2. Setting the Scene
By His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta
Swami Srila Prabhupada
Bhagavad Gita – As It Is
3. Srimad Bhagavad Gita – Setting the Scene
Composed 5000
Years Ago by
Maharishi
Vyasadev
Srimad Bhagavad Gita
Mahabharata
Appears as an
episode of
Mahabharata
Greatest
Philosophical &
Religious
dialogue, just
before war
Spoken by Lord
Sri Krishna
(Supreme
Personality of
Godhead)
Spoken to Arjuna
Devotee &
Friend
4. Dronacharya
Military Art Teacher
Mahabharata History
Mahabharata
Dhritarashtra
Pandu
Born Blind
Eldest son
Duryodhana
Duryodhana
planned to kill
Pandava’s many
times but under
careful
protection of
Uncle Vidura
they were
saved.
Youngerbrother
of Dhritarashtra
-Had 5 Sons
100 sons
Yudhisthira Bhima Arjuna Nakula Sahadeva
Kuru Dynasty
King Bharata
Former Ruler of Earth
Bhisma
Grandfather of
Pandavas & Kauravas
5. Mahabharata History… contd
Descended to Material
World as King
Nephew of Pandu’s
wife Kunti or Prtha
(mother of Pandavas)
Krsna always favored the righteous
sons of Pandu & protected them
Lord Sri Krsna ~Supreme Personality Of Godhead
6. History of Battle of Kuruksetra
Duryodhana Challenged Pandavas in
Gambling Match
Cheated, took all possession,
disrobed Draupadi, Krsna saved her,
forced them 13 years of exile.
Returning from exile, Pandavas requested
Kingdom, bluntly refused, Krsna went as
mediator for peace & asked for 5 villages
which was refused. War was in evident.
Battlefield Scene, Both Armies, ready for combat
Kings of World divided, some siding Pandavas & some siding Kauravas. Pandavas chose
Krsna (SPG) to be in their side and Kauravas were happy with Krsna’s Narayani sena.
Krsna would personally not fight and took a role of charioteer of Arjuna.
Dhrtarastra
ask Sanjaya
What did they do?
7. Srimad Bhagavad Gita
Note regarding Translation &
Commentary
Mistakes of other Bhagavad
Gita Commentaries
In General Translators of Bhagavad Gita
have brush aside the Person Krsna to make
room for their own concepts and
philosophies.
Thus the History of Mahabharata is
considered as Mythology and Sri Krsna
becomes a poetic device for presenting
ideas of some anonymous genius, or at the
best He becomes minor historical
personage.
8. BhagavadGita’sMessage
Lord Sri Krsna is both Goal and substance
of Bhagavad Gita, as per Gita itself.
AboutthisTranslation
In this translation and the commentary accompanies
it, purpose is to direct reader to Krsna, rather than
away from Him.
Thus Bhagavad Gita becomes wholly consistent &
comprehensible
Since Krsna is the speaker of Bhagavad Gita & its
ultimate goal, Bhagavad Gita As It Is presents this
Great Scripture in its true terms.
