Shrimad Bhagavad Gita on WARA

Chapter 01: The Grief of Arjuna

Fri, 31 Dec 1909 00:00:00 +0000

Editorial Note

As the great war of Kurukshetra is about to begin, the two mighty armies stand face to face on the sacred battlefield. Arjuna, the noble Pandava prince and peerless archer, takes position on his chariot, guided by none other than Lord Krishna. At his request, Krishna places the chariot between the two forces, giving Arjuna a full view of those assembled for war.

But as Arjuna surveys the battlefield, a deep sorrow stirs within him. He sees before him not faceless enemies, but revered teachers, beloved uncles, cherished friends, and dear cousins — all prepared to fight, and perhaps to die. The heroic warrior, known for his valor and clarity, is suddenly overwhelmed by a wave of compassion and despair. His bow slips from his hands, his limbs tremble, and his heart is shaken.

Chapter 02: The Way of Knowledge

Fri, 31 Dec 1909 00:00:00 +0000

Editorial Note

After laying down his bow in sorrow and confusion, Arjuna turns to Lord Krishna — not as a friend, but now as a humble disciple. With folded hands and a heart full of anguish, he surrenders, seeking guidance and clarity. His strength waning and his purpose clouded, Arjuna confesses that he can no longer discern what is right, and begs Krishna to instruct him on the true path of dharma.

Chapter 03: The Way of Action

Fri, 31 Dec 1909 00:00:00 +0000

Editorial Note

As the divine dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna deepens, Arjuna raises a heartfelt question: If knowledge is greater than action, why should he engage in this dreadful battle? Krishna smiles, for now it is time to reveal another sacred truth — the path of Karma Yoga, the yoga of selfless action.

Krishna gently explains that no one can remain without action, even for a moment. By our very nature, we are compelled to act — whether through the body, mind, senses, or intellect. Yet, it is not the action itself that binds us, but the attachment to its results. When one acts solely for personal gain or out of ego, those actions weave the chains of karma, binding the soul more tightly to the wheel of birth and death.

Chapter 04: The Way of Renunciation of Action in Knowledge

Fri, 31 Dec 1909 00:00:00 +0000

Editorial Note

As the sacred dialogue continues, Lord Krishna gently lifts the veil further, revealing divine truths that transcend time and space. In Chapter 4, He speaks of Jnana Yoga—the path of transcendental knowledge—wisdom that purifies the heart and liberates the soul.

Krishna begins by declaring a timeless mystery: this very wisdom of Yoga, which He now imparts to Arjuna, was once shared with the Sun-god at the dawn of creation and passed down through saintly kings in an unbroken chain. But over time, this sacred knowledge was lost to the world. And now, seeing Arjuna’s sincere heart, Krishna reveals it once again.

Chapter 05: The Way of Renunciation

Fri, 31 Dec 1909 00:00:00 +0000

Editorial Note

*As the sacred conversation between Arjuna and Lord Krishna deepens, Chapter 5 presents a subtle harmony between the paths of renunciation (Sannyasa) and selfless action (Karma Yoga). Arjuna, still seeking clarity, asks: *Which is better—to renounce all actions, or to act without attachment?*

With compassionate wisdom, Krishna replies that both paths can lead to liberation—but of the two, the path of selfless action is superior for most, as it is more practical and accessible for one living amidst the world.

Chapter 06: The Way of Meditation

Fri, 31 Dec 1909 00:00:00 +0000

Editorial Note

As the sacred dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna continues, Chapter 6 unfolds the profound path of Dhyana Yoga, also known as Ashtanga Yoga—the ancient discipline of meditative union with the Divine.

Krishna now turns Arjuna’s attention inward, toward the still and silent sanctuary of the soul. He describes the yogi—not merely as one who renounces the world, but as one who masters the art of self-discipline, who neither craves pleasure nor recoils from pain, and who lives in harmony with all beings.

Chapter 07: The Way of Knowledge with Realisation

Fri, 31 Dec 1909 00:00:00 +0000

Editorial Note

As the journey of divine wisdom unfolds further, in Chapter 7 of the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna reveals His supreme nature more directly and intimately than ever before. This chapter, titled “Jnana-Vijnana Yoga”—the Yoga of Knowledge and Realization—marks a turning point where Krishna lifts the veil and offers Arjuna a glimpse into the heart of all existence.

With serene authority, Krishna declares: “Know Me as the origin and end of all that exists. I am the sustaining force behind the material and spiritual worlds. Everything rests upon Me, as pearls are strung on a thread”.

Chapter 08: The Way to the Imperishable Brahman

Fri, 31 Dec 1909 00:00:00 +0000

Editorial Note

As Arjuna’s heart opens further to divine wisdom, he inquires into the mysteries of life, death, and what lies beyond. In response, Chapter 8 of the Bhagavad Gita, titled “Akshara Brahma Yoga”—the Yoga of the Imperishable Absolute—unfolds a profound revelation.

Lord Krishna, in His infinite compassion, begins to explain the eternal nature of the soul, the significance of consciousness at the time of death, and the path to the Supreme Abode. He reveals that the state of one’s mind at the moment of passing determines the soul’s next journey. Whatever one remembers at death, that the soul attains, for the mind’s final thoughts are born of a lifetime’s practice.

Chapter 09: The Way of Kingly Knowledge and the Kingly Secret

Fri, 31 Dec 1909 00:00:00 +0000

Editorial Note

*Chapter 9 of the Bhagavad Gita, titled “Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga”—The Yoga of Royal Knowledge and Royal Secret—is the very heart of Krishna’s teachings. In this sacred discourse, the Lord opens the gates to the most confidential wisdom, a treasure not easily found, yet freely offered to the sincere and devoted heart.*

Here, Krishna does not merely instruct; He reveals. He declares Himself as the Supreme Reality, the source of all creation, the sustainer of the universe, and its ultimate resting place. Everything arises from Him, yet He remains untouched—ever free, ever sovereign. He is not a distant force but the dearest beloved, the Divine Friend, dwelling in the heart of all beings.

Chapter 10: Glimpses of the Divine Glory

Fri, 31 Dec 1909 00:00:00 +0000

Editorial Note

*Chapter 10 of the Bhagavad Gita, known as “Vibhuti Yoga”—The Yoga of Divine Glories—unfolds a magnificent vision of Krishna’s boundless majesty. In this sacred dialogue, Lord Krishna begins to draw back the veil that conceals His infinite presence within all things.*

*Arjuna, filled with wonder and humility, longs to understand how the Lord—unseen, eternal, and formless—manifests within the world of forms. In response, Krishna speaks gently but powerfully, illuminating a truth both profound and beautiful: “I am the source of all creation. Everything proceeds from Me. The wise, who know this, worship Me with love.”*

Chapter 11: The Vision of the Universal Form

Fri, 31 Dec 1909 00:00:00 +0000

Editorial Note

As the divine conversation between Krishna and Arjuna deepens, Arjuna—his heart filled with awe and reverence—longs for a direct experience of the Supreme. Though he has heard Lord Krishna’s declarations of divinity, he desires to see, with his own eyes, the cosmic form of God that transcends all earthly limitations.

Responding to this heartfelt plea, Lord Krishna bestows upon Arjuna divine vision—a celestial eye beyond the reach of ordinary perception. With that sacred sight, Arjuna beholds a vision so magnificent, so overwhelming, that words fall short. The Lord reveals Himself in His Vishwarupa, the Universal Form, a radiant and infinite embodiment of all creation.

Chapter 12: The Way of Devotion

Fri, 31 Dec 1909 00:00:00 +0000

Editorial Note

As the sacred dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna unfolds, a profound question arises in Arjuna’s heart. With deep sincerity, he asks, “O Krishna, who is more perfect in yoga—the one who worships You in Your personal form with devotion, or the one who contemplates the formless, all-pervading Absolute?”

With infinite compassion, Lord Krishna responds, illuminating the supreme path of Bhakti Yoga—the yoga of devotion. He affirms that while both paths can lead to the Divine, the path of pure, personal devotion to the Supreme Being—embodied as Krishna—is the most direct, joyful, and accessible means to attain the ultimate goal: union with the Divine in love.

Chapter 13: The Discrimination of the Kshetra and the Kshetrajna

Fri, 31 Dec 1909 00:00:00 +0000

Editorial Note

As the sacred dialogue between Arjuna and Lord Krishna deepens, the Lord now turns Arjuna’s attention inward—to the very nature of existence, identity, and liberation. In this chapter, Krishna reveals the timeless wisdom of discerning the body from the soul, and both from the Supreme Witness—the Supersoul.

Krishna begins by explaining that the physical body, with all its sensations, desires, and experiences, is like a field—a ground where life unfolds. This body, with its ever-changing forms, emotions, and perceptions, is not who we truly are. It is prakriti, or material nature, mutable and impermanent.

Chapter 14: The Discrimination of the Three Gunas

Fri, 31 Dec 1909 00:00:00 +0000

Editorial Note

As the divine dialogue continues, Lord Krishna now unveils a deeper layer of the cosmic play—the unseen forces that silently shape every thought, action, and experience in the material world. He introduces Arjuna to the three gunas, or modes of material nature—sattva (goodness), rajas (passion), and tamas (ignorance). Like invisible threads, these modes weave the fabric of worldly life and bind the eternal soul to the cycle of birth and death.

Chapter 15: The Way to the Supreme Spirit

Fri, 31 Dec 1909 00:00:00 +0000

Editorial Note

In this luminous chapter, Lord Krishna reveals a profound cosmic metaphor to awaken Arjuna—and through him, all of us—from the slumber of illusion. He describes the material world as an inverted tree, its roots reaching upward and its branches spreading downward. This tree, symbolic of material existence, is nourished by the modes of nature and extends its twigs in the form of sense objects. Its entangling roots bind the soul to repeated birth and death.

Chapter 16: The Classification of the Divine and the Non Divine Attributes

Fri, 31 Dec 1909 00:00:00 +0000

Editorial Note

In this powerful and revealing discourse, Lord Krishna turns Arjuna’s attention inward—to the qualities that dwell within the hearts of all beings. Every soul carries within it the seeds of both light and darkness, and it is through conscious living and inner discipline that one chooses which qualities to nourish.

Krishna speaks of two distinct paths—one adorned with divine qualities (daivi sampad) and the other clouded by demoniac tendencies (asuri sampad). These paths lead souls to vastly different destinies.

Chapter 17: The Enquiry into the Threefold Shraddha

Fri, 31 Dec 1909 00:00:00 +0000

Editorial Note

*As Arjuna continues to inquire with humility and devotion, he seeks clarity on the nature of faith—what becomes of those who worship with sincerity but without strict adherence to scriptural authority? Lord Krishna, in His infinite wisdom, unveils the subtle, yet profound, layers of faith and its roots in the three gunas—the modes of material nature: sattva (goodness), rajas (passion), and tamas (ignorance).*

Krishna explains that just as every individual is shaped by their inner disposition, so too is their faith molded by the mode that dominates their consciousness. Faith is not merely a matter of belief; it is the guiding force behind a person’s worship, food, discipline, charity, and purpose in life.

Chapter 18: The Way of Liberation in Renunciation

Fri, 31 Dec 1909 00:00:00 +0000

Editorial Note

As the sacred dialogue reaches its climactic conclusion, Arjuna, the humble seeker, receives from Lord Krishna the most profound and comprehensive teachings of the Bhagavad Gita—teachings that harmonize action and renunciation, knowledge and devotion, and the soul’s individual effort with divine grace.

In this final chapter, Lord Krishna begins by clarifying the true essence of renunciation (sannyāsa) and detachment (tyāga). He dispels confusion by distinguishing between false renunciation—abandoning duty out of fear, delusion, or discomfort—and true renunciation, where one performs all prescribed duties without attachment to their results. Such a person remains inwardly untouched, like a lotus in muddy water, working not for reward, but as an offering to the Supreme.

The Greatness of the Gita

Fri, 31 Dec 1909 00:00:00 +0000

Editorial Note

In the vast tapestry of existence, every soul journeys across lifetimes, weaving threads of actions—karma—that shape its destiny. The wise seers have classified karma into three distinct kinds, each flowing from the river of our past and present deeds.

First, there is Sanchita Karma—the accumulated karma from countless past lives. Like seeds stored in a granary, these actions lie dormant, waiting for the right moment to bear fruit.