Introduction to Bhagavad-Gita: As It Is

An introductory presentation of the timeless wisdom and science of devotion of Bhagavad-Gita.

2. “Before my presentation of Bhagavad-gita As It Is, almost all
the English editions of Bhagavad-gita were introduced to
fulfill someone's personal ambition. But our attempt, in
presenting Bhagavad- gita As It Is, is to present the mission
of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna.”

3. “To interpret Bhagavad-gita without any reference to the will
of Krishna is the greatest offense. In order to save oneself
from this offense, one has to understand the Lord as the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, as He was directly
understood by Arjuna, Lord Krishna's first disciple. Such
understanding of Bhagavad-gita is really profitable and
authorized for the welfare of human society in fulfilling the
mission of life.”

4. •Sabda-Vrttis-Rules for
interpretation in Sanskrit
grammar; different ways the
words refer to their meanings.
•Mukhya-Vrttis-Literal meaning
of the word
•Laksana-Vrttis-Metephorical
usage; extended reference
related to the original meaning
•Gauna-Vrttis-meaning extended
to some kind of similarity

5. “A living entity is happily the part and parcel of the Lord, and
thus his natural function is to render immediate service to the
Lord. By the spell of illusion one tries to be happy by serving
his personal sense gratification in different forms which will
never make him happy. Instead of satisfying his own
personal material senses, he has to satisfy the senses of the
Lord. That is the highest perfection of life.”

6. “Our Krishna consciousness movement is teaching the whole
world this central point, and because we are not polluting the
theme of Bhagavad-gita As It Is, anyone seriously interested
in deriving benefit by studying the Bhagavad-gita must take
help from the Krishna consciousness movement for practical
understanding of Bhagavad- gita under the direct guidance of
the Lord.”

7. “We hope, therefore, that people will derive the greatest
benefit by studying Bhagavad-gita As It Is as we have
presented it here, and if even one man becomes a pure
devotee of the Lord, we shall consider our attempt a
success.”
-A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
12 May, 1971
Sydney, Australia

10. -Lord Sri Krishna is the Supreme
Personality of Godhead
-Only by the process of devotional
service one can revive one’s
relationship with Sri Krishna
-Bhagavad-gita is understood by a
devotee like Arjuna, who is in direct
relationship with Sri Krishna
-Therefore Bhagavad-gita should be taken
up in a spirit of devotion
“…we should at least theoretically accept Sri Krishna as the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, and with that submissive spirit we can understand
the Bhagavad-gita. Unless one reads the Bhagavad-gita in a submissive
spirit, it is very difficult to understand Bhagavad-gita, because it is a great
mystery.”

11. “Every man is in difficulty in so many
ways, as Arjuna also was in difficulty
in having to fight the Battle of
Kurukshetra. Arjuna surrendered unto
Sri Krishna, and consequently this
Bhagavad-gita was spoken. Not only
Arjuna, but every one of us is full of
anxieties because of this material
existence.”
“Out of so many human beings who are
suffering, there are a few who are
actually inquiring about their position,
as to what they are, why they are put
into this awkward position and so on.”
“The purpose of Bhagavad-gita is to deliver mankind from the nescience of
material existence. “
“Lord Krishna descends specifically
to reestablish the real purpose of life
when man forgets that purpose.

12. 1) Ishwara - the supreme
controller
2) Jivas - the living
entities
3) Prakruti - the material
nature
4) Kala - the eternal time
5) Karma - the activity
“From Bhagavad-gita we must learn what God is, what the living entities are,
what Prakruti is, what the cosmic manifestation is, how it is controlled by time,
and what the activities of the living entities are.”

13. “The words spoken by the Lord are called apauruñeya, meaning that
they are different from words spoken by a person of the mundane world
who is infected with four defects.”
“Vedic knowledge is complete
because it is above all doubts and
mistakes, and Bhagavad-gita is the
essence of all Vedic knowledge. “
“We have to receive knowledge from
the proper source in disciplic
succession beginning with the
supreme spiritual master, the Lord
Himself, and handed down to a
succession of spiritual masters. “
“We must accept Bhagavad-gita
without interpretation, without deletion
and without our own whimsical
participation in the matter. “

14. “One who can approach that spiritual sky is not required to descend again
to the material sky.”
“If we properly utilize the instructions of
Bhagavad-gita, then our whole life will
become purified, and ultimately we will
be able to reach the destination which is
beyond this material sky. “
“Therefore the Lord descends to
reclaim all of these fallen, conditioned
souls, to call them back to the
sanatana eternal sky so that the
sanatana living entities may regain
their eternal sanatana positions in
eternal association with the Lord.“
“The service is the constant
companion of the living being and that
the rendering of service is the eternal
religion of the living being - sanatana-
dharma “

15. “Lord Krishna's instructions to Arjuna to "remember Me" and Lord Chaitanya
injunction to "always chant the names of Lord Krishna" are the same
instruction.”
“One must remember the form of Krishna; if
he quits his body thinking of this form, he
surely approaches the spiritual kingdom.“
“We must always engage our minds in
reading these Vedic literatures…in that way it
will be possible for us to remember the
Supreme Lord at the time of death. “
“The Lord therefore tells Arjuna that he need
not give up his occupation, but while he is
engaged in his occupation he should
remember Krishna “
“If the intelligence and the mind are always
engaged in the thought of the Supreme Lord,
then naturally the senses are also engaged
in His service. “

16. "This Gitopanishada, Bhagavad-gita, the
essence of all the Upanishada, is just like a
cow, and Lord Krishna, who is famous as a
cowherd boy, is milking this cow. Arjuna is just
like a calf, and learned scholars and pure
devotees are to drink the nectarean milk of
Bhagavad-gita."
(Gita-mahatmaya)

17. “Let there be one common scripture for the whole world- Bhagavad-gita.
Let there be one God for the whole world- Sri Krishna.
Let there be one hymn, one mantra, one prayer, the chanting of His holy name:
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
and
Let there be one work only- the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead."
(Gita-mahatmaya)