'Gitopadesha'

 What prompted Bhagavan Sri Krishna to impart 'Gitopadesham' to Arjuna in the epic Battlefield of Kurukshetra is indeed a puzzle! In fact, this 'Gitopadesham' was imparted to Sun-God Vivasvan first, at the beginning of Creation as stated in the Text- imam vivasvate prathamam praahaa...| Another strange thing is that the need for imparting dharma tp the Pandava, particularly Arjuna is very strange, indeed. None of these Pandava are humans - born of flesh bones and blood. These are the mantrasya putraah, the Blessed children of the power of the 'sacred word' (mantra), just like Karna born to Kunti when she was just an 8-yearold! Kunti's husband died or disappeared on the very day of the marriage and, hence the Pandava had no father, as such! In sum and substance, the entire Gita is riddled with a number of strange things. it teaches Sankhya, Knowledge (jnyan), Devotion (bhakti), Meditation (dhyan), Renunciation (vairagya), and finally transcendence (samadhi) in yoga!

   When the Blessed Lord says, I imparted this yogashastra and brahmavidya upanishad to Vivasvan, the first Manu, what is it that is imparted? Is it the secret of creation, sustenance, dissolution and merger? Truly it is everything! The entire Bhagavad-Gita is now considered a handbook or manual of Administration! It is now the panacea for all ills of social discord, unrest, strife and warfare. The Gita teaches how to work out a practical way of achieving world peace. It is more relevant today when the cold war days are over and there is better communication among nations to work towards a progressive prosperous development-oriented policies world over creating better standards of life for everyone everywhere.

  Many countries have now realized the importance of teachings of the Gita and want to adopt these teachings. It is now more relevant to adopt the teachings of the Gita than ever before. Fight poverty, hunger, unemployment and ignorance. Fight injustice and establish equanimity, social justice, and dharma. The days of war ae over and these are days of peaceful co-existence. Extend cooperation to uplift the downtrodden! There is nothing to gain by burning arms and ammunitions killing people! It is now the urgent need of the hour to extend mutual help and cooperation for betterment of life of the poor and the neglected. Bhagavan is the word used to denote the divine souls that work toward this universal welfare. Hence, everyone has to strive for this. Divinity is an inherent aspect of the jiva and it should be allowed to play its full role in everybody's life!

   Thus, the central theme of the Gitopadesham is to establish love, compassion, mutual understanding and cooperation, and peaceful co-existence. The entire episode of Mahabharata war started due to the cheating in the game of dice and usurp the rich and prosperous kingdom of Pandu by the cousins of Kuru King dynasty. The Pandava stands for the noble qualities against the hundred and odd bad qualities (avagunas) like cheating, usurp others property, hatred, jealousy, etc. Ultimately, what is gained in this war is well-known! Nothing accrued to the Pandavas and the Kaurava perished! This is a bitter lesson who want war to solve petty regional problems today, isn't it?