Bangalore Diaries

In previous chapters of Srimad Bhagwad Gita, Sri Krishna constantly encourages us to follow the path of Dharma, aiming for principles like Nishkama Karma, Stithaprajna, Equanimity, developing Bhakti, harnessing Jnana and performing our karma without any attachment to the end result. Naturally, the curious mind will enquire how to identify these attributes? And more importantly what are the attributes or practices that one should safe guard themselves against. What’s the benefit of developing these sadgunas? How to perform our actions in the right manner? Sri Krishna addresses this question towards the end of the chapter. This is my preferred verse for this chapter: तस्माच्छास्त्रं प्रमाणं ते कार्याकार्यव्यवस्थितौ । ज्ञात्वा शास्त्रविधानोक्तं कर्म कर्तुमिहार्हसि ॥ 24॥ Therefore, let the scriptures be your authority in determining what should be done and what should not be done. Understand the scriptural injunctions and teachings, and then perform your actions in this world accordingly....

Krishna .. Why do you subject us, the mere mortals to these trials? How does one decide to identify only one verse in a chapter whose every single verse is a gem on its own and merits lengthy deliberations for themselves. Purushottama Yoga is one such chapter of Srimad Bhagwad Gita where the reader is spoilt for choice for verses that can be considered as one of the best. It also needs to be highlighted that in some sampradhayas there is a practice of chanting the Purushottama yoga as part of daily anushtana. Amidst these challenging situation, I embark on this audacious attempt to identify one single verse that is representative of the chapter. In a nutshell, this chapter celebrates the magnificence and omnipresence of the Parabrahma . Purushottama yoga’s depiction is widely available on top of dharmic book covers i.e. inverted Ashwatta tree. While we go into the significance of these little later, let’s consider the name of the chapter i.e. Purushottama. It is not surprising that th...

Srimad Bhagwad Gita has multiple recurring themes as captured in previous chapters. This spans equanimity, StithaPrajna, NIshkama Karma, Bhakti, Jnana, Karma and Yoga to name a few. However, one of the most intriguing and enlightening aspects of Srimad Bhagwad Gita is the elaborate and masterful discourse on the interplay of the three modes of material nature i.e. TriGunas viz., Sattva, Rajas and Tamas.  Starting from this chapter, we will observe a repeating pattern in Sri Krishna’s teachings (which is in fact a masterclass), where he stresses the importance of the these 3 characteristics and why one should alleviate themselves above them to attain the supreme Brahman. Who is this supreme Brahman? 
Sri Krishna answers this in the final verse of this chapter. Whenever I read this verse, I always felt its Sri Krishna’s proclamation, similar to him sounding the famous Panchajanya. ब्रह्मणो हि प्रतिष्ठाहममृतस्याव्ययस्य च । शाश्वतस्य च धर्मस्य सुखस्यैकान्तिकस्य च ॥ 14.27॥ I am the basi...

 In Srimad Bhagwad Gita, this is perhaps one of most advanced and metaphysical chapters. One could interpret this chapter verbatim and one could delve into the depths of the meanings, hidden and subtle ones as they are inclined to. In my limited experience, one could consider this at a universal level, at a societal, familial or individual level. Perhaps, I am more influenced by a similar treatment of Mahabharata by V. S. Sukhthankar in his seminal book, “On the meaning of Mahabharata”. Before I deep-dive into the verses, I would like to quote a verse on the importance of reading Srimad Bhagwad Gita. Adi Sankara in the famous Bhaja Govindam outlines the futilities of materialistic attachments. He also advises one to read Srimad Bhagwad Gita for it helps a soul to transcend over the cycle of births and deaths. भगवद्गीता किञ्चिदधीता गङ्गा जललव कणिका पीता | सकृदपि येन मुरारी समर्चा क्रियते तस्य यमेन न चर्चा ‖ 21 ‖ By whom the Bhagavad Gita has been studied even a little, by whom even ...