THE GLORY OF BHAGAVAT GITA – PART I

The Mahabharata says: "The Gita comprises all the scriptures".

The Gita is the essence of all the Hindu scriptures.

Swami Ramatirtha narrates how Emerson has recommended very strongly the study of Gita. He writes:

"Mr. Mallory, a great personal friend of Emerson told Rama as to how Emerson had strongly recommended to him the study of the Bhagavat Gita and lent him a copy for just three weeks claiming that that was the first copy brought into America. It cost Emerson a full pound, 5 dollars! It is translated by Sir Charles Welkins with an introduction by Warren Hastings."

This copy is still in the Boston Public Library.

Special attention was drawn by Emerson to the translation of the verse 'mayi sarvamidam proktha' etc."

The Gita consists of 700 verses.

The number of verses attributed to the various characters figuring in the Gita in order of the chapters will be as follows:

1)Dhrtharastra Chapter one - one verse

2)Sanjaya Chapter one - 25 verses,  two – 3, eleven - 8 , eighteen - 5 (Total 41 verses)

3)Arjuna Chapter one - 21 verses, two – 6, three - 3 verses, four – 1,five - 1 verse,  six - 5 verses, eight – 2, ten – 7,  eleven – 33, twelve – 1, fourteen – 1, seventeen – 1,  eighteen - 2 (Total 84 verses)

4) Lord Krishna Chapter two - 63 verses, three - 40 verses, four – 41, five – 28, six – 42, seven – 30, eight – 26,  nine – 34, ten – 35, eleven – 14, twelve – 19, thirteen – 34,  fourteen – 26, fifteen – 20, sixteen – 24, seventeen – 27, eighteen - 71 (Total 574 verses)

The chapter wise verses will be as follows:

Chapter one - 47 verses, two – 72, three – 43, four – 42, five – 29, six – 47, seven – 30, eight – 28, nine – 34, ten – 42, eleven – 55, twelve – 20, thirteen – 34, fourteen – 27, fifteen – 20,  sixteen – 24, seventeen – 28,  eighteen - 78 verses (Total 700 verses)

It is highly recommended that those who are spiritually inclined should read the Gita.

Every verse spoken by the Lord is beautiful and has pregnant meaning in it.

Lord Krishna reveals himself in the tenth chapter which is named as Vibhuti yoga (The yoga of Divine manifestations).

Lord Krishna says to Arjuna:

"Neither gods nor the great sage know the secret of My birth ( that is, My appearance in human or other garb out of mere sport); for I am the prime cause in all respects of gods as well as of the great seers.

He who knows Me in reality as birth less and without beginning, and as the supreme Lord of the Universe, he, undeluded among men, is purged of all sins.

Reason, right knowledge, unclouded understanding, forbearance, veracity, control over the senses and mind, joy and sorrow, evolution and dissolution, fear and fearlessness, non-violence equanimity, contentment, austerity, charity, fame and obloquy, - these diverse traits of creatures emanate from Me alone."

Those who read Gita will march forward in his/her spiritual path. There is no doubt in it