Category: Bhagavada Gita

Arjuna said, Krishna, I would like to understand the difference between renunciation and detachment. Lord Krishna said, Renunciation means giving up actions motivated by personal reward and detachment means giving up the results of actions. Some say you should give up all actions, but others say you should never abandon acts of sacrifice, charity and…… Continue reading Chapter 18 – The Path to Freedom

Arjuna said, Krishna, what is the position of those people who perform worship with faith but disregard the scriptural rules and regulations? Is their worship in the mode of goodness, passion or ignorance? Lord Krishna said, Faith arises from the modes of material nature developed by the embodied living beings. Faith can have the quality…… Continue reading Chapter 17 – The Three Types of Faith

Lord Krishna said, The qualities of people with a pious nature are fearlessness; purity of heart; development of spiritual knowledge; charity and generosity; self-control; sacrifice; study of the Vedas; austerity and simplicity; non-violence; honesty; freedom from anger; detachment from the mundane; tranquillity; disinclination to find fault with others; compassion; freedom from greed, envy, malice and…… Continue reading Chapter 16 – The Pious and Impious Natures

Lord Krishna said, The Vedic scriptures say this material world is like a banyan tree with its roots above and its branches down below. Those who know this tree know the Vedas. The leaves of the tree represent the verses of the Vedic scriptures. The branches represent the living beings, and the twigs represent the…… Continue reading Chapter 15 – The Supreme Person

Lord Krishna said, Now I will describe the highest of all knowledge. The sages who know this achieve the ultimate perfection. By taking shelter of this knowledge, the soul attains the spiritual nature. Having achieved this, one is not born at the material creation nor destroyed in the material dissolution. All forms of life are…… Continue reading Chapter 14 – The Three Modes of Nature

Arjuna said, Krishna, would you please tell me about material nature; the enjoyer; the field and the knower of the field; knowledge and the object of knowledge. Lord Krishna said, This body is the field, and one who knows this body is the knower of the field. I am also the knower in all bodies.…… Continue reading Chapter 13 – Distinguishing between Matter and Spirit

Arjuna said, Of those who are exclusively devoted to worshipping you and those who meditate on the impersonal spirit, who is superior? Lord Krishna said, In My opinion, those who faithfully worship me with exclusive devotion are superior. But those who control their senses, view everything with an equal mind, are dedicated to the welfare…… Continue reading Chapter 12 – The Path of Devotion

Arjuna said, My dear Krishna, you have kindly told me the most secret knowledge about your supreme nature and my illusion is now gone. I have heard your elaborate description of the creation and dissolution of the living beings and your unlimited glories. Krishna, although I see you standing before me I would like to…… Continue reading Chapter 11 – The Vision of the Universal Form

Lord Krishna said, Arjuna, listen once again to my advice that I speak for your welfare. The gods and the great sages do not know my source, because I am their origin. Only those who are wise and undeluded can know me as the Supreme Lord of all beings, unborn and without beginning. Intelligence, knowledge,…… Continue reading Chapter 10 – The Divine Glories of the Lord

Lord Krishna said, Because you are not jealous, I will now reveal the hidden treasure of pure devotion. This knowledge is supreme, pure and eternal, and it will free you from the suffering of material existence. This is the most secret knowledge and the perfection of religion. It is known by direct realisation and is…… Continue reading Chapter 9 – The Hidden Treasure