Chapterization (Contd.)

1.     sankhya yoga (72 verses): Sankhya literally means knowledge. Bhagavan Shree Krishna is imparting true knowledge to Arjuna in this chapter. It is here one finds a gist of ‘Knowledge of the Self' (AtmA bodha) and how to attain to a state of equanimity (sthitaprajnya). From verse 1 to 10 is the Lord’s reaction to Arjuna’s reluctance to fight. He chides Arjuna for his weakness despite proclaiming a great warrior and imparts true knowledge from verse 11 to30. The Lord stresses the need for fighting this war of righteousness as a duty of a warrior in the verses from 31 to 38. We find an introduction to karma in this chapter from verse 39 to 53. It is here that we find the true meaning of karma and akarma and the importance of one performing his ordained duties without any desire for the fruits! All action based on desire will bring in their wake the fruits that lead to further desires and an eternal bondage. The Blessed Lord imparts the yoga of nishkama karma, wisdom of doing one’s duty without incurring the karma bandhana. Finally, we find the clues to recognize the real yogi, an attained person in the verses 54-72. The nature of a man of wisdom, a man of controlled mind (sthitaprajnya). This is a very important chapter and most of the commentators on the Gita have focused their attention on the need for control of mind. Bal Gangadhar Tilak has elaborately dealt with this in his ‘Gita Rahasya’. This ‘karma yoga’ has been the favorite topic of M. K. Gandhi, C. Rajagopalachari, Arnold, Shri Aurobindo and others who were inspired by the Gita during the Freedom Movement!

2.     Karma-vairagya yoga (43 verses): Bhagavan Shree Krishna is imparting Arjuna the need for performing functions without vested interest in this chapter. Verses 1 to 8 deal with performing action with full knowledge of consequence, and the need for action without any desire (nirasakti) for benefits. It imparts the wisdom of performing one’s duty as just a duty without any personal interest or desire for results thereby not incurring consequent results that become the seeds for further actions and an eternal chain of bondage! Need for performing sacrificial rituals is explained in verses 9 -16 and the verses 17 to 24 stress the need for performing action even for the wise and the devata purusha. Finally, the verses 25 to 35 deal with the signs of a wise man and fool as well as what prompts a fool and a wise man to act the way they do! The verses 36 to 43 gives some idea about resisting the powerful desires that drag the jiva to an eternal bondage life after life.

3.     Jnyana-karma-sanyasa yoga (42 verses): Impact of attributes of Bhagavan and aspects of karma are explained in verses from 1 to 18 followed by the nature of functions of great attained persons and their glory in verses 19-23. The fruits of sacrificial rituals are given in verses 24-32 followed by the glory of Knowledge (significance of jnyan) in verses 36-43. Knowledge is supposed to be supreme and no comparison with other means of attainment.

4.     Karma-sanyasa yoga (29 verses): A comparative account is given about sankhya yoga and karma yoga in verses 1-6 followed by the characteristic features of the sankhyans and the karma yogis and their glory from 7 to 12^th verse. Jnyanayoga is described in verses13 to 25 followed by an account of dhyana (meditation) with bhakti (devotion).in verses 27-29.

5.     Dhyana yoga also known as Atma samyama yoga (47 verses): the characteristics features of a yogi is given along with the aspect of karma yoga in the verses 1-4, Inspiration for spiritual pursuits for realization of the Self (Atmoddhara) is imparted by the Lord in verses 5-10 giving the characteristic features of a person who had the divine grace. The verses 11 to 32 gives the details of dhyana yoga as imparted by the Lord followed by the techniques of ‘Mind Control’ (mano-nigraha) in verses 33-36. Finally, the Blessed Lord explains the fate of a person fallen from yoga (yogabhrashta) and the glory of dhyanayoga in verses 37-47.

6.     Jnyana-vijnyana yoga (30 verses): The first seven verses deal with ‘knowledge’ followed by the ‘all-pervasive nature of the supreme Lord’ from verse 8 to 12. There is a word of praise for the pious people and condemnation of the wicked in verses13 to 19. The most important problem concerning worship of all and sundry gods by people is addressed here in verses 20 to 23. The next seven verses deal with the praise of those who know the glory of the Lord and condemns the ignorant (mudah).

7.     ‘akshara-bhrahma yoga’ (28): In these verse, Bhagavan Shree Krishna, clearly explains the concepts of ‘adhyatma vidya’, ‘adhiyajnya’, and the ‘adhidaiva’ as also, the concept of ‘brahman’, the mind, and the Senses and the objects perceived by them. Here Arjuna asks seven questions regarding the spiritual and the material world duly answered by the Lord. This is a very important chapter in the Gita. There need be no doubt as to the true nature of existence and the means of knowing it!

8.     Para-vidya raja-guhya yoga (34 verses): This is a very important chapter where we find the secrets of creation from Bhagavan Shree Krishna. The significance of ‘jnyan’, (‘knowledge’) is explained in the first six verses followed by the process of creation in verses 7-10. The next eight verses condemn the demoniac attitude of people who hate or reject God and appreciate the divine nature of the devotees who constantly think and praise Him. The next four verses from 16-19 describe the true form of God. The effect of worship of God with and without any desire or expectation is explained in verses from 20 to 25. The next nine verses describe the result of true devotion and what the devotees who worship God without any desire (nishkama bhakti) get.

9.      Vibhutivistara yoga (42 verses): The first seven verses describe the power and glory of the Lord and the yoga shakti, as also, the result of knowing these. Then, the verses 8 to 11 describe Bhakti yoga along with the effect of such practices, yoga sadhana. We find in verses 12 to 18 how Arjuna praises the Lord and requests Him to describe His various forms of manifestation (vibhuti) by His power of yoga, maya. Then we find the Lord describing His powers from verse 19 to 42. Once we clearly understand what the supreme Lord says as to His powers, there should be no doubt in the minds of the people as to His glorious ways! However, there are foolish people who have no faith in Him!

10. Vishva rupa darshanam (55 verses): It is here we find Arjuna’s request to Bhagavan Shree Krishna to reveal His true form in verses 1 to 4. The next few verses from 5 to 8 describe the Lord’s divine form, ‘vishva rupa’. The next few verses (9-14) show what Sanjaya is describing to Blind King Dhrutarashtra about the vision of the Lord in His glorious vishva rupa. Then Arjuna sees the glorious form of the Blessed Lord and praises Him in numerous words from verses 15 to 31. It is in these verses 32 to 34 that the Lord encourages Arjuna to fight the Battle after showing His true form and powers, giving Him an idea about the secret of performing one’s duty no matter what the result is since He takes care of it! In verses 35- 46 Arjuna is seen frightened after looking at the divine form and the super-powers of the Lord. Arjuna requests the Lord to reveal His true form of Vishnu as also normal svarupa in verses 47 – 50. Finally, from verses 51 to 55 the need for total devotion is stressed if one desires visioning God and the nature of true devotion is explained.

11. The Yoga of Devotion (‘bhakti yoga’) (20 verses): Here, we find in the first twelve verses the supremacy of devotees who worship the supreme Lord as one of attributes and forms (saguna and sakara)  and those who worship the supreme Lord without any attributes and form (nirguna and nirakara). The next eight verses describe the nature of attained persons. These are very important verses that shows how one can visualize, have ‘darshan’, of the Lord if one prays ardently with single minded devotion. This is a lesson for all those who do not believe in what the great sages and attained persons when they talk about God-visioning!

12. The yoga of the ‘Field and the Knower of the Field’ (kshetra kshetrajnya yoga) (35 verses): The verses from the beginning to 18 contain a unique description of the ‘concept of the universe’, as spoken by the Lord. The creation of the universe and the purusha - prakriti aspects are described here (verses 19-34).

13. The Yoga of Division of Qualities (Guna-traya vibhAga yoga) (27 verses): The first four verses describe the importance of knowledge, jnyan, and the creation of the world as purusha and prakriti in the first instance. The three prominent qualities as sattva, raja and tamas are now described in verses 5 to 18. The verses 19 to 27 describe how to attain the supreme, as spoken by the Lord Himself! It also describes how one can transcend all these afflicted qualities, gunas, as also, the nature of an attained person, a person who has transcended all gunas.

14. Purushothama yoga (20 verses): Here is a beautiful description of ‘Sansar’ as depicted by the Lord in a symbolic “Inverted Ashvatha tree’. There is also the description of the means of attaining to the Supreme in these first six verses. In the next five verses 7 to 11 there is an account of the jivatman, followed by description of the true nature or mula svarupa and the glory of the supreme Lord ‘Parameshvara’ in verses 12 to 15. This is followed by an account of the ‘Immutable purusha’, akshara brahmn, as also, the ‘one who is transient’, subject to change from time to time, the kshara.

15. The Yoga of the Divine and the Demoniac (daivAsura sampat-vibhga yoga) (24 verses): The qualities of the two types of existence as the divine and demoniac are given in the first 5 verses. The verses 6 to 20 describe the qualities of the wicked persons and their downfall. The next 4 verses describe the effects of rejecting rituals not prescribed, as also, performing rituals according to well-laid procedures.

16. The Yoga of Three Kinds of Faith (shruddha-traya yoga) (22 verses): Here, the first six verses give an idea about those who take to serious askesis, tapas against the scriptural injunctions, Shastra, religious faiths. The next sixteen verses deal with food, sacrificial rites, askesis, and different kinds of gifts to be made.