The Song of God—Volume 1, chapters 1-6
A companion to Bhagavad-gītā As It Is to help you to follow the flow of Kṛṣṇa’s teachings, understand each verse in context, and apply the Gītā in practical life.
The Bhagavad-gītā gives us the missing context by which the important questions of life can be understood. Who am I? Why do I desire and suffer? What is my relationship with Kṛṣṇa? What is the ultimate goal of life? By following the conversation between Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna, we can gradually see how all these topics connect into a complete map of spiritual life.
The Bhagavad-gītā is one of the foundational books of Kṛṣṇa consciousness, yet many readers find it difficult to grasp. We may understand individual verses as we read, but miss the overall progression and even the central message.
This book was written as a companion to Bhagavad-gītā As It Is by Śrīla Prabhupāda. It is not meant to replace the original text but to help you understand the structure, progression, and application of the teachings. Here, the verses are grouped in a way that follows the flow of Kṛṣṇa’s teachings, making it easier to understand how the verses are connected and how one point leads to the next. Studying in this way, you can both understand each verse individually and capture the thread of the conversation between Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna, seeing how everything forms a progressive message.
You may read this book from beginning to end as a continuous journey through the Gītā or go deep, using it as a study guide alongside the Bhagavad-gītā As It Is. Whether you are seeking a clear overview or a detailed study of the verses and purports, this book is meant to help you approach the mysteries of the Gītā with greater clarity and apply the teachings in practical life.
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New topics are being published daily. There is also a draft of the whole book available for subscribers on the upcoming books page.
+ Why would one want to study the Bhagavad-gītā?
+ How to use this book
+ Introduction: The conclusions of the Bhagavad-gītā
The essential qualification to understand the Gītā
Understanding the Absolute Truth
The 21 conclusions of the Bhagavad-gītā
The Gītā-māhātmya
Disciplic succession: the key to understanding the scriptures
+ CHAPTER ONE: Observing the armies on the battlefield of Kurukṣetra (Arjuna-viṣāda yoga)
Setting the scene of the Gītā (Bg 1.1)
Duryodhana speaks to Droṇācārya (Bg 1.2 to 1.9)
The political game before the battle (Bg 1.10 and 1.11)
Signs of victory: the sounding of the conchshells (Bg 1.12 to 1.19)
Arjuna orders Kṛṣṇa (Bg 1.20 to 1.23)
Arjuna sees the armies, and his heart shatters (Bg 1.24 to 1.27)
Arjuna feels compassion and fear (Bg 1.28 to 1.29)
The result of material attachment (Bg 1.30)
Arjuna’s reasons for not fighting (Bg 1.31 to 1.39)
How unwanted progeny destroys society (Bg 1.40 to 1.43)
Arjuna decides not to fight (Bg 1.44 and 1.45)
The perfect opportunity (Bg 1.46)
Summary of the first chapter of the Gītā
+ CHAPTER TWO: Contents of the Gītā Summarized (Sānkhya-yoga)
Kṛṣṇa speaks to Arjuna as a friend (Bg 2.1 to 2.3)
Arjuna’s doubts persist (Bg 2.4 to 2.6)
The moment of surrender (Bg 2.7 to 2.9)
Descendant of Bharata (Bg 2.10)
Kṛṣṇa assumes a new role and chastises Arjuna (Bg 2.11)
Knowledge about the soul (Bg 2.12 and 2.13)
Beyond temporary happiness and distress (Bg 2.14 and 2.15)
The eternal and the temporary (Bg 2.16)
The true nature of the soul (Bg 2.17 to 2.21)
More about the qualities of the soul (Bg 2.22 to 2.25)
Kṛṣṇa argues from the atheistic perspective (Bg 2.26 to 2.28)
The amazing people who can see the amazing soul (Bg 2.29 and 2.30)
Do thou fight for the sake of fighting (Bg 2.31 to 2.38)
Kṛṣṇa explains the path of buddhi-yoga (Bg 2.39 to 2.41)
Rejecting aparā-vidyā (Bg 2.42 to 2.46)
You have a right to perform your duty, but not to enjoy the fruits (Bg 2.47 to 2.53)
Four questions: The characteristics of a pure devotee (Bg 2.54)
Q1: What are his symptoms? (Bg 2.55)
Q2: How does he speak? (Bg 2.56 and 2.57)
Q3: How does he sit? (Bg 2.58 to 2.63)
Q4: How does he walk? (Bg 2.64 to 2.72)
Wrapping it all up
Summary of the second chapter of the Gītā
+ CHAPTER THREE: Karma-yoga
Arjuna becomes confused after Kṛṣṇa’s instructions (3.1 and 3.2)
Karma-yoga in its perfect form (3.3 to 3.9)
The cycle of sacrifices (3.10 to 3.16)
Whatever action a great man performs, common men follow (3.17 to 3.24)
The learned guide others without disturbing them (3.25 and 3.29)
Surrendering our work to Kṛṣṇa (3.30 to 3.35)
The danger of lust and anger (3.36 to 3.41)
+ CHAPTER FOUR: Transcendental Knowledge (jñāna-karma-sannyāsa yoga)
The disciplic succession (4.1 to 4.3)
The mystery of Kṛṣṇa's appearance and activities (4.4 to 4.10)
As all surrender unto Me, I reward them accordingly (4.11 to 4.15)
The intricacies of action (4.16 to 4.18)
Action with knowledge and detachment (4.19 to 4.24)
Different types of sacrifice (4.25 to 4.32)
The glories of transcendental knowledge (4.33 to 4.38)
Faith, doubt, and determined action (4.39 to 4.42)
+ CHAPTER FIVE: Karma-yoga – Action in Kṛṣṇa consciousness (Karma-sannyāsa yoga)
Devotional action is better than renunciation of work (5.1 to 5.6)
Niṣkāma-karma-yoga: Remaining free from bondage (5.7 to 5.12)
The liberated soul does not create activities, nor induces others to act (5.13 to 5.16)
The vision of the self-realized (5.17 to 5.21)
Resisting the urges of the senses and attaining liberation (5.22 to 5.26)
Introducing dhyāna-yoga and its goal (5.27 to 5.29)
+ CHAPTER SIX: Dhyāna-yoga
Yogārurukṣu and yogārūḍha: two stages in the practice of yoga (6.1 to 6.9)
The practice of aṣṭāṅga-yoga (6.10 to 6.15)
The perfectional state of yoga meditation (6.16 to 6.23)
The vision of the perfect yogī (6.24 to 6.32)
Controlling the turbulent mind (6.33 to 6.36)
The fate of the unsuccessful yogī (6.37 to 6.45)
The devotee is the topmost yogī (6.46 and 6.47)
A summary: the progression of the yoga processes described in the Bhagavad-gītā
From animal life to devotional service
The path of bhakti
A clear path
Karma and jñāna
The yoga ladder of the Bhagavad-gītā
Devotion is the measure of success
The path to perfection
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