Extra Credit Reading Notes: Bhagavad Gita, Part B

Bhagavad Gita, Part B


Story Source: The Bhagavad Gita, translated by Ramanand Prasad.



Chapter 10: Manifestation of the Absolute
  • Krishna powers the universe
Chapter 11: Vision of the Cosmic Form
  • Krishna's Universal form
  • the entire universe in Krishna's body
  • Krishna: "you are only an instrument, O Arjuna", suggesting determinism
Chapter 12: Path of Devotion
  • renunciation of the fruit of work>meditation>knowledge>ritual (12.12)
  • good qualities: content, subdued mind, firm resolve (12.14) sounds like Yudhishthira
Chapter 13: Creation and the Creator
  • lists of qualities 
  • "Attachment to the Gunas (due to ignorance caused by previous Karma)" (13.21)
Chapter 14: Three Gunas of Nature
  • Sattva to happiness, rajas to action, tamas to ignorance (14.09)
  • imbalance creates negative behavior 
  • dying during Sattva dominance leads to heaven (14.14)
  • Raja death reborn as action utilitarian type (14.15)
  • Tamas death reborn into ignorant lower creature (14.15)
  • Source of desires and behavioral flaws
  • How does Arjuna have time to go into this much detail when the other side is literally lined up for battle??
Chapter 15: Supreme Spirit
  • karmic bondage (15.02) caused by roots of ego and desires
  • soul body distinction, Atma is imperishable (15.16)
  • "O sinless Arjuna" (15.20) odd phrase
Chapter 16: Divine and Demonic Qualities
  • Divine qualities lead to nirvana
  • "lust, anger, and greed are the three gates of hell" (16.21)
Chapter 17: Threefold Faith
  • More details on behavior 
Chapter 18: Nirvana Through Renunciation
  • Argument over works being included
  • no attachments whatsoever
  • This is more relevant to Arjuna's current dilemma I guess since he is sad to battle familiar faces
  • 5 causes for the accomplishment of all actions (18.13)
  • very confused who is speaking in the last stanza

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