Bhagavad Gita

We often feel that the Mahabharata war was about avenging the atrocities that Duryodhana had been committing. But in fact, the war was to stop Duryodhana from wreaking havoc on the entire country in the future. If the state policies themselves promote Adharma, then the effect on the population would certainly be derogatory. Therefore, despite the likely great loss of lives, it was still important to fight the war.

क्या ग्रंथों ने नारी शोषण किया है?

28 min

आजकल की जो पढ़ी-लिखी लड़कियाँ हैं, बोलती हैं कि धर्म का मतलब ही है नारी शोषण। नहीं, ऐसा नहीं है। धर्म के केंद्र पर जो ऋषि बैठे हैं, उन्होंने अपनी ओर से कभी भेदभाव नहीं किया। यह भेदभाव उस समाज ने किया है, जो कृषि और बाहुबल आधारित था। आज सौभाग्य की बात यह है कि महिलाओं के लिए ऊर्जा बाजुओं से नहीं आती, मस्तिष्क से आती है। तो परम आवश्यक है कि उनके हाथ मजबूत रहें और वे आर्थिक रूप से आत्मनिर्भर रहें।

(Gita-28) The Most Misunderstood Verse of the Bhagavad Gita

69 min

Obsession with the future is a compulsion with the ego. The only way to be free of the future is to be free of yourself. Be free of yourself and flow like the wind. But will the right things happen to me then? Can you assure me? Is there a guarantee? So desireless, motiveless action and faith, they always go together. Somebody who's asking for guarantees, somebody who is craving for assurances, he is unfit to even touch the Bhagavad Gita. This is only for the courageous ones.

सौ बार गिरे हो, तो भी याद रहे: स्वभाव अपना उड़ान है, घर अपना आसमान है

51 min

टूटफूट ही वो जरिया है जो आपको बताएगा कि आपके पास कुछ ऐसा भी है जो टूट नहीं सकता। जब सब बिखरा पड़ा होगा उसके बीच ही अचानक आपको पता चलेगा, अरे एक ऐसी चीज है जो नहीं बिखरी बड़ा मजा आएगा। उसके बाद यही लगेगा कि इसको और बार-बार पटको और जितना बार-बार पटको और जितना यह नहीं टूटता उतना इसमें विश्वास और गहरा होता जाता है और आदमी और खुलकर खेलता है। यह सबके पास है। यह सबके पास है। हमें इसका पता इसीलिए नहीं है क्योंकि हमने इसको कभी आजमाया ही नहीं।

भगवद गीता - कर्मयोग: अध्याय 3, श्लोक 9

53 min

यज्ञार्थात्कर्मणोऽन्यत्र लोकोऽयं कर्मबन्धन: | तदर्थं कर्म कौन्तेय मुक्तसङ्ग: समाचर ||3. 9||

अन्वय: यज्ञार्थात्कर्मणोऽन्यत्र (यज्ञ के लिए किए कर्म के अलावा अन्य कर्म में) लोकोऽयं (लगा हुआ) कर्मबन्धनः (कर्मों के बन्धन में फँसता है) कौन्तेय (हे अर्जुन) मुक्तसङ्गः (आसक्ति छोड़कर) तत्-अर्थ (यज्ञ के लिए) कर्म (कर्म) समाचर (करो)

काव्यात्मक अर्थ: बाँधते … read_more

How Is The Bhagavad Gita Relevant Today?

44 min

The Gita is useful because its setting is extremely relatable. Just like us, Arjuna does not know himself—he's a victim of multiple identities and all kinds of conditioning. Therefore, the Gita is about letting Arjuna know who he is, and this illumination enables him to do what he must. So, first of all, see that you are Arjuna. Then, step by step, verse by verse, there will be some resolution.

भगवद गीता - कर्मयोग: अध्याय 3, श्लोक 11

25 min

देवान्भावयतानेन ते देवा भावयन्तु वः। परस्परं भावयन्तः श्रेयः परमवाप्स्यथ।।

~ श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता, अध्याय 3, श्लोक 11

अर्थ: यज्ञ से देवताओं को आगे बढ़ाओ, तो वो दैवत्य तुम्हारी उन्नति करेंगे। इस तरह परस्पर (आपस में) उन्नति करते हुए तुम परम श्रेय प्राप्त करते हो।

काव्यात्मक अर्थ: *यज्ञ से देवत्व बढ़े देवत्व से… read_more

(Gita-27) Krishna's Warning to Arjuna: Everyone is Making This Mistake

39 min

Who are the people who never understand Shri Krishna? The ones whose minds are full of Karmakand. If your mind is full of Karmakand, Shri Krishna himself has very clearly said, you will never understand the Gita because Karma Kand deals with desire, because whatever you do, you do for the sake of desire.

भगवद गीता - कर्मयोग: अध्याय 3, श्लोक 10

70 min

सहयज्ञाः प्रजाः सृष्ट्वा पुरोवाच प्रजापतिः । अनेन प्रसविष्यध्वमेषः योऽस्त्विष्टकामधुक् ॥ १० ॥

अर्थ: सृष्टि के आरंभ में ही ब्रह्मा ने कहा था कि यज्ञ के द्वारा ही वृद्धि को प्राप्त करोगे। यह यज्ञ ही तुम लोगों को अभीष्ट फल देगा और कामधेनुतुल्य सर्वाभीष्टप्रद होगा।

काव्यात्मक अर्थ:

सगुण हो बंधन चुना … read_more

(Gita-8) The Self and the Joy of Immortality

37 min

If all that the Ego wants is liberation from itself, which means coming to see its own non-existence, then the only way to see its non-existence is by paying attention to itself. The more the Ego pays attention to itself, it sees that it does not exist. The more the Ego remains attached to this and that, all the sensory inputs, the Ego feels that is real and this is real.

भगवद गीता - कर्मयोग: अध्याय 3, श्लोक 8

52 min

श्लोक: नियतं कुरु कर्म, त्वं कर्म ज्यायो ह्यकर्मणः। शरीरयात्रापि च ते न, प्रसिद्ध्येदकर्मणः॥3.8॥

काव्यात्मक अर्थ:

कर्म के परि त्याग से, श्रेष्ठ है नि यत कर्म । कर्मयात्रा पर चल पड़े, जि स क्षण लि या जीव जन्म॥

आचार्य जी: श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता गीता, तीसरा अध्याय कर्म का विषय है, पिछले सत्र में… read_more

उसे सौंप दो, उसे संभालने दो, तुम रास्ते से हटो

47 min

यह आदमी जो अपने ऊपर हंसना शुरू करता है, यह अकर्ता हो जाता है। नॉन-डूअर हो जाता है। नॉन-डूअर का मतलब यह नहीं कि अब नॉन-डूइंग हो गई। डूइंग तो बहुत होगी! ज़बरदस्त होगी! घनघोर होगी! कल्याणप्रद होगी! ऑसपिसियस होगी! डूइंग होगी, डूअर नहीं होगा। पर कर्ता नहीं होगा। और जो यह कर्ता-हीन कर्म होता है, "द डीड विदाउट डूअर", इसके क्या कहने! यह फिर अवतारों की लीला समान हो जाता है। यह जीवन को खेल बना देता है। यह पृथ्वी पर स्वर्ग उतार देता है। यह बहुत पुराना जो कैदी है, उसे आकाश की आज़ादी दे देता है।

श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता दूसरा अध्याय २, श्लोक 15-24

45 min

मनुष्य की देह होने भर से आपको कोई विशेषाधिकार नहीं मिल जाता, यहाँ तक कि आपको जीवित कहलाने का अधिकार भी नहीं मिल जाता। सम्मान इत्यादि का अधिकार तो बहुत दूर की बात है, ये अधिकार भी नहीं मिलेगा कि कहा जाए कि ज़िन्दा हो।

Is Pop Religion Compatible With the Gita?

38 min

The center of the Gita is 'Nishkamta'—desireless action stemming from self-knowledge. Whereas popular religion is all about the fulfillment of desire. We go to a supernatural power and beg him to grant our desires. That is popular religion. You can either have the Gita or the entirety of religion as practiced in common culture. They are totally incompatible.

भगवद गीता – अध्याय 2 (सांख्य योग), श्लोक 5-11

22 min

गुरूनहत्वा हि महानुभावान् श्रेयो भोक्तुं भैक्ष्यमपीह लोके। हत्वार्थकामांस्तु गुरूनिहैव भुञ्जीय भोगान्तधिरप्रदिग्धान् ।।५।।

“मैं तो महानुभाव गुरुओं को न मारकर, इस लोक में भिक्षान्न भोजन करना कल्याणकर मानता हूँ, क्योंकि गुरुओं का वध करके मैं रक्त से सने हुए अर्थ और काम रूपी भोगों को ही तो भोगूँगा।“

~ श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता, श्लोक… read_more

भगवद गीता - अर्जुन विषाद योग: अध्याय 1, श्लोक 39-47

53 min

आचार्य प्रशांत: हम देखेंगे कि श्रीकृष्ण अर्जुन के सब भावुक, मार्मिक वक्तव्यों को किस प्रकाश में देख रहे हैं। तो अपनी ही मोहजनित पीड़ा को आगे अभिव्यक्त करते हुए कहते हैं अर्जुन कि

यद्यप्येते न पश्यन्ति लोभोपहतचेतस:। कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं मित्रद्रोहे च पातकम्।।

कथं न ज्ञेयम स्माभि: पापादस्माननिवर्तितुम। कुलक्षयकृतं दोषं प्रपश्यदिर्जनार्दन।। … read_more

भगवद गीता - अर्जुन विषाद योग: अध्याय 1, श्लोक 20-39

54 min

आचार्य प्रशांत: तो शंखनाद होता है दोनों सेनाओं की ओर से। और संजय बताते हैं कि शंखनाद ने विशेषतया धृतराष्ट्र के पुत्रों के, कौरवों के हृदय में हलचल कर दी। मन उनके कम्पित हो गये, हृदय विदीर्ण हो गया। ये सुनने के बाद अब आते हैं दूसरे पक्ष पर। अर्जुन… read_more

How Did Bhagavad Gita Help Subhash Chandra Bose?

10 min

There is no revolution possible without wisdom literature. The quest for independence of freedom fighters was actually a manifestation of their inner quest for liberation. What kind of revolution can one do if it's the body that's always at the top of your mind? You require a Gita to tell you that this body is perishable and would anyway go. Gita only teaches you, "Endure and fight."

(Gita-6) The Mind's Battle: Arjuna's Search for Liberation

27 min

The word for a Guru does not really exist in the English language. So, they have borrowed Guru itself, Guru. But they have borrowed the word Guru and rather misunderstood it and misapplied it. So, anybody who seems to be an expert at anything, can be justifiably called a Guru in the English language. Now that's not the proper usage in spirituality or in Sanskrit.

निष्कामता ही श्रेष्ठ जीवन है || आचार्य प्रशांत, श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता पर (2022)

31 min

नैव तस्य कृतेनार्थो नाकृतेनेह कश्चन। न चास्य सर्वभूतेषु कश्चिदर्थव्यपाश्रयः ।।१८।।

इस संसार के कर्मों के अनुष्ठान से निष्कामी मनुष्य को कोई प्रयोजन नहीं रहता फिर, और ऐसे मनुष्य को कर्मत्याग की कोई आवश्यकता नहीं रहती। ऐसे मनुष्य के लिए संसार में किसी प्रयोजन की सिद्धि हेतु आश्रय करने योग्य भी … read_more

Why Do We Insult Our Scriptures?

27 min

In modern times, reading and respecting the Shastras is often seen in a derogatory light. An Asura disregards the scriptures, saying, “What I know is right. My own experience determines the Truth,” rejecting them because they will not allow him to do what he wants. We have come to a point where we are not merely ignoring but actually insulting the scriptures. If you're sincere about knowing life, why avoid a document with deep insights into it?

जब श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता ही पूर्ण है तो उत्तर गीता की ज़रूरत क्यों पड़ी? || श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता पर (2020)

12 min

प्रश्नकर्ता: आचार्य जी, प्रणाम। कई बार ऐसा होता है कि विरोधी पक्ष के लोग विनीत भाव से मदद वग़ैरह माँगने आ जाते हैं, जैसे दुर्योधन ने शल्य का सहयोग माँगा, दुर्योधन ने बलराम से गदा सीखने का निवेदन किया और दुर्योधन ने श्रीकृष्ण से उनकी नारायणी सेना माँगी। ऐसी स्थितियों… read_more

What Is the Main Message of Bhagavad Gita?

14 min

You have to fight. The world is the battlefield. To be born is to be born as a warrior, to be born is to be born with weapons and armour. That is the message: you cannot run away. Shunning action is not possible.

Gita Is Not This

7 min

To qualify an entrance exam, and work towards it, without thinking of the results, that’s not what Karma Yoga is. Karma Yoga is not about setting tangible worldly targets and going after them. It’s a moment-to-moment thing in which you are very conscious whether the objective of your action is personal ingratiation or larger welfare. You are acting all the time, you are not acting merely when you act towards a distant and a larger cause.

Why Isn't the Gita for Everyone?

8 min

It depends on the pain you are willing to take. Sometimes Duryodhanas have to be turned into Arjunas. It’s just that, it’s relatively easier with an Arjuna. But what to do when even Arjunas are not present to receive the Gita? As long as somebody has anything, anything that resembles consciousness, as long as somebody has even the faintest remnant of consciousness left, Gita can be brought to that person but it will be tough, difficult.

What is Yagya?

11 min

In the name of yagya, if you continue to burn wood, you are doing no good to anybody. Yagya must be understood in its true spirit. Shri Krishna says, “Do not act for yourself or for your personal gain. Act for a higher cause; higher than yourself, beyond yourself. Do that action that takes you to your Niyati, which is your end. Yagya is that which dissolves you; that which reduces you.”

Where Is the Kurukshetra of Your Life?

5 min

Arjuna’s hell was in his daily tasks, and so is yours. Arjuna could sense the evil in what appeared normal to others; you must also be able to sense that there is something extremely fishy in what seems normal to others. Your house, your workplace, your society—these are your Kurukshetra. That’s where you have to fight your Mahabharata. That’s where you need Shri Krishna and the Gita.

Yoga - The Biggest 'Spiritual' Myth Today

17 min

You have ample gurus who come over and say, “You know, you do this and then you can do whatever you want to do.” Now the moment you hear this kind of philosophy that Yoga will help you do better whatever you want to do, I suppose one must run away. Because that’s exactly antithetical to Yoga. Yoga is not about doing whatever you want to do; it’s the ego that says that, not the dedicated, devoted, wise mind. That does not come from there.

Why Does One Desire Liberation while the Other does not?

5 min

Questioner: Why is there a difference of intensity and love for mukti (liberation) between different human beings?

Acharya Prashant: The differences that you are talking of all relate to time; therefore, they all will be resolved in due course of time. Time gave rise to all those differences, and those… read_more

How to Act Without Caring About the Result?

7 min

The Gita does not say that you must do whatever you do without caring for the result; it is also impossible to execute. That’s also the way so many popular gurus have sold the Gita. It’s very harmful. With false action, you will always have one eye on the result. The first thing is the right action; only right action can give you detachment from the result.

Are You in a Right Relationship?

12 min

There are only two kinds of relationships that are right in this world. If you connect with someone at a higher level of consciousness, hold their hand so they can uplift you. If you connect with someone at a lower level of consciousness, hold their hand to uplift them. Any other kind of relationship is junk.

What does “Yada Yada Hi Dharmasya...” mean?

24 min

We love saying, 'Yada-yada hi dharmasya – whenever there is evil, then Krishna comes.' The Lord does not physically drop from the heavens. The metaphor must be understood. It simply means that whenever the ego inflates, it results in suffering, and suffering itself calls for its cessation. This call for cessation of suffering itself is the coming of the Lord.

हमारा एकमात्र कर्तव्य || आचार्य प्रशांत, श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता पर (2022)

21 min

यस्वतंरतिरेव स्यादात्मतृप्तश्च मानव:। आत्मन्येव च सन्तुष्टस्तस्य कार्यं न विद्यते ।।१७।।

किन्तु जो लोग सत्य में ही अनुरक्त, तृप्त और संतुष्ट हैं उनके लिए तो कर्तव्य कर्म नहीं बचते।

~ श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता, तीसरा अध्याय, कर्मयोग, श्लोक १७

आचार्य प्रशांत: सुंदर बात कही है! पिछला श्लोक समाप्त हुआ था ये कहने पर कि… read_more

महाभारत सदा स्वयं से ही लड़ी जाती है

19 min

तस्मादसक्त: सततं कार्यं कर्म समाचर ।। असक्तो ह्याचरन्कर्म परमाप्नोति पूरुष: ।।३.१९।।

इसलिए अनासक्त भाव से सदा शुभ कार्य या कर्तव्य कर्म उत्तम रूप से करते रहो, क्योंकि मनुष्य निष्काम रहकर कर्म का अनुष्ठान करते हुए श्रेष्ठ पद मोक्ष प्राप्त करता है।

~ श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता, अध्याय ३, श्लोक १९

आचार्य प्रशांत: हमने… read_more

What Is Yoga According to the Bhagavad Gita?

28 min

Shri Krishna is saying, “As long as you are the actor, please forget Yoga. Yoga is not for you.” Yoga is freedom from the false actor. The Yogi is the one who has realized that Yoga cannot be attained through any method. A yogi is healthy and alright with himself.

'गीता सबके लिए नहीं है', ऐसा क्यों कहते हैं कृष्ण?

12 min

आचार्य प्रशांत : केतन हैं, गीता के पाँचवे अध्याय से अट्ठारवाँ श्लोक उद्दृत किया है। श्लोक कहता है-

विद्याविनयसम्पन्ने ब्राह्मणे गवि हस्तिनी | शुनि चैव श्वपाके च पण्डिताः समदर्शिन: ||

“वे ज्ञानीजन विद्या और विनययुक्त ब्राह्मण में तथा गौ, हाथी, कुत्ते और चाण्डाल में भी समदर्शी ही होते हैं।”

भगवद्गीता,अध्याय … read_more

परमात्मा, दृश्य, और दृष्टा - यही हैं संसार के सम्पूर्ण खेल

5 min

जो कुछ भी दिखाई दे रहा है, वो दृश्य, जो उसको देखने वाला है, वो दृष्टा। तो देवता, मनुष्य, ऋषि आदि दिखाई दे रहे हैं अर्जुन को, तो ये सब क्या हो गए? दृश्य। और इनको देखने वाला कौन है? दृष्टा, अर्जुन स्वयं। और दृश्य और दृष्टा के आधार में कौन बैठा है? परमात्मा। दृश्य और दृष्टा, दोनों किससे आए हैं और किसमें लीन हो जाने हैं? ये इन तीनों का किस्सा है।

What Are the Four Ways to Krishna Darshan?

13 min

The first way, the topmost one, is the Sahaja way (natural way). Krishna prescribes no method there. He says, “Arjuna, just come to Me and be seated in Me, be affirmed in Me, pretty steadfastly. Just do it. Simply, obviously, instantly.” That is the Sahaja way. “Do it directly, Arjuna. If you really are sincere, and if you really have love for Me, then do it right now, right here, right away. What are you waiting for? What do you require a method for? Nothing is needed. You have the intention, you really want it, you aren’t fooling yourself. I am here, come and be settled in Me and that’s it.”

कृष्ण और गीता मज़ाक हैं इनके लिए

16 min

आपके पास अपने पूर्वाग्रह होते हैं। आपके पास अपना विचार होता है। फिर गीता आपके हाथ में आती है और आपको पता है कि गीता को सब लोग सम्मान देते हैं। परम्परागत सम्मान मिलता है भई गीता को। तो आप क्या करते हो? आप अपने ही जो पुराने पूर्वाग्रह हैं, उनको सही साबित करने के लिए गीता के श्लोकों का वो अर्थ कर देते हो जो आपके पूर्वाग्रहों से मेल खाता हो।

जन्माष्टमी विशेष: कमज़ोरों के लिए नहीं हैं कृष्ण || आचार्य प्रशांत के नीम लड्डू

6 min

आचार्य प्रशांत: कृष्ण वो, जिसे आगे-पीछे से कोई लेना-देना नहीं। जो न पीछे का कायल है, न आगे से आक्रान्त। आ रही है बात समझ में? इसीलिए उनके जीवन में आपको विरोधाभास-ही-विरोधाभास दिखाई देंगे। और इसीलिए बहुत सारे लोगों को कृष्ण सुहाते भी नहीं। उनको दूसरे लोग चलते हैं मर्यादित… read_more

You May Be Wrong About Death: Bhagavad Gita’s Answer

17 min

We have to investigate the meaning of the word ‘death’. When Shri Krishna says ‘death’, what does he mean? Is Shri Krishna looking at himself as a body? No. There is no way the author of these lines takes himself as a corporal being. Is Shri Krishna referring to himself as merely the Ātmān here? Well, yes and no. He does refer to himself as the Ātmān here, but the role that he is playing is not of Ātmān but of Avatar. Had he been merely the non-doer, Supreme Truth, then he would not have been found mortally present on the battlefield instructing Arjuna. So, discount these two and see what you are left with.

मृत्यु के समय शरीर से क्या निकलता है?

13 min

प्रश्नकर्ता: आचार्य जी, मुझे एक चीज़ पूछनी थी कि जैसे आपकी चेतना है या ओशो रजनीश की चेतना, हम ये मान के चल रहे हैं कि आप लोगों की चेतना एक आम चेतना से बहुत ऊपर है। तो क्या हम ये मान के चलें जब ऐसे धर्मगुरु शरीर छोड़ते हैं… read_more

Does Maya Really Exist?

25 min

Questioner: Acharya Ji, a good discussion happened yesterday in which many seekers participated and shared their understanding of Prakṛiti , Puruṣha and other things.

During the discussion, it was put that Prakṛiti , Puruṣha , Māyā , are mere concepts and that one is pure Ātman , never threatened and… read_more

Bhagavad Gita Quotes, Chapter 1, The Grief of Arjun

16 min

Kauravas are scattered on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, not unified. Bheeshm is there because of promise. Dronocharya is there because of loyalty to the state. Karna is there to replay an old debt. Pandavas, on the other hand are unified by Dharma.

~ Acharya Prashant, commentary on Bhagavad Gita, Chapter… read_more

Career Anxiety: Follow Your Heart or the Market?

7 min

Work. Where is the time to devote to anxiety? Where is the space to be anxious? If you are anxious about something, that thing is obviously important to you. Else you wouldn’t be anxious and if that thing is important, work. Work for that thing. The thing is not only important but also stands incomplete. That’s the reason you are anxious. Correct? If it stands incomplete, work, bring it to completion. Somebody said action is the antidote to despair. Action. Don’t just sit and brood, work. And life will become intolerable if you are not a worker.

Choose the Right Career Using Bhagavad Gita's Teachings on Work

14 min

There can be two sets of actions to choose from. One action could be the one that will load one with more bondages. Action that will lead to a thickening or deepening of your bondages. Another is kartavya i.e. action that leads to Freedom from your bondages. You can see the chains, so your action is for the sake of your Freedom, Liberation.

Mark of False Dharma According to Bhagavad Gita

11 min

There is only one Dharma. And that is to attain liberation or peace, to gain freedom from your bondages, to gain freedom from your inner chaos and noise, to gain freedom from your inner falseness. Gaining freedom from inner falseness is more commonly known as Truth realization. It is a euphemism—a very decorated euphemism. It’s not really Truth that is really realized; it is falseness that is dropped.

India Lost Gita, West Got Gita

10 min

Questioner: So thank you for organising this session. So, talking about Bhagavad Gita is important so I was just reading about one American naturalist named, Henry Thoreau.He says that every morning I bet my intellect in the stupendous philosophy of Bhagavad Gita in comparison with our modern world and… read_more