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Teacher: Dinadayal Dasa

BHAKTI SASTRI COURSE

BHAGAVAD GITA –
Karma Yoga (Chapters 1 - 6)

Chapter 1 Bhagavad-gita – Karma Yoga - Chapter 1

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Teacher: Dinadayal Dasa

BHAKTI SASTRI COURSE

BHAGAVAD GITA –
Karma Yoga (Chapters 1 - 6)

Chapter 1

Based on:

VTE Bhakti Sastri Student Handbook

VTE Bhakti Sastri Worksheet
Bhurijana Prabhu’s “Surrender Unto Me” SUM
Teacher’s selection of major points from BG verses and purports

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Chapter 1 –

Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kurukshetra

OVERVIEW
Setting the scene of the Kurukshetra battlefield: Kuru dynasty is divided into two huge
opposing armies ready to fight. Krishna is with Arjuna, not as a partaker in the
forthcoming war, but only as his charioteer. Arjuna, being a softhearted devotee,
becomes overwhelmed with compassion and forgets himself when he foresees miseries
only as an outcome of family killing. He argues that the destruction of the family will lead
to unchaste women, unwanted children, and the end of culture. Due to such reasoning,
Arjuna decided not to fight, casting aside his Gandhiva bow, which equals his death.

● Mahabharata and Bhagavad Gita

● Introduction to Bhagavad Gita
● Preparations for War (1–13)
● Signs of victory (14–20)
● Arjuna’s doubts (21–46)

MAHABHARATA AND BHAGAVAD GITA

The Bhagavad Gita, or Song of God, is part of the Mahabharata and is probably the best
known of India’s ancient scriptures. Mahabharata narrates the story of the Kuru family,
the royal dynasty, which was divided into two antagonistic clans when Krishna spoke the
Gita. On one side were the Pandavas, Pandu's five sons, and Arjuna is one of them. And
on another side are Dhritarastra’s 100 sons, led by Duryodhana.

Mahabharata’s size:
● 74,000 verses
● It comprises 1.8 million words
o Three times the size of the Bible
o Four times the Ramayana
o Five times Dante's Divine Comedy
o Ten times Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey

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Number 18
● the battle lasted for 18 days
● there were 18 divisions (aksha-uhinis) of armies
● Bhagavad-Gita has 18 chapters
● there are 18 books in Mahabharata
● Mahabharata has 18 lakhs of words (1.8 million)

Traditional division of the Gita

Traditionally, the Gita is divided into three parts:

1. Karma-yoga – chapter 1-6

2. bhakti-yoga – chapters 7-12
3. jnana-yoga – chapters 13-18

Titles of the first six chapters of the Gita

● Chapter 1: Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kurukshetra
● Chapter 2: Contents of the Gita Summarized
● Chapter 3: Karma Yoga
● Chapter 4: Transcendental Knowledge
● Chapter 5: Karma-yoga-Action in Krishna Consciousness
● Chapter 6: Sankhya Yoga

Five main topics of Gita

(1) Isvara - The Supreme Personality of Godhead
(2) The Jiva – The soul within the body
(3) Prakriti – nature
(4) Kala – time
(5) Karma – action

Out of these five, four are eternal, and karma is the only one that can be annulated by
yoga

Gita in numbers
The Gita contains 700 verses, out of which:
● Krishna speaks 574, or 82%
● Arjuna speaks 84 verses
● Sanjaya speaks 41
● Dhritarastra speaks only one – the first

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Why is the bhakti section in the middle of the Gita?
● bhakti is rahasya, a secret, which should be hidden
● bhakti is the essence or heart of the Gita
● the most precious things should not be openly exposed, easily reachable or
visible to all
● Bhakti gives life to karma on its left and to jnana on its right

PREPARATIONS FOR WAR (1–13)

Sanjaya describes how Duryodhana, using diplomacy, solves a dilemma of encouraging
Drona without insulting Bhisma and others. Bhisma rallies his soldiers with the sound of
his conchshell. Yet the symbolism of the conchshell indicates their defeat.

Bhagavad Gita as theistic science

● Bhagavad Gita is the perfect theistic science because it is directly spoken by the
ultimate theistic personality, Krishna, to awaken the true purpose of the spirit
soul.
● Since Bhagavad Gita is spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead himself,
there is no ulterior motive to the instruction and it is direct from the source of all
perfection.

BG verse 1.1
With the only verse spoken in Bhagavad Gita Dhritarastra reveals himself as:

● desirous that his sons headed by Duryodhana get the kingdom

● optimistic that Kurukshetra as the holy place might influence, the Pandavas to
give up on the battle completely
● doubtful of the possibility of his sons’ victory
● afraid because the holy place Kurukshetra might affect Duryodhana to
compromise

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Names Arjuna addresses Krishna

Acyuta
● Acyuta means "Infallible one."
● Krishna is the supreme personality of Godhead, yet he accepted the position of a
charioteer to Arjuna.
● But, still the supreme position of Krishna never changes.

Govinda
● Govinda means one who gives pleasure to cows and senses
● By calling Krishna as Govinda, Arjuna wants Krishna to understand what is in the
mind of Arjuna and do what is pleasing to the sense of Arjuna

Kesava
● Kesava means "Killer of Kesi demon."
● Krishna killed Kesi demon.
● Similarly, if Krishna wants to kill Kauravas, Krishna should do that himself and
not ask Arjuna.

Madhava
● Madhava means, "Husband of Laxmidevi."
● Laxmidevi is the Goddess of Fortune.
● Being the husband of Laxmidevi, Krishna should not be the reason to bring
misfortune to the lives of soldiers who have assembled on the battlefield of
Kurukshetra.

Hrsikesa
● Hrsikesa means “The Lord Of All Senses” – from isa–‘lord’, hṛsika–‘of the senses’.
● Krishna is Hrsikesa since He is the director of the senses and mind of every living
entity.
● At the Kurukshetra, Krishna directed Arjuna’s senses because He gave direction
to Arjuna on the Battlefield.

Madhusudana
● Krishna’s name is Madhusudana because He killed the demon named Madhu.
● There were two Madhus.
● One Madhu was a relative of Krishna, an ancestor, and the other Madhu was a
demon.
● Addressing Krishna as Madhusudana Arjuna is challenging Krishna that instead
of being asked to kill a demon-like Madhu, he was being called upon to kill his
relatives and superiors

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Janardana
● Janardana is ‘the maintainer of all living entities.’
● Krishna, who maintains everyone
● Arjuna calls Krishna 'Janardana' because ‘Jana’ means ‘person’, and ‘ardana’
means ‘destroyer.’
● Srila Baladeva thus says that Arjuna is suggesting, "If they need to be killed, then
You do it. You are Jana-ardana, the killer of persons. And for you, there will be no
effect of sinful reaction for killing them."
● In this way, Arjuna hopes to remain free from the sinful reaction"

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SIGNS OF VICTORY (14–20)
Sanjaya describes various signs of victory for the Pandavas army, especially the
transcendental sound of the conchshells of Krishna and Arjuna, which shattered the
hearts of the sons of Dhritarastra.

Signs of Pandava’s victory

Krishna's presence
Krishna, the Supreme lord is on the side of Pandavas. Wherever
there is Krishna, there is victory.

Kurukshetra
Location of Battle: Kurukshetra is a holy place of pilgrimage & it
would certainly have the influence of the Pandavas who are
righteous.

Hanuman in Flag of Arjuna's chariot

Hanuman who has helped Lord Rama in the battle against Ravana
is now present in the flag of Arjuna's chariot.

Blowing of Conchshell
Conchshell is the symbol of Lord Vishnu. Bishma's blowing of
conchshell symbolically signifies that Kauravas has no chance of
winning the war.

Goddess of fortune
Laxmidevi is present wherever Krishna is present. Since, Krishna is
on the side of Pandavas, the Pandavas have the blessings of the
Goddess of Fortune which also affirms their victory.

Arjuna's Chariot
a present given by Agnidev, and was capable of conquering all
directions.

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ARJUNA’S DOUBTS (21–46)
From verse 21 until the end of the chapter, and extending into the second chapter, we
hear Arjuna's doubts, lamentation and argumentations against fighting.

Arjuna as Gudakesa
● Gudaka means sleep, and one who conquers sleep is called Gudakesa.
● Sleep is a state of forgetfulness or ignorance.
● As a great devotee of Krishna, Arjuna could not forget Krishna even when
sleeping.
● Arjuna as a pure devotee, conquered sleep and ignorance.

Arjuna’s doubts

Compassion
Arjuna, being a softhearted devotee, becomes overwhelmed with
compassion and forgets himself when he sees his relatives before him.
He has become fearful due to a material conception of life.

Enjoyment
Arjuna argues that he will not be able to enjoy his kingdom if it is won
at the cost of the lives of his family members.
He fears sinful reactions for killing his kinsmen.

Sinful reactions
Arjuna argues that killing one’s family is sinful and will lead to hell.
The higher principle is that real religion is whatever Krishna says or
wants.

Destruction of family
Arjuna further argues that the destruction of the dynasty will lead to
unchaste women, unwanted children, and the end of spiritual culture.
Arjuna, having decided not to fight, finally casts aside his bow and sits
down on the chariot.

Indecision
Arjuna is displaying impatience and indecision of mind. Excessive
attachment puts one in bewilderment, fear and loss of mental
equilibrium.
When one sees only frustration he thinks, “Why am I here? What is
this life for?”

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Reasons why Arjuna refuses fighting and Krishna’s response?
(1st and 2nd chapter)

Reason Argument Refutation by Krishna

Compassion — Arjuna is compassionate Arjuna is not really killing

How can I kill my for the soldiers, friends anyone. The soul is
kinsman and guru? and relatives who will be eternal. The soul does not
(BG 1.27-28) killed in the battle. die when the body dies.
Those who die will get a
new body.
Enjoyment — After killing all the Enjoyment comes from the
How will I enjoy the relatives, with whom, will I proper execution of one's
kingdom alone? enjoy the kingdom? prescribed duty. If you win,
(BG 1.31-35, 2.7-8) you will get the kingdom. If
you lose, you will attain
heaven.
Saintliness and fear of By killing, one will incur a Killing on Krishna's
sinful reactions — sinful reaction. instruction will not incur
By killing such great sin (akarma). Instead, not
men, I will incur sin. performing one's
They are worthy of prescribed duty will incur a
worship. sinful reaction.
(BG 1.37-43)
Destruction of the family By killing the family, Vedas are full of matters
— irreligion will prevail, that deal with three modes
The elders of the family leading to contamination of material nature. Raise
will be killed! of women. Contaminated about it. A large well can
(BG 1.44-45 & 2.5) women produce achieve the purpose of a
unwanted progeny (Varna small well. Similarly, what
sankara). This causes a is achieved from karma
hellish condition of life. kanda activity, can be
achieved by devotional
service to Krishna (buddhi
yoga).
Indecision — Arjuna Arjuna was not sure Establish in Buddhi Yoga.
does not actually know whether to kill the Be fixed in performing
which is better, Kauravas or be killed by your duty to satisfy the
conquering the enemy or them. Duryodhana is supreme lord.
being conquered by already ruling the kingdom
them (BG 2.6) well, and just for the sake
of enthroning the
Pandavas, why to kill so
many soldiers?

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Arjuna’s bodily symptoms
Arjuna manifests many bodily symptoms:
1) his limbs are quivering
2) his mouth is drying up
3) his whole body is trembling
4) his hairs are standing on end
5) his Gandhiva bow is slipping from his hand
6) his skin is burning
7) he is no longer able to remain to stand
8) he forgets himself
9) his mind is reeling
10) finally, he sees only causes of misfortune

Importance of family
The basic idea is that the family unit gives stability to society:

● Women are protected in a family situation. (1.40)

● Good children are produced by stable householders, not varna sankara. (1.40)
● They get good training in a nice environment.
● Ancestors helped through religious activities. (1.41)
● Community and welfare projects develop. (1.42)
● Those who destroy family tradition go to hell. (1.43)

Varna-sankara
● Varna sankara means unwanted progeny.
● Varna sankara leads to chaos in society (which is more or less what we have
today in the modern world), and is produced by a series of unfortunate events.
● By the destruction of the dynasty, Vedic rituals are not followed anymore.
● When rituals are not followed, irreligion becomes prominent, women in society
become unprotected and unchaste, and men become irresponsible.
● This leads to the unwanted progeny or varna sankara.

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Steps in degradation of society

The superiors are killed (1.39) → Destruction of the dynasty

Destruction of eternal family tradition (1.39) → Vedic rituals will stop

Irreligion predominates in the family (1.39)

Women become polluted (1.40) → Unchaste women

Unwanted progeny (1.40) → Varna-sankara

All kinds of community projects & family welfare activities are devastated (1.42) →
Chaos in society

Six aggressors
According to 'artha sastra' injunctions, which deal with economy, politics and military
dealings, there is no sin in killing aggressors, of which there are six:

1. One who gives poison – The Kauravas had given Bhima a poison cake.
2. Those who set one’s house on fire – after the Kauravas invited the Pandavas to
live for some time in a mansion built especially for them, the Kauravas then set
it on fire to murder all the Pandavas, including their mother, Queen Kunti.
3. One who attacks with deadly weapons – While the Pandavas were in exile in the
forest, the Kauravas attacked them with deadly weapons.
4. Those who rob others' riches – in fact, this is probably the main reason for the
Kurukshetra war since the Kauravas were unrightfully occupying the Pandavas'
land.
5. One who kidnaps another's wife – the Kauravas kidnapped Draupadi and tried
to disrobe her.
6. Those who occupy another's land – The Kauravas dishonestly took away all of
the Pandavas' territories.

The Kauravas had committed each of these acts of aggression against the Pandavas.

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