艢r墨mad-bhagavad-g墨t膩鈥攁s a scripture of yoga

Bhagavad Gita in contemporary perspective (study)

by Tapan Dutta | 2017 | 61,825 words

This page relates 鈥楽hrimad-bhagavad-gita鈥攁s a scripture of yoga鈥� of the study on the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, which attempts to understands its teachings on human values in contemporary perspective. The thesis emphasizes the Bhagavadgita as a source of inspiration, not limited to religious instruction but covering ethical, moral, and societal guidance. This study highlights how studying the Gita has the potential to guide individuals toward peace, spiritual harmony, and effective management in life and work..

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艢r墨mad-bhagavad-g墨t膩鈥攁s a scripture of yoga

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The 艢谤墨尘补诲产丑补驳补惫补诲驳墨迟腻 consists of eighteen chapters. Each chapter is called Yoga. Yoga is the science of the individual consciousness attaining communion with the ultimate consciousness. So, each chapter is a highly specialized yoga revealing the path of attaining realization of the ultimate truth.

Since there are eighteen chapters, therefore, there are eighteen yogas. As explained in this quotation from Swami 颁丑颈诲产丑补惫补苍补苍诲补鈥�

鈥淎ll the eighteen chapters in the 骋墨迟腻 are designated, each as a type of yoga. The function of the Yoga is to train the body and the mind. The first chapter in the 骋墨迟腻 is designated as a system of yoga. It is called Arjuna 痴颈峁Ｄ乨补 Yogam-Yoga of Arjuna鈥檚 Dejection.鈥�^[1]

In Sanskrit texts of the 骋墨迟腻, the titles of each chapter naming as a particular form of Yoga. These titles do not appear in the Sanskrit text of the 惭补丑腻产丑腻谤补迟补. In English translations of the 艢谤墨尘补诲产丑补驳补惫补诲驳墨迟腻 of many scholars, there is also not appearing the word Yoga. For example, the Sanskrit title of 鈥榗hapter I鈥� as given in Swami Sivananda鈥檚 bilingual editions is 鈥�Arjuna vi峁Ｄ乨a Yoga鈥� which he translates as 鈥淭he Yoga of the Despondency of Arjuna鈥�.^[2] Swami Tapasya-nanda鈥檚 bilingual edition gives the same Sanskrit title, but translates it as 鈥淎rjuna鈥檚 spiritual conversion through sorrow.^[3] 鈥淭he English translation by Radhakrishna translated the title of first chapter as 鈥淭he Hesitation and despondency of Arjuna鈥�.^[4] Other English translations, such as that by Zaehner, entirely omit these chapter-titles 鈥榊oga鈥�.

The renowned English commentator of the Bhagavad 骋墨迟腻,鈥� A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada鈥� in his famous book 鈥�叠丑补驳补惫补诲-驳墨迟腻 As It Is鈥� entitled the chapters as鈥斺€�

Chapter One: observing the Armies on the Battle-field of 碍耻谤耻办峁迟谤补.
Chapter Two: Contents of the 骋墨迟腻 Summarized.
Chapter Three: Karma Yoga.
Chapter Four: Transcendental Knowledge.
Chapter Five: Karma Yoga鈥擜ction in Krishna Consciousness.
Chapter Six: Dhyana Yoga.
Chapter Seven: Knowledge of the Absolute.
Chapter Eight: Attaining the Supreme.
Chapter Nine: The most Confidential Knowledge.
Chapter Ten: The Opulence of the Absolute.
Chapter Eleven: The Universal Form.
Chapter Twelve: Devotional Service.
Chapter Thirteen: Nature, the Enjoyer and Consciousness.
Chapter Fourteen: The Three Modes of Material Nature.
Chapter Fifteen: The Yoga of the Supreme Person.
Chapter Sixteen: The Divine and Demoniac Nature.
Chapter Seventeen: The Divisions of Faith.
Chapter Eighteen: The Perfection of Renunciation.

The influential commentator Madhusudana Sarasvati divided the 骋墨迟腻鈥檚 eighteen chapters into three sections, each of six chapters. According to his method of division, the first six chapters deal with Karma Yoga, which is the means to the final goal, and the last six deals with the goal itself, which he says is the Knowledge (Jnana). The middle six deals with Bhakti.^[5] Swami Gambhirananda characterizes Madhusudana Sarasvati鈥檚 system as a successive approach in which Karma Yoga leads to Bhakti Yoga, which in turn leads to Jnana Yoga.^[6]

Karma yoga:

The first six chapters have been classified as the Karma Yoga section as they mainly deal with the science of the individual conscious attaining communion with the ultimate consciousness through action.

These chapters are:

Chapter I: Arjuna Visada Yoga;
Chapter II: Sankhya yoga;
Chapter III: Karma Yoga;
Chapter IV: Jnana Yoga;
Chapter V: Karma Sanyasa Yoga;
Chapter VI: Dhyana Yoga;

Karma Yoga is essentially means Action, or doing one鈥檚 duties in life as per his/her dharma, or duty, without attachment to results i.e. a sort of constant sacrifice of action to the supreme. It is action done without thought of gain. In a modern interpretation, it can be viewed as duty bound deeds done without letting the nature of the result affect one鈥檚 actions. Krishna advocates Niskama Karma (selfless Action) as the ideal path to realize the truth. The very important theme of Karma Yoga is not focused on renouncing the work, but again and again Krishna focuses on what should be the purpose of activity.

Bhakti Yoga:

The middle six chapters have been designated as the Bhakti Yoga section as they principally are pertaining with the science of the individual consciousness by the path of devotion.

These Chapters are:

Chapter VII: Jnana Vijnana Yoga;
Chapter VIII: Aksara Brahma Yoga;
Chapter IX: Raja鈥�Vidya鈥揜补箩补 Guhya Yoga;
Chapter X: Viswarupa Darsana Yoga;
Chapter XI: Bhakti yoga;

According to Catherine Cornille, Associate professor of theology at Boston College,

鈥淭he text (of the 骋墨迟腻) offers a survey of the different possible disciplines for attaining liberation through knowledge (Jnana), action (Karma) and loving devotion to God (bhakti), focusing on the latter as both the easiest and the highest path to salvation.鈥�^[7]

In the introduction to chapter seven of the 骋墨迟腻, Bhakti is summed up as a mode of worship which consists of unceasing and loving remembrance of God. As M.R. Sampatkumaran explains in his overview of Ramanuja鈥檚 commentary on the 骋墨迟腻, 鈥淭he point is that mere knowledge of the scriptures cannot lead to final release. Devotion, meditation and worship are essential鈥�.

J帽ana Yoga:

The final six chapters of the 骋墨迟腻 are regarded as the Jnana Yoga section as they are primarily concerned with the science of the individual consciousness attaining communion with the Ultimate consciousness through the intellect.

These chapters are:

Chapter XIII: Ksetra-ksetrajna Vibhaga Yoga;
Chapter XIV: Gunatraya-Vibhaga Yoga;
Chapter XV: Purusottama Yoga;
Chapter XVI: Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga;
Chapter XVII: Sraddhatraya-Vibhaga Yoga;
Chapter XVIII: Moksa Yoga;

Jnana Yoga, actually a process of learning to discriminate between what is real and what is not, what is eternal and what is not.