bhāgavad gītā - research

[yajvan]

hariḥ oṁ
~~~~~~

namasté


It is contemporary thinking to say that the bhāgavad gītā consists of 700 śloka-s . Yet there are those that say there are 701 and identify the additional verse in Chapter 13. Yet too there are some that call out 745. This is a substantial difference, no?

For those that do research on this great book ( the cream of the ved) it would be an interesting conversation and learning experience to :
1. Find the extra śloka that makes one call out 701.
2. The 745 śloka-s . Can we find them ?
3. Compare them to the bhīṣma parvan of the mahābhārata that houses the bhāgavad gītā.

It is interesting to me that abhinavagupti-ji's¹ commentary on the bhāgavad gītā called gitārtha saṁgraha does have an additional 15 verses. Some say abhinavagupti-ji's commentary contains all 745. I have a copy and will count the śloka-s to see if the number 715, 716, or 745.

For those that read this book again-and-again, you may find this search worthy of your time and effort.


praṇām

words
abhinavagupti-ji is a luminary of kaśmari śaivism. His work and insights are brilliant.

[wundermonk]

1. Find the extra śloka that makes one call out 701.

I think I got this one. Verse 1 to be found here (http://www.bhagavad-gita.org/Gita/verse-13-01.html), in some translations, is counted as a preface to Chapter 13.

[saidevo]

namaste everyone.

Here are some interesting tidbits about the GItA. Thanks to Sriseshan of the Brahmins forum for the original in Tamizh.

• The bhagavad gItA is located in eighteen chapters, from chapter 25 to 42 of the bhIShma parva, the sixth book of mahAbhArata.

• There is a shoka for the count of verses in the GItA:

षट्शतानि सविम्शानि श्लोकानां प्राह केशवः ।
अर्जुनस् सप्तपन्चाशत् सप्तषष्टिन्तु संजयः ।
धृतराष्त्र श्लोकमेकं गीताय मानमुच्यते ॥

ShaTshatAni savimshAni shlokAnAM prAha keshavaH |
arjunas saptapanchAshat saptaShaShTintu saMjayaH |
dhRutarAShtra shlokamekaM gItAya mAnamuchyate ||

According to this count, bhagavAn shrIkriShNa spoke 620 verses, arjuna 57, saMjaya 67 and dhRutarAShtra one shloka. This makes the total count of shlokas 745!

• For the mahAbhArata being the fifth Veda, bhagavad gItA is its jnAna kANDa. Since the jnAna kANDa of the Vedas are also known as upaniShads, gItA gives the essence of the veda upaniShads.

• In Sanskrit, the word gItam is napuMsaka linga--neuter gender. But then the word gItA in bhagavad gItA remains as strI linga--feminine gender. The word upaniShad is also strI linga!

• Up to the fourth chapter, shrIKRShNa talks as a friend of Arjuna, and thereafter as God.

• Among the famous commentaries of the GItA are the one in Tamizh by mahAkavi BhArati, a commentary titled kaiviLakku--handheld torch, by RAjAji, karmayoga of BAlagangAdhara Tilak and anAshakti yoga by mahAtmA GAndhi.

• About the two terms yoga and kShema, GItA teaches that attaining that which is not attained is yoga and protecting what is attained is kShema; it is God who grants the two.

• The first six chapters of the GItA speak about the philosophy of the jIvAtman, the next six about paramAtman and the last six a summary of the two.

*****

[yajvan]

hariḥ oṁ
~~~~~~

namasté



• The first six chapters of the GItA speak about the philosophy of the jIvAtman, the next six about paramAtman and the last six a summary of the two.

This is how I was taught - 3 parts to the bhāgavad gītā. It is quite revealing on how kṛṣṇa-jī taught.

Many of us fast forward to some of the most profound parts of the bhāgavad gītā found in the later chapters. This , no doubt is an uplifting experience, yet what kṛṣṇa-jī offers us is how to build the house ( one's spiritual unfoldment).
Get the foundation in order, firm and established ( chapters 1-6); Add the side walls, the interiors, the roofing ( chapters 7 -12); then look and and enjoy the home reviewing all its parts for the highest appreciation of the home you built ( chapters 13-18).

So for many here ( including me) chapters 1 to 6 are of key import. Does that say we do not entertain the remaining chapters ? Nope. It says come to know these chapters intimately, it is the foundation for one's spiritual growth. If we did just one thing found in these chapters one's life would change immediately. What would that be ?

Chapter 2, 48th śloka - yogastaḥ kuru karmāṇi - established (or steadfast) in yoga perform actions. This is the formula for skill in action. Skill that eliminates the binding influence of actions or karma. just this one sutra alone, my teacher would talk for hours.

But how is this done ? Chapter 2, 45th śloka , kṛṣṇa-jī informs us nistraiguṇo = nis + trai+ guṇo - be without + 3 + guna-s
This is the secret to realization, to skill in action.

praṇām