INDIAN LITERATURE: BHAGAVAD GITA

The Bhagavad Gita, considered to be the world’s greatest epic, is often

referred to as the “Song of the Lord .” It is part of the Mahabharata, which is an
Indian epic that tells the story of the struggle between the Kauravas and the
Pandavas. They are fighting over the fertile and valuable land located at the
Ganges and Yamuna Rivers near Delhi, and their conflict ends in an awesome
battle.

Before the battle, Arjuna, the Prince and head of the Pandava army, is
asked to choose to be supported by either Lord Krishna’s army or Lord Krishna
himself, who will not fight. Arjuna chooses his friend Lord Krishna, who says
he will act as Arjuna’s charioteer . The 700 verses of the Gita, are a
conversation between Lord Krishna and Arjuna before the battle begins .
Krishna represents the supreme soul, Arjuna represents the individual soul,
and the battle represents the ethical and moral struggles of human life .

Realizing that his enemies are his own relatives, beloved friends, and
revered teachers, Arjuna is filled with doubt and despondency on the battlefield
and refuses to fight. He turns to his charioteer and friend, Lord Krishna, for
advice. Responding to Arjuna’s confusion and moral dilemma, Krishna explains
to Arjuna his duties as a warrior and prince, and through the course of the
epic, imparts to Arjuna wisdom, the path of devotion, and the doctrine of
selfless action.

Bhagavad Gita is composed of 18 chapters, representing each struggle

and pain, the realizations and enlightenments, and the growth of the main
characters, specifically Arjuna. The beginning of the chapters talked about
doubts and despair experienced by the Prince, although in the second chapter,
Lord Krishna advised the latter on karma and yoga, the beginning of his
teachings, and the immortal nature of the soul, which is basically the summary
of the whole Bhagavad Gita.

In Hindu, Lord Krishna is believed to be the Supreme Personality of the

Godhead or an avatar for Vishnu, and later in the chapters revealed that he
has been through many rebirths with his purpose almost always the same, the
teaching of yoga for the protection of the pious and the destruction of the
impious. He was a guru himself, and he taught Arjuna the importance of
having a guru or a mentor to guide and light the way in battle and in light .

Eventually, Lord Krishna revealed his true form to the Prince, and the
latter was stunned in the power that his charioteer wields, not just in
knowledge but in the command of the whole universe . The sense of awe and
respect experienced by Arjuna changed his perspective towards the battle at
hand. Previously, the Prince did not want to fight in the battle if it meant the
death of his family, his friends and his teachers . But when the true identity of
his charioteer was revealed to him, he realized that he was being guided in to
something that will be of good and not of evil . In the final chapter, Lord
Krishna said to Arjuna: “Become My devotee, always think of Me, act for Me,
worship Me, and offer all homage unto Me . Surrender unto Me alone. Do not fear
sinful reactions.”

After hearing the command of his Lord, the Prince took up his position in
the forefront of the battle and engaged his military opponents . Arjuna prevailed
in battle, and in life, with the premise that he is acting through the wishes of
Vishnu himself. Upon the surrender of Arjuna to Vishnu, he believed that he is
in good hands, can do more than fight in battle—he can live his life in a much
better way.