Core Subject Matter of the Bhagavad-gītā
In his presentations of the Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, Śrīla Prabhupāda describes this sacred text as the preliminary study of the science of God. He explains that the subject matter of the Gītā is not a collection of diverse theories, but a cohesive comprehension of five basic truths. While many scholars attempt to interpret the text according to their own whims, Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that the true essence of the Gītā can only be realized by those who accept Kṛṣṇa as the Supreme Personality of Godhead and hear His instructions through the authorized disciplic succession.
The Five Basic Truths
The foundation of the Bhagavad-gītā rests on five principal subjects. Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches that a student must understand these pillars to grasp the complete picture of spiritual and material reality.
- In Bhagavad-gita five principal subject matters have been discussed: the Supreme Personality of Godhead, material nature, the living entities, eternal time and all kinds of activities. All of these are dependant on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krsna.
- The subject matter of Bhagavad-gita is to know five things, to know what are these living entities, what is God, what is nature, and what is time, and what is work.
- In the Bhagavad-gita the subject matter deals with the isvara, the supreme controller, and the jivas, the controlled living entities.
- The subject of the Bhagavad-gita entails the comprehension of five basic truths. First of all, the science of God is explained and then the constitutional position of the living entities, jivas.
Pure Devotion: The Heart of the Gītā
Although the Gītā discusses various yoga systems and philosophical concepts such as renunciation (tyāga) and the renounced order (sannyāsa), Śrīla Prabhupāda points out that these are all means to an end. The ultimate, most confidential subject matter is unalloyed devotional service.
- Unintelligent commentators on the Gita try to divert the mind of the reader to other subjects, but there is no other subject in Bhagavad-gita but devotional service.
- The matters which are described in the Ninth Chapter of the Bhagavad-gita deal with unalloyed, pure devotion. Therefore this is called the most confidential.
- In the Bhagavad-gita, three principal subjects have been explained by Lord Sri Krsna, namely karma-yoga, jnana-yoga and bhakti-yoga, but one can reach the Vaikuntha planets by the practice of bhakti-yoga only.
- Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur has summarized this Second Chapter of the Bhagavad-gita as being the contents for the whole text. In the Bhagavad-gita, the subject matters are karma-yoga, jnana-yoga, and bhakti-yoga.
Requirement of the Paramparā System
Śrīla Prabhupāda emphasizes that because the Bhagavad-gītā is transcendental, it cannot be understood by mundane logic or ascending intellectual processes. It must be received through the chain of disciplic succession.
- Since the Supreme Lord is transcendental, His words are also transcendental, and hence the esoteric subject matter of the Bhagavad-gita can be received only through a disciplic succession that is equally transcendental.
- Bhagavad-gita has been well known all over the world for a very long time, especially in the Western world, but because the subject matter was not discussed by devotees, there was no effect.
- Foolish interpreters unnecessarily tackle the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam when they have no access to the subject matter. There is no use in nondevotees' meddling with the two topmost Vedic literatures.
- For him (one who takes to the ascending process), the subject matter will remain elusive and inconceivable. But that subject matter is given in Bhagavad-gita: ananya-cetah.
Realizing the Science of God
For a sincere student, the subject matter of the Gītā is ever-fresh and fully sufficient for spiritual perfection. Śrīla Prabhupāda explains that by absorbing the mind in these teachings, one can transcend the darkness of material existence.
- If your mind becomes absorbed at least one or two hours daily in the transcendental subject matter of Srimad-Bhagavatam, Bhagavad-gita, and other books then very easily you will make your advancement in Krishna Consciousness.
- This knowledge (subject matter of ninth chapter of Bhagavad-gita) is also uttamam; ud means "transcend," and tama means "darkness," and that knowledge which surpasses this world and the knowledge of this world is called uttamam.
- The narrations of Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam may be read thousands and thousands of times, and still, without fail, new aspects of the subject matter will be relished by the devotee.
- Actually these four books: Krishna, Teaching of Lord Caitanta, Nectar of Devotiona and Bhagavad-gita, if these four books are translated and distributed widely in German language, alone they are sufficient to give everyone the whole contents of Krishna Consciousness subject matter.
Conclusion
The subject matter of the Bhagavad-gītā is the ultimate science of the soul and its relationship with the Supreme Lord. Śrīla Prabhupāda makes it clear that while the text concisely discusses the five basic truths of existence—God, the living entity, nature, time, and karma—it is entirely directed toward the goal of unalloyed devotional service. By approaching this transcendental knowledge through the authorized disciplic succession and absorbing the mind in its teachings, any person can transcend material darkness and achieve the highest stage of enlightenment and peace.
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Śrīla Prabhupāda lives within his instructions. This article is a summary of the profound truths found in the Vaniquotes category Subject Matter of the Bhagavad-gita. We invite you to click this link to study the complete compilation and experience Śrīla Prabhupāda's teachings in their direct, verbatim form.