishma’s order. The “Bhagavad-Gita” is a part of chapters 23–40 of The Bhishma Parva in The Mahabharata. It has 18 adhyays (chapters) with 700 ślokas and each verse consisting of a couplet and therefore 1400 lines.
The “Bhagavad-Gita” recounts dialogue at the start of the Kurukshetra war between Arjuna, one of five Pandava princes, and Lord Krishna, who in this epic serves as Arjuna’s charioteer.
Arjuna is filled with dilemma and moral despair on seeing his teachers, kith and kin as enemies and the ensuing violence and death it will lead to in the war. He drops his armery and seeks Krishna’s counsel to guide him through this predicament. Krishna asks him to fulfill his duty of warrior to uphold dharma (righteouness) with selfless action. He guides Arjuna from obscurity of avidya (ignorance) to the freedom and splendour of jnana (wisdom). The Krishna–Arjuna dialogues cover a broad range of spiritual topics, touching upon ethical dilemmas and philosophical issues finally leading to Moksha (liberation/enlightenment) of a human life. It helped the removal of illusory thoughts and beliefs about the ephemeral nature of the world — thus awakening pure consciousness in Arjuna.
So with this background of The “Bhagavad-Gita”, what are the 4 incredible benefits?
To understand this, let me take you straight to the last śloka of the 18th adhyay (chapter) keeping begin with the end in mind principle.
To translate — Wherever there is Shree Krishna, the Lord of all Yoga, and wherever there is Arjuna, the supreme archer, there will also certainly be unending opulence, victory, prosperity, and righteousness. Of this, I am certain.
The “Bhagavad-Gita” concludes with this verse delivering a deep pronouncement. King Dhritarashtra, father of the Kauravas, was apprehensive of the outcome of the war. Sanjaya, advisor of Dhritarashtra who had the divya drishti (seeing events from a distance), informs him that from his perspective there can be only one verdict in this war — victory will always be on the side of God and his pure devotee, and so will goodness, supremacy, and abundance.
This verse is also called the Ekasloki Gita — The “Bhagavad Gita” in one verse.
If you are a student of The “Bhagavad-Gita” and live your life by its values and principles, you can get ’em too!
If knowledge is power, knowing what you don’t know is wisdom then you can embrace enlightenment when you study The “Bhagavad-Gita”. That is DIKW model inverted over its heel when you first start reading this fundamental book on how to live your life.
Draupadi is your sthula sharira (human body) and Pandavas your jnanendriyas (five senses) which are wedded into it. Their first cousins, a hundred in number, the Kauravas, are present in the form of the tendencies of your manas (lower thinking rational mind) . The Pandavas keep gambling till they lose everything, including themselves and their beloved wife, Draupadi. Likewise, we lose everything when we gamble with our tendencies, and, like the Pandavas, end up in spiritual exile. Like Dhritarashtra your ahamkara (ego) turns a blind eye towards this degregation of your self in your Kurukshetra (present life). Your buddhi (higher, intuitive, self-knowing mind) is Lord Krishna which can guide your chariot like atma (conciousness ) towards the path of Dharma (rightouesness). This will enable you to experience the parama ananda (ultimate bliss) — atma (soul) merge with the parama-atma (supreme conciousness).
As per Maslow, needs lower down in the hierarchy must be satisfied before individuals can attend to needs higher up. But life isn’t linear. Some (most or all) of you need to explore, uncover and develop different parts of yourselves wihtin the hierarchy, to allow you to lead a fulfilling life. This is where The “Bhagavad-Gita” steps in to be your guiding light towards your cognitive needs (curiosity, exploration, need for meaning), aesthetic needs (appreciation and search for beauty in nature) leading to a transcendental path filled with self actualization.
The earlier you study it in your life, the better it will be.
The 4 Purusharthas — “purpose of the Self” inherent in the Universe are: Artha (economic values), Kama (pleasure), Dharma (righteousness), and Moksha (liberation). The Purusharthas are the blueprint for human fulfillment. Working with them helps you create a satisfyingly balanced, meaningful life at the deepest and most holistic level. It is felt that the “right action” as per Dharma is a necessary requirement for Artha to be meaningful and the abundance of Artha will be needed to support Kama. The path to liberation or Moksha is supported by the harmonious interaction of Dharma, Artha, and Kama led by teachings of The “Bhagavad-Gita”.
This will stand tall as a beacon in the sea of your life!
Prepare yourself for an all purpose view when you study The “Bhagavad-Gita”. A true bhakta (devotee) of Lord Krishna may want to read it is a matter of religion and do paraayana (daily recitation) of few of the verses. A darshanvaadi (student of philosophy and a spiritual seeker) , with a deep desire to search for the inner truth may view it as a spiritual text. A bhautikvaadi (materialistic) driven person may get ideas to conduct his or her life sensibly from a day to day, working perspective. You may also get a multi faceted perspective when you combine all of them together. It all boils down to how you want to study it and the reap of the benefits of that path accordingly.
अष्टादशोऽध्यायः समाप्तः ।।
श्रीमद्भगवद्गीताशास्त्रं संपूर्णम्।।
This translates as the end of 18th Adhyaya (chapter) and completion of The “Bhagavad-Gita”
Here are some useful internet sources on “The Bhagavad-Gita” that you can lean on:
- Gita Super Site developed and maintained by IIT Kanpur
- Bhagavad Gita from Bhaktivedanta Ashram
- Bhagava Gita from Swami Mukundananda
- Summary of Bhagavad Gita
.. with the hope that you start your journey to study this treasure trove and reap the incredible benefits of श्रीर्विजयो भूतिध्रुवा नीति!
