Bhagavad Gita in short

Having read a large part of the Gita offer a basic summary of each of assigned five sections of the Gita (write it up in five small parts).


Within chapter 1 the story opens up with the Pandava prince Arjuna heading into battle between his sons, the Kauravas, and their cousins, the Pandavas. Because Arjuna is such a devoted follower of Lord Krishna, he (Lord Krishna) agrees to drive Arjuna’s chariot. When Arjuna prepares to fight he sees his sons of Dhritarashtra with their bows drawn and requests Krishna to draw his chariot between the two forces. While in-between both armies, Arjunda begins to envision hi friends, relatives, and teacher dying. At that moment he decided not to fight because he fears the sinful reactions of the killing.

“Evil should cling to us for killing these attackers.
Therefore we should not kill
The sons of Dhritarashtra, our relatives.
How could we ever be happy killing our own people, Madhava?”





Within chapter 2 Arjuna surrenders to Krishna and asks for instruction.

“I am your student fallen at your feet: correct me!”

Krishna begins to explain to him that him fighting is a service to him and will bring no sinful reaction. It is Arjuna’s purpose to gradually elevate souls (reincarnation) to Krishna consciousness. Krishna then encourages Arjuna to continue to fight.

“No one is able to cause the destruction of the imperishable.
These bodies have an end:
It is said of the indestructible, infinite soul
That it is eternal.
Therefore, fight, Bharata!”



Chapter 3 opens up when Arjuna becomes confused and asks Krishna why he continues to encourage him to fight if intelligence is better than action.

“If your intuition idea is better than action, Janardana,
then why do you urge me into this terrible action, Keshava?
With equivocal speech you confuse my intuition.
This one thing tell me without doubt:
By which I should attain what is better.”

Krishna replies with an explanation of reaction-free devotional work (karma yoga). He clears up Arjuna’s confusion even further by explaining that it is his duty to fight. He states that it is better to avoid sinful reactions through devotional work than it is to escape reactions though renouncing work.

“Even the wise act according to their own nature.
Creatures follow nature.
What will constraint accomplish?
Like-dislike situation in sense and the object of sense,
One should not come under the power of these two adversaries.
Better one’s own imperfect duty
Than another’s duty well performed.
Death in one’s own duty is better.
Another’s duty brings fear.”

Arjuna opens up chapter 8 by asking about knowing Krishna at the time of death. Krishna replys by basically stating that as long as you remember him at the time of death then you will go to Him.

“When one abandons the body, one goes to that, Kauteya,
always becoming that essence.
Therefore at all times remember me and fight.
The intuitive mind fixed on me, you will surely come to me.”

Krishna further explains that by practicing yoga and remembering Him, one will go to the spiritual world and never return to this miserable material world. After describing the different yogic ways in which one may enter the supreme eternal adobe, Krishna advises Arjuna not to worry about the other paths because they all will get the same results. And he too will receive the same results by through performing devotional service.



Krishna proves himself as the God in chapter 11 by showing his Universal Form and also states that anyone who claims to be God must also show a Universal form. If any one else might also be God then there must be one God in different forms. This is what I gather from the section of the scripture when the blessed Lord said”

“Look, Partha, at my hundreds of forms, or thousands,
diverse, divine, of various colors and shapes.”

Krishna after showing his universal forms asks Arjuna to become His instrument. Arjuna has fearful prayers especially after learning of all soldiers on both sides dying. Krishna first shows his four-armed form before returning to his two armed form and explains that his two armed form can only be seen by pure devotees and as such work for Krishna. As long as he makes this the goal of his life, he is certain to come to Him.

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