Bhagwad Gita

Bhagwadgita the song divine is a part of the great epic Mahabharata. Bhagwadgita is in a form of dialogue between Lord Shri Krishna and his friend and disciple Arjuna. The Pandavas (Arjuna and his four brothers) and Kurus were at war on challenge from Kurus (Duryodhana and his 100 brothers and the Kuru dynasty), for the kingdom which was usurped by Kauravas (Kurus). Both the Kauravas and Pandavas were first cousins and hence on both sides were the kith and kins of the same family.

Arjuna was prepared for the war and on the first day at the beginning of the combat he asked his charioteer who was none other than Lord Krishna to place his chariot in the middle of the battlefield so he could see the warriors who had assembled to fight him.
On being brought to the centre Arjuna saw that his kith and kin, his preceptors and teachers (Acharyas) were face to face ready to fight him for the kingdom of Indraprashtha.

Arjuna on seeing that he would have to kill his own kith and kin, elder family members and his preceptors and teachers was in dilemma and was hesitant to fight. He threw his divine Bow (gandiva) and sat at the base of the chariot in delusion. It is then Lord Krishna discoursed him on the importance of one to discharge his duties irrespective of the consequences. Lord Krishna explained to Arjuna that he was from the warrior clan (Kshatriya) and that it was his duty to fight once in the battlefield and that whoever was fighting him was his adversary and to vanquish them was his duty. He also explained that it was not he who had challenged the Kurus but it was the other way round and if he did not fight then he would be showing cowardice.

On listening to the whole sermon Arjuna then fights with Kurus and gains victory and gets back the Kingdom of Indraprashtha

Bhagwadgita

SOME NOTABLE FACTS ABOUT “SHRIMAD BHAGWADGITA”
(The background)
[ The Pandava’s were sent to exile for a period of 13 years of which the last year they had to spend in anonymity and the condition was laid that if during the last year of anonymity if they were recognized by anyone then they would have to go for exile for another 13 years. The Pandava’s completed the exile for 13 years and demanded their Kingdom of Hastinapura, but Duryodhana their paternal cousin refused to give even an iota of the kingdom without waging war. Lord Krishna then took the initiative to mediate between the cousins for an amicable solution but the arrogant Duryodhana insulted Lord Krishna and refused to budge. On hearing this Pandavas sought blessings from their mother and accepted the challenge of war. The preparation of war started on both sides. Lord Krishna being a relative of the warring cousins told both the cousins to ask for whatever help they wanted from him, The foolish Duryodhana was given the first chance and he asked the army of Lord Krishna but Arjuna asked Lord Krishna to be his Charioteer and accompany him throughout the war.
Sage Vedvyasa had great affection for Dhritarastra the blind father of Duryodhana and King of Hastinapura. He declared to him that the war and massacre of the Kshatriya clan was inevitable and if Dhritarastra wished he could see it by divine insight but Dhritrasatra refused saying he had been blind for the whole life and didn’t want to see the massacre of his kith and kin. This prompted Sage Vedvyasa to endow the divine insight to Sanjaya so that he could see and narrate the incidents occurring during the war to Dhritarastra. ]

“ Shrimad Bhagwad Gita “

The orator of this divine song is none other than Lord Shri Krishna. And the audience is given by his most beloved friend and disciple Arjun.
The book is compiled by Maharishi Shri Krishna Dwaipayan Vedvyasa.,
It is written by Lord Ganesha on instructions from the compiler Vedvyasa.

Actually in this divine compilation Lord Shri Krishna has taught the gospel of righteousness. Lord Shri Krishna has mentioned many Shruti’s (verses) and his prose too has been transformed into the verses (Shlokas) by Vedvyasa.

The divine book has been compiled as conversation between Lord Shri Krishna and Arjun. ( Shri Krishna Arjun Samvad ).

The book Shrimad Bhagwad Gita has 18 ( eighteen ) chapters, just as there are 18 Smritis, 18 Puranas, 18000 shlokas in Shrimad Bhagwatam, and 18 sections in the great epic Mahabharata.

There are 18 chapters and totally 700 shlokas in this book. Listed as follows.
Chapter No.No. of Shlokas.Name of the chapter.
1. 47. Arjun Vishad Yoga
2. 72. Sankhya Yoga
3. 43. Karma Yoga
4. 42. Gyan Karma Sanyas Yoga
5. 29. Karma Sanyas Yoga
6. 47. Atmasayam Yoga
7. 30. Gyan Vigyan Yoga
8. 28. Akshar Brahma Yoga
9. 34. Raj Vidhyaraj Griha Yoga
10. 42. Vibhuti Yoga
11. 55. Vishwa Rup Darshan Yoga
12. 20. Bhakti Yoga
13. 34. Kshetra Kshetragya Vibhag Yoga
14. 27. Gunatraya Vibhag Yoga
15. 20. Purushottam Yoga
16. 24. Daivasur Sampad Vibhag Yoga
17. 28. Shradhyatraya Vibhag Yoga
18. 78. Moksha Sanyas Yoga