Tag Archives: Bhagavad Gita Teachings

Bhagavad Gita Dhyanam: Explanation and Meanings

The Bhagavad Gita Dhyanam (Bhagavad Gita Meditation) serves as a preliminary practice before studying the Bhagavad Gita, fostering a reverential attitude, focusing the mind, and invoking the blessings of the divine. By meditating and chanting these verses, individuals establish a connection with the profound wisdom contained in the Gita and prepare themselves to receive and contemplate its teachings in their everyday lives.
Guruji, Sri Amit Ray, always said, “By integrating the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita into your daily life, you can cultivate inner growth, find meaning and purpose, and develop a greater sense of harmony and well-being.”


ध्यानम्
ओं पार्थाय प्रतिबोधितां भगवता नारायणेन स्वयम्
व्यासेन ग्रथितां पुराणमुनिना मध्ये महाभारतम्।
अद्वैतामृतवर्षिणीं भगवतीमष्टादशाध्यायिनीम्
अम्ब त्वामनुसन्दधामि भगवद्गीते भवद्वेषिणीम्॥१॥
नमोऽस्तु ते व्यास विशालबुद्धे फुल्लारविन्दायतपत्रनेत्र।
येन त्वया भारततैलपूर्णः प्रज्वालितो ज्ञानमयः प्रदीपः॥२॥
प्रपन्नपारिजाताय तोत्रवेत्रैकपाणये।
ज्ञानमुद्राय कृष्णाय गीतामृतदुहे नमः॥३॥
सर्वोपनिषदो गावो दोग्धा गोपाल-नन्दनः।
पार्थो वत्सः सुधीर्भोक्ता दुग्धं गीतामृतं महत्॥४॥
वसुदेवसुतं देवं कंसचाणूरमर्दनम्।
देवकीपरमानन्दं कृष्णं वन्दे जगद्गुरुम्॥५॥
भीष्मद्रोणतटा जयद्रथजला गान्धारनीलोपला
शल्यग्राहवती कृपेण वहनी कर्णेन वेलाकुला।
अश्वत्थामविकर्णघोरमकरा दुर्योधनावर्तिनी
सोत्तीर्णा खलु पाण्डवै रणनदी कैवर्तकः केशवः॥६॥
पाराशर्यवचः सरोजममलं गीतार्थगन्धोत्कटम्
नानाख्यानककेसरं हरिकथासम्बोधनाबोधितम्।
लोके सज्जनषट्पदैरहरहः पेपीयमानं मुदा
भूयाद्भारतपङ्कजं कलिमलप्रध्वंसि नः श्रेयसे॥७॥
मूकं करोति वाचालं पङ्गुं लङ्घयते गिरिम्।
यत्कृपा तमहं वन्दे परमानन्दमाधवम्॥८॥
यं ब्रह्मा वरुणेन्द्र-रुद्र-मरुतः स्तुवन्ति दिव्यैः स्तवैः
वेदैः साङ्ग-पद-क्रमोपनिषदैर्गायन्ति यं सामगाः।
ध्यानावस्थित-तद्गतेन मनसा पश्यन्ति यं योगिनः
यस्यान्तं न विदुः सुरासुर-गणा देवाय तस्मै नमः॥९॥
नारायणं नमस्कृत्य नरं चैव नरोत्तमम्।
देवीं सरस्वतीं व्यासं ततो जयमुदीरयेत्॥१०॥


Dhyānam
oṃ pārthāya pratibodhitāṃ bhagavatā nārāyaṇena svayam
vyāsena grathitāṃ purāṇamuninā madhye mahābhāratam।
advaitāmṛtavarṣiṇīṃ bhagavatīmaṣṭādaśādhyāyinīm
amba tvāmanusandadhāmi bhagavadgīte bhavadveṣiṇīm॥1॥
namo’stu te vyāsa viśālabuddhe phullāravindāyatapatranetra।
yena tvayā bhāratatailapūrṇaḥ prajvālito jñānamayaḥ pradīpaḥ॥2॥
prapannapārijātāya totravetraikapāṇaye।
jñānamudrāya kṛṣṇāya gītāmṛtaduhe namaḥ॥3॥
sarvopaniṣado gāvo dogdhā gopāla-nandanaḥ।
pārtho vatsaḥ sudhīrbhoktā dugdhaṃ gītāmṛtaṃ mahat॥4॥
vasudevasutaṃ devaṃ kaṃsacāṇūramardanam।
devakīparamānandaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ vande jagadgurum॥5॥
bhīṣmadroṇataṭā jayadrathajalā gāndhāranīlopalā
śalyagrāhavatī kṛpeṇa vahanī karṇena velākulā।
aśvatthāmavikarṇaghoramakarā duryodhanāvartinī
sottīrṇā khalu pāṇḍavai raṇanadī kaivartakaḥ keśavaḥ॥6॥
pārāśaryavacaḥ sarojamamalaṃ gītārthagandhotkaṭam
nānākhyānakakesaraṃ harikathāsambodhanābodhitam।
loke sajjanaṣaṭpadairaharahaḥ pepīyamānaṃ mudā
bhūyādbhāratapaṅkajaṃ kalimalapradhvaṃsi naḥ śreyase॥7॥
mūkaṃ karoti vācālaṃ paṅguṃ laṅghayate girim।
yatkṛpā tamahaṃ vande paramānandamādhavam॥8॥
yaṃ brahmā varuṇendra-rudra-marutaḥ stuvanti divyaiḥ stavaiḥ
vedaiḥ sāṅga-pada-kramopaniṣadairgāyanti yaṃ sāmagāḥ।
dhyānāvasthita-tadgatena manasā paśyanti yaṃ yoginaḥ
yasyāntaṃ na viduḥ surāsura-gaṇā devāya tasmai namaḥ॥9॥
nārāyaṇaṃ namaskṛtya naraṃ caiva narottamam।
devīṃ sarasvatīṃ vyāsaṃ tato jayamudīrayet॥10॥

Explanation and Meanings:

Here are some key points highlighting the importance of Bhagavad Gita Dhyanam in everyday life:

Invocation and Focus: The recitation of the Dhyanam verses acts as an invocation, setting the tone for studying the Bhagavad Gita. It helps to establish a focused and contemplative mindset, preparing the individual to delve into the profound spiritual teachings of the text.

Reverence for Divine Guidance: The verses express deep reverence for Lord Krishna as the divine teacher and Guru. By paying homage to Narayana (a form of Lord Vishnu), the verses acknowledge the divine nature of the Bhagavad Gita and its potential to guide and enlighten seekers on their spiritual journey.

Acknowledgment of the Author: The Dhyanam verses also pay tribute to Sage Vyasa, who compiled the Mahabharata and wrote the Bhagavad Gita. Recognizing Vyasa’s role emphasizes the authenticity and authority of the text, instilling confidence in the reader about the profound knowledge and insights it contains.

Immersion in the Nectar of Non-Duality: The verses describe the Bhagavad Gita as the “Amrita Varshini,” the stream of immortal nectar. This implies that the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita are not only insightful but also have the potential to bring about a profound transformation in the seeker’s consciousness. By immersing oneself in the Gita’s wisdom, one can gradually transcend the limitations of duality and realize the unity of all existence.

Connection to the Universal Truth: The Dhyanam verses proclaim the Bhagavad Gita as the essence of all Upanishads and the song sung by Lord Krishna, the teacher of the universe. This suggests that the teachings of the Gita encompass the wisdom found in various scriptures and encapsulate the eternal truths of life. By studying and contemplating the Gita, one aligns themselves with these universal principles and gains a deeper understanding of their own existence.

Overcoming Ignorance and Attaining Liberation: The concluding verses of the Dhyanam express a desire for the removal of ignorance and the attainment of liberation. They seek the blessings of Lord Krishna, who is described as the destroyer of the demons Kansa and Chanura, and the source of supreme bliss. This implies that by studying and imbibing the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, one can overcome the inner obstacles and attain spiritual liberation and ultimate joy.

 

Essence of Bhagavad Gita Shlokas on Meditation

Gita Dhyanam is the 9-verses that are  associated with the beginning of the Bhagavad Gita. The first verse opens by affirming an act of meditation.  Bhagavad Gita is like loving mother and praised as the destroyer of rebirth and the shower-er of the nectar. The Upanishads are the cows milked by Lord Krishna, the son of Nanda, and Arjuna is the calf. Wise people and pure persons drink the milk, the supreme, immortal nectar of the Gita. You can meditate on Bhagavad Gita in many ways.

The chapter 6 of bhagavad gita explains the Dhyāna Yoga, the art of meditation. The important verses for meditation are as follows:

3. For the wise who seeks to attain yoga Karma-yoga is said to be the means; For the one who has attained yoga,
Equanimity becomes the means.

4. A person is said to have attained yogic perfection When there is no desire for sensual pleasures, Or attachment to the fruits of work, And has renounced all personal selfish motives.

5. One must elevate, not degrade, oneself By one’s own mind. The mind alone is one’s friend As well as one’s enemy.

6. The mind is the friend Of those who have control over it, And the mind acts like an enemy For those who do not control it.

7. One who has control over the mind Is tranquil in heat and cold, In pleasure and pain, and in honor and dishonor; And is ever steadfast with the Supreme Self.

11. In a clean place, having established for oneself a firm seat which is neither too high nor too low, and covering it with cloth, deer-skin and kusha grass one over the other,

12. there, sitting on the seat, focusing the mind in concentration, with the thoughts and the senses restrained,

13. Holding the trunk, head and neck erect, motionless and steady, focusing [the attention] at the tip of the nose ,

14. Serene and fearless, holding the mind in check and fixing the thoughts on Me, holding Me to be Supreme.

The Ultimate Wisdom of four Yogas

Bhagavad Gita is perfect fusion of four yogas – karma yoga, jnana yoga, raja yoga and bhakti yoga. Self realization or God realization is the essence of Bhagavad Gita. Although goal is one, there are many ways to reach it based on your temperaments and circumstances. When  you use your emotions and try to reach the ultimate, we call this bhakti yoga. This is the path of love and devotion. The raja yogi controls his mind until it becomes perfectly still. Raja yoga works with internal actions. Karma yoga is mostly about external actions. Karma yoga is path of selfless service. “Work hard and enjoy your work but do not get attached to the fruits of your action” is the essence of karma yoga. Jnana yoga is the path of wisdom and knowledge. They use their will and power of discrimination to transcend the veil of ignorance and attain the truth. You need a combination of these four yogas to reach the ultimate.

The Essence of the Bhagavad Gita

The Bhagavad Gita has 18 chapters. It consists of 700 verses. Each chapter talks about ultimate objective of life with its own flavor. The word Bhagavad means God and the word Gita means song and , hence the Bhagavad-Gita is called as the Song of God.  Bhagavad Gita is written in Anustup rhythmic meter and contains 32 syllables in each verse.  Bhagavad Gita is communication between Lord Krishna and Arjuna written by Sage Vedavyasa. Bhagavad Gita is a part of the Mahabharata’Bhishma Parva. 

Bhagavad Gita and the Four Yogas:

Self realization or God realization is the essence of Bhagavad Gita.

Bhagavad Gita is perfect synthesis of dharma-and-karma-based householder life, enlightenment-seeking life of renunciation, and devotion-oriented general life. Bhagavad Gita is perfect fusion of four yogas – karma yoga, jnana yoga, raja yoga and bhakti yoga. Self realization or God realization is the essence of Bhagavad Gita. Although goal is one, there are many ways to reach it based on your temperaments and circumstances. When  you use your emotions and try to reach the ultimate, we call this bhakti yoga. This is the path of love and devotion. The raja yogi controls his mind until it becomes perfectly still. Raja yoga works with internal actions. Karma yoga is mostly about external actions. Karma yoga is path of selfless service. “Work hard and enjoy your work but do not get attached to the fruits of your action” is the essence of karma yoga. Jnana yoga is the path of wisdom and knowledge. They use their will and power of discrimination to transcend the veil of ignorance and attain the truth. You need a combination of these four yogas to reach the ultimate.

Read: The Ultimate Wisdom of four Yogas

Summary of  Bhagavad Gita:

Bhagavad Gita has Gita Dhyanam and 18 chapters. The details of which are as follows:

Gita Dhyanam:

The Upanishads are the cows milked by Lord Krishna, Arjuna is the calf and the wise people drink the milk.

Gita Dhyanam is the 9-verses that are  associated with the beginning of the Bhagavad Gita. The first verse opens by affirming an act of meditation.  Bhagavad Gita is like loving mother and praised as the destroyer of rebirth and the shower-er of the nectar. The Upanishads are the cows milked by Lord Krishna, the son of Nanda, and Arjuna is the calf. Wise people and pure persons drink the milk, the supreme, immortal nectar of the Gita.

Read: Essence of  Gita Dhyanam

Chapter – 1: Arjuna–Visada yoga (The Distress of Arjuna):

It contains 46 verses. This chapter introduces the scene, the setting, the circumstances and the characters involved determining the reasons for the BhagavadGita’s message. It introduces the location, the action and the theme. Addressing Lord Krishna as Acutya the infallible one, Arjuna requested Krishna to drive his chariot into the middle of the battle.  In the battle field, Arjuna saw fathers, uncles, sons and grandsons and others as well as associates, friends, and well wishers who had rendered some favor in the past. After seeing all these relatives and friends in the battle field, Arjuna became overwhelmed with compassionate.  By seeing them all, his hands, legs and other bodily limbs became numb and drying up.  His growing dejection is described as he fears losing friends and relatives as a consequence of war. Arjuna vividly illustrates how the shock and horror of the upcoming war is starting to affect him. His physical body is being attacked by weakness of limbs, trembling, and hair standing on end. Even his famous Gandiva bow is slipping from his hand. Arjuna exclaims that he cannot foresee any benefit from slaying his own kinsman in battle. Arjuna describes the evil consequences of war.

Read: Essence of  BhagavadGita Chapter-1: Arjuna–Visada yoga

Chapter – 2: Sankhya yoga (The Book of Doctrines)

This chapter is often considered the summary of the entire Bhagavad Gita. It contains 72 verses. After asking Krishna for help, Arjuna is instructed into various subjects such as, Karma yoga, Jnana yoga, Sankhya yoga, Buddhi yoga and the immortal nature of the soul. Sankhya here refers to one of six orthodox schools of the Hindu Philosophy.

Read: Essence of  BhagavadGita Chapter-2: Sankhya yoga

Chapter – 3: Karma yoga (Virtue Of Actions)

It contains 43 verses.  Krishna explains how Karma yoga, i.e. performance of prescribed duties, but without attachment to results, is the appropriate course of action for Arjuna

Read: Essence of  BhagavadGita Chapter-3: Karma yoga

Chapter – 4: Gyaana–yoga (The Wisdom of Knowledge)

This chapter contains 42 verses. Krishna reveals that he has lived through many births, always teaching yoga for the protection of the pious and the destruction of the impious and stresses the importance of accepting a guru.

Read: Essence of  BhagavadGita Chapter-4: Gyaana yoga

Chapter – 5:  Karma–Sanyasa yoga (Religion by Renouncing Fruits of  Actions)

This chapter contains 29 verses.  Arjuna asks Krishna if it is better to forgo action or to act (“renunciation or discipline of action”). Krishna answers that both are ways to the same goal but that acting in Karma yoga is superior.

Read: Essence of  BhagavadGita Chapter-5: Karma–Sanyasa yoga

Chapter – 6:  Dhyan yoga (Religion of Meditation)

It contains 47 verses.  Krishna describes the Ashtanga yoga. He further elucidates the difficulties of the mind and the techniques by which mastery of the mind might be gained

Read: Essence of  BhagavadGita Chapter-6: Dhyan yoga

Chapter – 7: Gyaana–ViGyaana yoga (Religion by Discernment)\

It contains 30 verses. Krishna describes the absolute reality and its illusory energy Maya.

Read: Essence of  BhagavadGita Chapter-7: Gyaana–ViGyaana yoga

Chapter – 8: Aksara–Brahma yoga (Religion by Devotion to the One Supreme God)

 This chapter contains 28 verses. It contains eschatology of the Bhagavad Gita. Importance of the last thought before death, differences between material and spiritual worlds, and light and dark paths that a soul takes after death are described

Read: Essence of  BhagavadGita Chapter-8: Aksara–Brahma yoga

Chapter – 9: Raja–Vidya–Raja–Guhya yoga (Religion by the Kingly Knowledge and the Kingly Mystery)

It contains 34 verses. Krishna explains how His eternal energy pervades, creates, preserves, and destroys the entire universe.

Read: Essence of  BhagavadGita Chapter-9: Raja–Vidya–Raja–Guhya yoga

Chapter – 10: Vibhuti–Vistara–yoga (Religion by the Heavenly Perfections)

It contains 42 verses. Krishna is described as the ultimate cause of all material and spiritual existence. Arjuna accepts Krishna as the Supreme Being, quoting great sages who have also done so.

Read: Essence of  BhagavadGita Chapter-10: Vibhuti–Vistara–yoga

Chapter – 11:  Visvarupa–Darsana yoga (The Manifesting of the One Universal Form)

It contains 55 verses. On Arjuna’s request, Krishna displays his “universal form” (Viśvarūpa), a theophany of a being facing every way and emitting the radiance of a thousand suns, containing all other beings and material in existence.

Read: Essence of  BhagavadGita Chapter-11: Visvarupa–Darsana yoga

Chapter – 12: Bhakti yoga (The Religion of Faith)

It contains 20 verses.  In this chapter Krishna glorifies the path of devotion to God. Krishna describes the process of devotional service (Bhakti yoga). He also explains different forms of spiritual disciplines

Read: Essence of  BhagavadGita Chapter-12: Bhakti yoga

Chapter – 13: Ksetra–Ksetrajna Vibhaga yoga (Religion by Separation of Matter and Spirit)

It contains 35 verses. The difference between transient perishable physical body and the immutable eternal soul is described. The difference between individual consciousness and universal consciousness is also made clear.

Read: Essence of  BhagavadGita Chapter-13: Ksetra–Ksetrajna Vibhaga yoga

Chapter – 14: Gunatraya–Vibhaga yoga (Religion by Separation from the Qualities)

It contains 27 verses. Krishna explains the three modes (gunas) of material nature pertaining to goodness, passion, and nescience. Their causes, characteristics, and influence on a living entity are also described

Read: Essence of  BhagavadGita Chapter-14: Gunatraya–Vibhaga yoga

Chapter – 15:  Purusottama yoga (Religion by Attaining the Supreme) 

It contains 20 verses. Krishna identifies the transcendental characteristics of God such as, omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence. Krishna also describes a symbolic tree (representing material existence), which has its roots in the heavens and its foliage on earth. Krishna explains that this tree should be felled with the “axe of detachment”, after which one can go beyond to his supreme abode.

Read: Essence of  BhagavadGita Chapter-15: Purusottama yoga

Chapter – 16: Daivasura–Sampad–Vibhaga yoga (The Separateness of the Divine and Undivine)

It contains 24 verses. Krishna identifies the human traits of the divine and the demonic natures. He counsels that to attain the supreme destination one must give up lust, anger, greed, and discern between right and wrong action by discernment through Buddhi and evidence from the scriptures.

Read: Essence of  BhagavadGita Chapter-16: Daivasura–Sampad–Vibhaga yoga

Chapter – 17: Sraddhatraya-Vibhaga yoga (Religion by the Threefold Kinds of Faith)

It contains 28 verses. Krishna qualifies the three divisions of faith, thoughts, deeds, and even eating habits corresponding to the three modes (gunas).

Read: Essence of  BhagavadGita Chapter-17: Sraddhatraya-Vibhaga yoga

Chapter – 18: Moksha–Sanyasa yoga (Religion by Deliverance and Renunciation)

It contains 78 verses. In this chapter, the conclusions of previous seventeen chapters are summed up. Krishna asks Arjuna to abandon all forms of dharma and simply surrender unto him and describes this as the ultimate perfection of life.

Read: Essence of  BhagavadGita Chapter-18: Moksha–Sanyasa yoga

Summary of the Teachings of BhagavadGita:

Do your duty without attachment towards the fruits of actions.

In the end, Arjuna is convinced. He picks up his bow and is ready to fight. Bhagavad Gita tells us that forming a goal early in life is very important. In absence of goal life was like a rudderless boat going round and round in the ocean. One needs to concentrate all energies behind a particular goal. Bhagavad Gita explains the immortal nature of the soul. Bhagavad Gita tells us that one must do their duty for the welfare of the world without attachment towards the fruits of actions.

Read: Summary of Bhagavad Gita