In response to a question about why he chose the Bhagavad Gita from among all the world's scriptures, Acharya Prashant clarifies that he does not exclusively focus on the Gita. He points out that many in the audience are part of other series on the Upanishads, saints like Kabir Saheb, and philosophers like Lao Tzu and Acharya Nagarjuna. He mentions having discussed numerous scriptures, including the Kathopanishad and Ashtavakra Gita, to the extent that he himself does not remember all of them. He explains that if 'Gita' is understood as 'enlightenment,' then it is true that he only chooses the Gita, as wherever there is enlightenment, that is the Gita. In this sense, even the words of Acharya Nagarjuna from a Buddhist perspective are the Gita. However, if the question refers specifically to the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita, he explains its unique position. The Gita's entire backdrop is highly practical and resonates with our worldly life. Unlike many philosophical texts written in solitude or the Upanishads which are dialogues in serene settings, the Gita unfolds on the Kurukshetra battlefield amidst the chaos of war. This setting, with its dilemmas of what to remember and what to forget, and the conflict of fighting against one's own kin and teachers, is the story of our own lives. The Gita is not set in a tranquil ashram under a banyan tree but in the midst of turmoil, which makes it deeply relatable. The speaker emphasizes that the Bhagavad Gita is special because it connects with the human condition. We are Arjun. The characters of the Mahabharata—like Karna feeling wronged, Yudhishthira bound by rules, Bhishma trapped by a vow, and Duryodhana consumed by fear—represent aspects of our own personalities and life situations. The Gita's success and popularity stem from this relatability; it addresses our struggles and shows a path through them. While the principles of the Gita are the same as those in the Upanishads (Vedanta), its composition and human context make it exceptionally humane and accessible. It is this human touch that makes the Bhagavad Gita so special and close to us.
