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Chapter Summaries of the Bhagavad Gita

By Sri A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada | Published 09/1/2005
Category: Articles on the Gita
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Chapter One:  Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kurukshetra.

As the opposing armies stand poised for battle, Arjuna, the mighty warrior, sees his intimate relatives, teachers and friends in both armies ready to fight and sacrifice their lives. Overcome by grief and pity, Arjuna fails in strength, his mind becomes bewildered, and he gives up his determination to fight.

Chapter Two:  Contents of the Gita summarized.

Arjuna submits to Lord Krishna as His disciple, and Krishna begins His teachings to Arjuna by explaining the fundamental distinction between the temporary material body and the eternal spiritual soul. The Lord explains the process of transmigration, the nature of selfless service to the Supreme and the characteristics of a self-realized person.

Chapter Three:  Karma-yoga.

Everyone must engage in some sort of activity in this material world. But actions can either bind one to this world or liberate one from it. By acting for the pleasure of the Supreme, without selfish motives, one can be liberated from the law of karma (action and reaction) and attain transcendental knowledge of the self and the Supreme.

Chapter Four:  Transcendental knowledge.

Transcendental knowledge - the spiritual knowledge of the soul, of God, and of their relationship - is both purifying and liberating. Such knowledge is the fruit of selfless devotional action (karma-yoga). The Lord explains the remote history of the Gita, the purpose and significance of His periodic descents to the material world, and the necessity of approaching a guru, a realized teacher.

Chapter Five:  Karma-yoga - Action in Krishna Consciousness.

Outwardly performing all actions but inwardly renouncing their fruits, the wise man, purified by the fire of transcendental knowledge, attains peace, detachment, forbearance, spiritual vision and bliss.

Chapter Six:  Dhyana-yoga.

Ashtanga-yoga, a mechanical meditative practice, controls the mind and senses and focuses concentration on Paramatma (the Supersoul, the form of the Lord situated in the heart). This practice culminates in samadhi, full consciousness of the Supreme.

Chapter Seven:  Knowledge of the Absolute.

Lord Krishna is the Supreme Truth, the supreme cause and sustaining force of everything, both material and spiritual. Advanced souls surrender unto Him in devotion, whereas impious souls divert their minds to other objects of worship.

Chapter Eight:  Attaining the Supreme.

By remembering Lord Krishna in devotion throughout one's life, and especially at the time of death, one can attain to His supreme abode, beyond the material world.

Chapter Nine:  The most confidential knowledge.

Lord Krishna is the Supreme Godhead and the supreme object of worship. The soul is eternally related to Him through transcendental devotional service (bhakti). By reviving one's pure devotion one returns to Krishna in the spiritual realm.

Chapter Ten:  The Opulence of the Absolute.

All wondrous phenomena showing power, beauty, grandeur or sublimity, either in the material world or in the spiritual, are but partial manifestations of Krishna's divine energies and opulence. As the supreme cause of all causes and the support and essence of everything, Krishna is the supreme object of worship for all beings.

Chapter Eleven:  The Universal Form.

Lord Krishna grants Arjuna divine vision and reveals His spectacular unlimited form as the cosmic universe. Thus He conclusively establishes His divinity. Krishna explains that His own all-beautiful humanlike form is the original form of Godhead. One can perceive this form only by pure devotional service.

Chapter Twelve:  Devotional Service (Bhakti-yoga).

Bhakti-yoga, pure devotional service to Lord Krishna, is the highest and most expedient means for attaining pure love for Krishna, which is the highest end of spiritual existence. Those who follow this supreme path develop divine qualities.

Chapter Thirteen:  Nature, the Enjoyer and Consciousness.

One who understands the difference between the body, the soul and the Supersoul beyond them both attains liberation from this material world.

Chapter Fourteen:  The Three Modes of Material Nature.

All embodied souls are under the control of the three modes, or qualities, of material nature: goodness, passion and ignorance. Lord Krishna explains what these modes are, how they act upon us, how one transcends them, and the symptoms of one who has attained the transcendental state.

Chapter Fifteen:  The Yoga of the Supreme Person.

The ultimate purpose of Vedic knowledge is to detach oneself from the entanglement of the material world and to understand Lord Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One who understands Krishna's supreme identity surrenders unto Him and engages in His devotional service.

Chapter Sixteen:  The Divine and Demoniac Natures.

Those who possess demoniac qualities and who live whimsically, without following the regulations of scripture, attain lower births and further material bondage. But those who possess divine qualities and live regulated lives, abiding by scriptural authority, gradually attain spiritual perfection.

Chapter Seventeen:  The Divisions of Faith.

There are three types of faith, corresponding to and evolving from the three modes of material nature.  Acts performed by those whose faith is in passion and ignorance yield only impermanent, material results, whereas acts performed in goodness, in accord with scriptural injunctions, purify the heart and lead to pure faith in Lord Krishna and devotion to Him.

Chapter Eighteen:  Conclusion - The Perfection of Renunciation.

Krishna explains the meaning of renunciation and the effects of the modes of nature on human consciousness and activity. He explains Brahman realization, the glories of the Bhagavad-gita, and the ultimate conclusion of the Gita: the highest path of religion is absolute, unconditional loving surrender unto Lord Krishna, which frees one from all sins, brings one to complete enlightenment, and enables one to return to Krishna's eternal spiritual abode.

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17 Comments
 
Monica Rating: ratingfullratingfullratingfullratingfullratingfull Unrated
said this on 23 Sep 2005 1:13:48 PM UTC
What is the notion of time in the Bhagavad Gita How does it relate to now

 
Larry Rating: ratingfullratingfullratingfullratingfullratingfull Unrated
said this on 01 Nov 2005 10:53:52 AM UTC
Hi

In some places (e.g 3:27) the Gita seems to say that persons are under a delusion that they are the initiators of their own acts ignorant that it is really the Gunas that are acting. The soul is purely passive. In other places such as 18:63 it seems that the person is himself the agent. Krishna tells Arjuna to do as he wills (after A. ponders His words.)

If you can would you explain this for me

 
Sneha Rating: ratingfullratingfullratingfullratingfullratingfull Unrated
said this on 09 Feb 2006 1:04:07 AM UTC
hello i have not read completely the bhagvad gita. But please can anybody answer my question... expecting a proper and scientific reason from you. This topic may not be related to bhagvad gita but its related to GOD. I beleive in god very much but also i beleive that for all our traditions we have a logical / scientific reason

My question is : why girls are not allowed to worship god or do any good things related to god durings those four days of their mensutral cycle. I personally beleive for god nothing is dirty as he has created usand more than body purity of soul is important

please give a logical and scientific reason for this question

 
Rajesh Kumar Rating: ratingfullratingfullratingfullratingemptyratingempty Unrated
said this on 19 Sep 2008 6:09:03 AM UTC
Dear sneha,
I strongly feel that during those days the impurity that has been generated by the body are thrown out by the body and since these impurity makes the person also impure and we can't avoid it so we are advised not to go to the places of worship. But since the soul is very pure so we can worship god from inside....there's no need that we have to visit a temple or pooja room.

 
Daivd Rating: ratingfullratingfullratingfullratingfullratingempty Unrated
said this on 01 Oct 2008 4:22:19 PM UTC
My question is : why girls are not allowed to worship god or do any good things related to god durings those four days of their mensutral cycle. I personally beleive for god nothing is dirty as he has created usand more than body purity of soul is important

You are right nothing is dirty but just like if you are in the toilet or bathroom anyone man or female it is bad to chant the holy names of God in a dirty place. because it shows bad respect towards God. But at the same time when one comes to the highest level of devtional service unto God Pure love one forgets. Just as Yasoda forgot that krishna is God and tried to bind him. If she new that he was God she would never have done that. But beacause of her pure love to God she forgot his position. This is the highest stage. Everyone should show respect ontu God untill one attains the highest level of pure devotional love.

 
Ana Melara Rating: ratingfullratingfullratingfullratingfullratingfull Unrated
said this on 22 Feb 2006 10:21:53 PM UTC
My question is what reincarnation has to do with Bhagavad-Gita

 
danang setyawan Rating: ratingfullratingfullratingfullratingfullratingfull Unrated
said this on 26 Apr 2006 10:53:25 PM UTC
what's the meaning of 'dharma' for our daily live
Please tell me the function of 'kasta'
thanks!

 
sheeba Rating: ratingfullratingfullratingfullratingfullratingfull Unrated
said this on 04 Nov 2006 9:47:08 PM UTC
Its really amazing to know some of the old historical facts.This article will surely help many people in exploring the hidden truths......

 
mit Rating: ratingfullratingfullratingfullratingfullratingfull Unrated
said this on 25 Dec 2006 1:06:12 PM UTC
great summary of Gita as it is. Hare Krishna, Hare Raama

 
usha manohar Rating: ratingfullratingfullratingfullratingfullratingfull Unrated
said this on 30 Mar 2007 10:07:20 AM UTC
Very eloquent and simple langauge to read and comprehend.

 
Kinshuk Rating: ratingfullratingfullratingfullratingfullratingfull Unrated
said this on 27 Jul 2007 8:04:13 AM UTC
you have done a wonderful job in creating this amazing website that enlightens as well as educates everyone on the bhagvat gita....keep up the good work!!

 
alyssa Rating: ratingfullratingfullratingfullratingemptyratingempty Unrated
said this on 02 Dec 2007 6:06:57 PM UTC
i think it was pretty good exept there could have been a better summary of it because i needed htat to do my homework. other than that it was good!

 
krishnan Rating: ratingfullratingfullratingfullratingfullratingfull Unrated
said this on 04 May 2008 9:24:38 PM UTC
what is the duties and responsibilities of the son to his elderly parents

 
nagesh shetty Rating: ratingfullratingfullratingfullratingfullratingfull Unrated
said this on 01 Aug 2008 8:10:53 AM UTC
It will change my life Jai shri krishna

 
praveen Rating: ratingfullratingfullratingfullratingfullratingempty Unrated
said this on 03 Aug 2008 4:38:52 PM UTC
Great is the man who can use his mind to control his senses and do his karma without any attachment.

 
bharti Rating: ratingfullratingfullratingfullratingfullratingfull Unrated
said this on 24 Aug 2008 12:13:47 PM UTC
iam inspired to take pride in hindu traditions.say jai shri krishna, jai bhavani,jai bharat

 
Jay Menon Rating: ratingfullratingfullratingfullratingfullratingfull Unrated
said this on 06 Mar 2009 5:03:39 AM UTC
very informative and enlightening (sorry for the spelling error)


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