session 2

SESSION 2 Gist of Vedas, Upanishads & Bhagavad Gita

Kishor Trivedi Prof. of Elect. & Comp. Eng. Duke University [email protected]

Hindu Scriptures  Two main categories 1.

Shruti (primary -- “that which is heard”)

2.

Smriti (secondary -- “that which is remembered”)

 Shruti– heard during meditations by the Rishis (great sages)  Vedas (meaning knowledge)  Upanishads (see meaning in upcoming slides)

 Smriti  Puranas (meaning old “stories”)  Various Shastras (treatise)

 Various law books such as Manusmriti,  Epics: Ramayana and Mahabharata

Hindu Scriptures Organization Scriptures

Smriti

Shruti

Vedas

Rig

Puranas

Law books

Yajur

Atharva

Mahabharata Ramayana

Samaveda Each Veda has: • Samhita • Brahmanas • Aranyakas • Upanishads

Epics

Bhagavad Gita

Vedas Vedas are “apaurusheya” (not composed by humans) Divine inspiration, i.e., heard during deep meditation or revealed to the subconscious mind Not exclusively spiritual Matters related to health, social life and worldly pursuits are all dealt within the Vedas Language is “Vedic” Sanskrit as compared to “Spoken” Sanskrit.

Vedas Continued Each Veda has 4 different sections  SAMHITA

 Text explaining the various rituals and rules

 BRAHMANAS  Collections of mantras and hymns in praise of the deities

Karma Kanda

 ARANYAKAS  Details about rituals and various practices  UPANISHADS (Gnana Kanda)

 Philosophical in nature– nature of self, nature of God, and their relationship  Many of them are in the form of a dialogue

Rig VEDA  Oldest among the four Vedas  Rig Veda is divided into 10 mandalas or books.  Each mandala has different sections called Anuvaka.  Each Anuvaka has a number of hymns called Suktas.  Each Sukta is made of verses called Riks.  “Rik” means “praise” i.e. praising the deities.  Rig Veda comprises of 10 Mandalas, 85 Anuvakas, 1028 Suktas and 10552 mantras

Mandala

Suktas

Mantras

1

191

2006

2

43

429

3

62

617

4

58

589

5

87

727

6

75

765

7

104

841

Rig Veda - A few Important Hymns 

Agni Sukta 



Ganapathy Sukta 



Preaches universality of thought, word and deed

Ayusha Sukta 



Hymn on origin of the universe

Aikmyatya Sukta 



Hymn on Brahman responsible for creation i.e. Source of creation

Nasadiya Sukta 



Hymn on the all pervading Brahman

Hiranya Garbha Sukta 



Ganapathy is one of the foremost divinities worshipped by all Hindus

Purusha Sukta 



Many hymns dedicated to Agni, the holy fire deity

Prayer for long life

Manyu Sukta 

For controlling anger and lust

 Devi Sukta  Prayer to the divine mother

 Sri Sukta  Prayer to Goddess Lakshmi

Rig Veda - A few Important Hymns  Suktam (hymn) is in praise of the glory of God. It is chanted in houses, places of worship during rituals and ceremonies. Reciting this confers blessings on one’s life. This mantra is chanted by Rishis before performing Yagna so that there are no obstacles or intermissions during the Yagna

 ‘Purusha’ means God Almighty  These suktas describe the various Devas (forces of nature), their functions and more importantly try to describe the undescribable.

Yajur VEDA  Very different from Rig Veda  Prose Form  Derived from root “Yaj” which means worship  Oriented towards rituals  Two recensions  Shukla (White) Yajur Veda (SYV)  Two SAMHITAS

 Krishna (Black) Yajur Veda (KYV)  Four SAMHITAS

Yajur VEDA - Shukla  Attributed to Yagnavalkya Rishi  Also known as Vajasaneyi Yajurveda  2 well known surviving recension (edited by sages or disciples of Yagnavalkya)  Sage Vajasaneyi Madhyandina  Sage Vajasaneyi Kanva

 Vajasaneyi means conquering (sana) of the opulence or plenitude (vaja)  Other recensions lost

Name

Chapter s

Anuvakas

Mantras

Madhyandina

40

303

1975

Kanva

40

328

2086

Yajur VEDA – Krishna  Four surviving recensions  Taittriya (well known)

Taittriya SAMHITA Kanda

Chapters

 Maitrayini

1

8

 Kathaka

2

6

3

5

4

7

5

7

6

6

7

5

 Kapisthala

 Each recension has Samhita, Brahmana, Aranyaka and Upanishads

Mantras

Sama VEDA  Shortest of the 4 Vedas  Closely related to Rigveda  Lot of mantras derived from Rigveda  Exclusively for ritual worship  Musical chants

 1875 verses mainly from Rigveda  Most verses from 8th and 9th Mandala of Rigveda  Many verses are repeated

 3 surviving recensions  Kauthuma (more prominent in current world)  Jaiminiya

 Ranayaniya

Atharva VEDA  Attributed to Rishi Atharva  2 surviving recensions  Shaunaka (more prominent)  Paippalada

First Three VEDAs  Hindu family traditions centered on the basis of assigned Veda for practicing. Only, Rig, Yajur and Sama are practiced by the families. Atharva Veda is highly specialized and not generally meant for family practice.  Bhagvad Gita mentions only the first three Vedas so presumably the Atharva Veda is a later composition

Upanishads  Philosophical content of the Vedas  Also called Vedanta (“the concluding part of the Vedas” or “Aim of the Vedas”)  Upanishad = upa (“near), ni (“down”) and shad (“to sit”).  Although literally it means “sitting down near a teacher”, the actual meaning is to have a “connection” between humans and divine entities  Teachings include:  Atman (“Self” or “individual soul”) --Thou  Paramatma (“Brahman” or “God”) -- That

 Relationship between “Self” and “Brahman” -- Art  Many commentaries written by eminent seers  108 Upanishads listed in Muktika Upanishad  13 major ones  An earnest study of the Upanishads without preconceived notions and prejudices is bound to inspire one to aspire for the life of the spirit.

Upanishads  See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Principal_Upanishads  See also Tagore’s statement:

 http://www.uramamurthy.com/tagore_upanisad.html  Also: http://www.uramamurthy.com/upanisad.html

About Upanishads  Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860), German philosopher:  “From every sentence (of the Upanishads) deep, original and sublime thoughts arise, and the whole is pervaded by a high and holy and earnest spirit....  In the whole world there is no study so beneficial and so elevating as that of the Upanishads. They are destined sooner or later to become the faith of the people....

 It has been the solace of my life — it will be the solace of my death.”

Further Testimony  Max Muller said in his book, “Brahman as defined in the Upanisads is the same as Spinoza’s ‘Substantia’.”  Albert Einstein, upon being asked if he believed in God by Rabbi Herbert Goldstein said, “I believe in Spinoza's God who reveals himself in the orderly harmony of what exists, not in a God who concerns himself with fates and actions of human beings.”

 Erwin Schrödinger, one of the fathers of quantum mechanics, and is famed for a number of important contributions to physics, especially the Schrödinger equation, for which he received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1933. He had a life-long interest in the Vedanta philosophy of Hinduism, which influenced his speculations at the close of What is Life? about the possibility that individual consciousness is only a manifestation of a unitary consciousness pervading the universe.  Carl Sagan, famous astrophysicist said, “The Hindu religion is one of the world's great faiths dedicated to the idea that the Cosmos itself undergoes an immense, indeed an infinite number of deaths and rebirths. It is the religion in which the time scales correspond to those of modern scientific cosmology.”

 Robert Oppenheimer, a theoretical physicist and the Supervising Scientist for the Manhattan Project, said, “Access to the Vedas is the greatest privilege this century may claim over all previous centuries.”  Richard Dawkins says on his website, “Hinduism and Buddhism offer much more sophisticated worldviews (or philosophies) and I see nothing wrong with these religions.”

13 Major Upanishads Brihadaranyaka

Expounds the fundamentals of the soul.

Chandogya

Different areas such as the syllable OM (ॐ), life, spirituality etc.

Taittiriya

Student rules of conduct, description of the supreme Brahman and the five koshas (sheaths)

Aitareya

Philosophy of the creation, soul and consciousness

Kaushitaki

Discussion about Rebirth, soul, Brahman

Kena

Discussion about Brahman with and without attributes

Katha

Story of a boy Nachiketa and Lord of Death (Yama)

Isha

Discusses the theory of soul and oneness of all creation

Svetasvatara

Discusses the cause of creation, universe

Mundaka

Contains mantras for meditation and spiritual knowledge

Prasna

Question and answers of metaphysical nature

Mandukya

Theory about the 4 states of consciousness

Maitiri

Metaphysical in nature

Rig Veda Upanishads  Rig Veda has 9 Upanishads

1. Aitareya

 Major Upanishads from Rig Veda are:

3. Kaushitaki Brahmana

2. Atmabodha

 Aitareya

4. Mudgala

 Kaushitaki

5. Nirvana 6. Nada Bindu 7. Tripura 8. Bahvricha 9. Saubhagyalakshmi

Rig Veda – Upanishads  Aitareya Upanishad

 Kausitaki Upanishad

 3 chapters, 5 sections, 33 mantras

 4 Chapters, 51 mantras

 Chapter 1

 Entirely in prose form

 Lord alone existed in the beginning  He desired to create the world and did it without any aid

 Chapter 2  Birth, metamorphosis, the death and rebirth of jiva in order to awaken vairagya (detachment)

 Chapter 3  Distinguishes mind from pure consciousness

 Chapter 1  Deals with 2 well known paths (devayana and pitryana)

 Chapter 2  Detailed account of pranavidya

 Chapter 3  Long discourse by Indra to King Pratardhana

 Chapter 4  Repeat of Brihadaranyaka Upanishad

Yajur Veda Upanishads Yajur Veda – 50 1.

Isha (MAJOR)

2.

Katha (MAJOR)

3.

Taittiri (MAJOR)

4.

Brihadaranyaka (MAJOR)

5. 6.

7. 8. 9.

27.

Yagnavalkya

15.

Niralamba

28.

Satyayani

16.

Paingala

29.

Amrtanada

Mantrika

30.

Amrtabindu

18.

Muktita

31.

Kshurika

19.

Subala

32.

20.

Avadhuta

21.

40.

Sarasvatirahasya

41.

Trisikhibrahmana

42.

Mandalabrahmana

43.

Hamsa

Tejobindu

44.

Kalisantara

33.

Dhyanabindu

45.

Narayana

Katharudra

34.

Brahmavidya

46.

Tarasara

22.

Brahma

35.

Yogakundalini

47.

Kalagnirudra

23.

Jabala

36.

Yogatattva 48.

Dakshinamurti

24.

Turiyatitta

49.

Pancabrahma

50.

Rudrahrdaya

17.

Akshi

Ekashara Garbha Svetasvatara (MAJOR) Sariraka

11.

Sukarahasya

13.

Adhyatma

Maitrayani (MAJOR)

10.

12.

14.

Skanda Sarvasara

25. 26.

Paramahamsa Bhikshuka

37.

Yogasikha

38.

Varaha

39.

Advayataraka

Shukla Yajur VEDA – Upanishads  Brihadaranyaka Upanishad

 Ishavasya Upanishad

 6 chapters, 47 sections, 435 mantras

 18 verses

 Largest and quite ancient

 Smallest of the ten major upanishads

 In prose form

 Teaches that the whole world is pervaded by the Supreme

 One of the principal Upanishads

 Chapters 1 & 2  Describes the atman

 Chapters 3 & 4

 Describes nature of the atman  Advises a balanced combination of:

 Vidya (meditation)

 Good karma produces good results

 Avidya (karma)

 Bad karma produces bad ones

 Sambhuti (meditation on Brahman)

 Only realization of Brahman can give freedom from trans-migratory existence

 Chapters 5 & 6  Discusses OM, Self control, compassion, giving gifts to the needy etc.

 Asambhuti (duties to be performed in this world)

Ishavasya Upanishad  As per Mahatma Gandhi, the first Mantra of this Upanishad summarizes Hinduism  ईशावास्यमिदं सवं यत्किञ्च जगत्ां जगत् । तेन त्क्तेन भुञ्जीथा िा गृधः कस्यत्किद्धनि् ॥ 1 īśāvāsyamidaṃ sarvaṃ yatkiñca jagatyāṃ jagat | tena tyaktena bhuñjīthā mā gṛdhaḥ kasyasviddhanam || All this, whatsoever moves in this universe, including those that move not, is indwelt or pervaded or enveloped or clothed by the Supreme; By this renunciation, support yourself. Do not covet anybody's wealth  यस्तु सवाा मन भूतान्यात्मन्येवानुपश्यमत । सवाभूतेषु चात्मान ततो न मवजुगुप्सते ॥ 6 The Wise man, who realizes all beings as not distinct from his own Self, and his own Self as the Self of all beings, does not, by virtue of that perception, hate anyone.  यत्किन्सवाा मन भूतानन्यात्मैवभुमिजानतः । तत्र को िोहः कः शोक एकत्विनुपश्यतः ॥ 7 What delusion, what sorrow can there be for that wise man who realizes the unity of all existence by perceiving all beings as his own Self?

Krishna Yajur Veda – Upanishads  Mahanarayana Upanishad

 Taiittriya Upanishad

 80 Sections, 259 mantras

 3 chapters, 31 mantras

 Composition of many varied subjects

 Chapter 1, Siskhavalli

 Each section seems to be an independent unit  Various aspects of spiritual life are stressed in this Upanishad  Katha Upanishad  6 chapters, 119 mantras  Very interesting story of a young boy Nachiketas and Yama

 Of 3 boons granted to the boy, one is to seek knowledge of the Self  Chariot metaphor

 End of study advice

 Baccalaureate  Science of phonetics  Fire sacrifice mantras for persons desirous of wealth and intelligence  Chapter 2, Bhrguvalli  Describes five koshas that cover the atman  Chapter 3, Brahmandavalli  Extols tapas or austerity as the means of realizing Brahman

Katha Upanishad  आत्मानँरमथतं मवत्कद्ध शरीरँ रथिेव तु। बुत्कद्धं तुसारमथं मवत्कद्ध िनः प्रग्रहिेव च ॥ ३॥ इत्कियामि हयानाहुमवाषयाँ स्तेषुगोचरान्। आत्मे त्कियिनोयुक्तं भोक्तेत्ाहुिानीमषिः ॥ ४

Know the Self as lord of the chariot, The body as the chariot itself, The discriminating intellect as charioteer, And the mind as reins. The senses, say the wise, are the horses; Selfish desires are the roads they travel.  उमिष्ठत जाग्रत प्राप्य वरामिबोधत । क्षु रस्य धारा मनमशता दु रत्या दु गं पथस्तिवयो वदत्कि ॥ १४॥ Arise! Awake! Approach the great and learn. Like the sharp edge of a razor is that path, so the wise say−hard to tread and difficult to cross.

Hindu Baccalaureate from Taiittriya Upanishad

 Satyam vada, Speak the truth, but a caution may be added not to speak unpleasant truth.  (Satyam bruyat priyam bruyat na bruyat satyam-apriyam. priyam cha nanrtam bruyat esha dharma sanatanah)  One should speak the truth, that is pleasing, not the truth that is upsetting. One must not speak an untruth that is only meant to please.  Dharmam chara  Practice righteousness -- act according to your Dharma. Do your duty  You have a duty to yourself, to your family, to your forefathers, to the Scriptures, to the society/nation/humanity at large and to the environment. All these are pointed out in the text.

Sama Veda Upanishads Sama Veda – 15

8.

Maitreya

1.

Kena (MAJOR)

9.

Sannyasa

2.

Chandogya (MAJOR)

10.

Jabala Darsana

3.

Mahopanishad

11.

Yogachudamani

4.

Vajrasuchika

12.

Avyakta

5.

Savitri

13.

Vasudeva

6.

Aruni

14.

Jabali

7.

Kundika

15.

Rudraksha Jabala

•

Sama Veda – Upanishads  Kena Upanishad



Chandogya Upanishad

 4 Chapters, 35 mantras

 8 chapters, 154 sections, 628 mantras

 Kena = By what?

 Chapter 1

 Chapter 1  Description of atman in the body

 Chapter 2&3  Parable of the gods in heaven

 Celebration of the victory over asuras  Do not realize that the victory is due to the grace and power of Brahman  Haimavati (personification of Brahmavidya) teaches them spiritual wisdom

 Chapter 4  Praise of the spiritual wisdom

 Meditation on OM  Chapter 2  Reference to 4 stages of life  Chapter 3  Madhuvidya (meditation on sun as madhu or honey)  Chapter 4

 Story of King Janasruti and his attaining wisdom from Sage Raikva



Chandogya Upanishad Continued  Chapter 5  Process by which dead return to this world  Chapter 6  Most interesting and instructive about nature of Self  Chapter 7

 Long dialogue between Sanatkumara and his disciple  Chapter 8  Meditation on the Self within the space of the heart

Atharva Veda Upanishads •

Atharva Veda – 34

9.

Pasupatha-Brahma

17.

Kaivalya

27.

Sarabha

28.

Annapurna

29.

Tripuratapani

30.

Devi

31.

Bhavana

32.

Sita

33.

Bhasma Jabala

34.

Prana-agnihotra

1.

Prashna (MAJOR)

10.

Mahavakya

18.

Nrsimhatapani

2.

Mandukya (MAJOR)

11.

Sandilya

19.

Ramatapani

3.

Mundaka (MAJOR)

12.

Krishna

20.

Ramarahasya

21.

Hayagriva

4. 5.

Atma Surya

6.

Narada-Parivrajakas

7.

Parabrahma

13. 14. 15.

16. 8.

ParamahamsaParivrajakas

Garuda

22.

Atharvasikha

23.

Atharvasira

24.

Ganapati

25.

Brhajjabala

26.

Bhasmajabala

Gopalatapani Tripadavibhutimahanarayana

Dattatreya

Atharva Veda – Upanishads  Mandukya Upanishad  12 mantras  All in prose form  Philosophy of OM, atman and Brahman  Real nature of atman analyzed through 3 states of consciousness  Jagrat (waking state)  Svapna (dream state)  Susupti (deep sleep state)

 Impossible to describe nature of Brahman since He is:  achintya (beyond thought)  alakshana (beyond characteristics)

 Prahsna Upanishad

 Mundaka Upanishad  3 chapters, 6 sections, 64 mantras

 6 chapters, 67 mantras

 Munda means shaven head

 Answers by Sage Pippalada to questions from his disciples form the basis of this upanishadQ1- What is the origin of the all the beings?

 Form is Q&A

 Name probably derived from:

 Spiritual wisdom in it can remove the illusions and delusions of one who studies and comprehends the material  Q2 – Mukhyaprana (main life force)  Divides knowledge into 2 groups 

Para (higher)

 Q3 – Mukhyaprana works



Apara (lower)

 Q4 – Deep sleep state of being

 Advises the spiritual seeker to approach a  guru for knowledge of Brahman  Truth alone triumphs सत्िे व

जयते

Q5 – Method of meditation on OM

 Q6 – Person with sixteen parts

Bhagavad Gita – The Divine Song  Referred to as the 5th Veda  700 Verses

 18 Chapters Not a simple historical occurrence in the context of Mahabharata  Dialog between Sri Krishna (Charioteer) and Arjuna (Warrior)  Arjuna refuses to fight his cousins on the battlefield  Many say that the battle is the one within ones’ own self

 Krishna’s response to Arjuna’s dilemma and questions are relevant even today  The movie The Legend of Baggar Vance is based on this text https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Bagger_Vance

Bhagavad Gita – The Divine Song  Bhagavad contains the essence of all the Upanishads stated in a nutshell.

 All verses in Bhagavad Gita can be connected to a corresponding verse of one of the principal upanishads.  First six chapters focuses on Tvam - self jivatma  Next six chapters focuses on Tat - SELF Paramathma  Last six chapters focuses on Asi - the equivalance of self and SELF  In other words the Bhagavad Gita describes the maha Vakya Tat Tvam Asi!

Bhagavad Gita – The Divine Song  Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-82), U.S. philosopher : “I owed a magnificent day to the Bhagavad-Gita. It was as if an empire spoke to us, nothing small or unworthy, but large, serene, consistent, the voice of an old intelligence which in another age and climate had pondered and thus disposed of the same questions which exercise us.... It [Vedic thought] is sublime as night and a breathless ocean. It contains every religious sentiment, all the grand ethics which visit in turn each noble poetic mind.... The Bhagavad Gita is an empire of thought and in its philosophical teachings Krishna has all the attributes of the full-fledged monotheistic deity and at the same time the attributes of the Upanishadic absolute.”  Henry David Thoreau (1817-62), U.S. thinker : “In the morning I bathe my intellect in the stupendous and cosmogonal philosophy of the Bhagavad Gita in comparison with which our modern world and its literature seems puny.”

Renowned thinkers on Gita  Albert Einstein: When I read the Bhagavad Gita and reflect about how God created this universe everything else seems so superfluous.  Albert Schweizer: The Bhagavad Gita has a profound influence on the spirit of mankind by its devotion to God which is manifested by actions.  Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru: The Bhagavad Gita deals essentially with the spiritual foundation of human existence. It is a call of action to meet the obligations and duties of life, yet keeping in view the spiritual nature and grander purpose of the universe.  Herman Hesse: The marvel of the Bhagavad Gita is its truly beautiful revelation of life's wisdom which enables philosophy to blossom into religion.  Rudolph Steiner: In order to approach a creation as sublime as the Bhagavad-Gita with full understanding it is necessary to attune our soul to it.

Main Message of Gita  Messages can be classified into 3 categories:  How to keep the mind from agitation and agony – a psycho analysis

 How to perform the different roles that we play without any conflict so that we can be happy and successful  How to achieve Moksha

a) no ownership to anything in this world b) practice detachment

c) universal happiness unbounded by time and space!

Main Message of Gita  Actively resist evil  Know that you are the spiritual self and not the BMI complex  Stabilize the mind by overcoming desires  Do your duty with non-attachment, as sacrificial offering to the Supreme

 True renunciation is renunciation of doership  Acknowledge presence of the Supreme in you and in everything

 Surrender to the Supreme with devotion

Symbolism of Gita

 As in Katha upanishad  In the chariot of the body, the five horses are the five senses (tongue, eyes, ears, nose and skin)  The reins, the driving instrument, symbolize the mind  The charioteer (Krishna) is the pure intelligence  The passenger (Arjuna) is the self (false ego)  Life (body) is the chariot  War of Kurukshetra= individual conflicts  Kauravas/Pandavas= negative/positive tendencies

Bhagavad Gita - Yogas  18 chapters describe 18 different types of yogas  4 Major Yoga Categories are: 1. Karma Yoga  Path of selfless action

2. Bhakti Yoga  Path of love and devotion

3. Jnana Yoga  Path of Knowledge

4. Raj (Dhyana) Yoga  Path of Meditation

Bhagavad Gita – 18 Chapters 1.

Chapter 1 – Vishada Yoga 

2.

3.



4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

17.

Royal Knowledge and Royal Mystery

Embracing the Divine and Shunning the demonic

Chapter 17 – Shraddatraya Vibhaga Yoga 

18.

The supreme being

Chapter 16 - Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga 

Imperishable Absolute

Chapter 9 – Raja Vidya Guhya Yoga 

16.

Transcending the Gunas

Chapter 15 – Purushottama Yoga 

Nature of Spirit

Chapter 8 – Akshara Brahma Yoga 

15.

The Field and the Knower of the field

Chapter 14 – Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga 

Yoga of Medidation

Chapter 7 – Jnana Vignana Yoga 

14.

Union through devotion

Chapter 13 – Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga 

Inner Renunciation

Chapter 6 – DhyanaYoga 

13.

Cosmic Form of the Lord Revealed

Chapter 12 – Bhakti Yoga 

Knowing God

Chapter 5 – Sannyasa Yoga 

12.

Infinite manifestations of Spirit

Chapter 11 – Vishwarupa Darsana Yoga 

Path of Spiritual Action

Chapter 4 – Jnana Yoga 

11.

Cosmic Wisdom and the method of its atainment

Chapter 3 – Karma Yoga

Chapter 10 – Vibhuti Yoga 

Arjuna‘s Despondency

Chapter 2 – Sankhya Yoga 

10.

Three Kinds of Faith

Chapter 18 – Moksha Sannyasa Yoga 

Liberation

Karma Yoga  किाण्येवामधकारस्ते िा फलेषु कदाचन। िा किाफलहे तुभूािाा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकिामि II.47 Karmanye vadhikaraste Ma Phaleshu Kadachana, Ma Karmaphalaheturbhurma Te Sangostvakarmani Your choice is in action only, never in the result thereof. You are not the author of the results of action. Let your attachment not be to inaction  योगस्थः कुरु किाा मि सङ्गं त्क्त्वा धनञ्जय। मसद्ध्यमसद्ध्योः सिो भू त्वा सित्वं योग उच्यते II.48 Remaining steadfast in yoga, o Arjuna, perform actions, abandoning attachment, remaining balanced in success and failure. This evenness of mind is called yoga  बु त्कद्धयु क्तो जहातीह उभे सुकृतदु ष्कृते। तिाद्योगाय यु ज्यि योगः किासु कौशलि् II.50 Endowed with wisdom (evenness of mind), one casts off in this life both good and evil deeds; therefore, devote thyself to Yoga; (Karma) yoga means discretion in action  यज्ञाथाा ििािोऽन्यत्र लोकोऽयं किाबन्धनः। तदथं किा कौिेय िुक्तसंगः सिाचर III.9 The world is bound by actions other than those performed for the sake of sacrifice; do thou, therefore, O son of Kunti (Arjuna), perform action for that sake (for sacrifice alone), free from attachment.  यिरोमष यदश्नामस यज्जु होमष ददामस यत्। यिपस्यमस कौिेय तिुरुष्व िदपािि् IX.27 Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer or give away, and whatever austerities you perform—do that, O son of Kunté, as an offering to Me.  Inaction  Action with anxiety for results  Action without the anxiety for results  accepting the results as an offering from the Supreme  Acting without the notion of doership

Bhakti Yoga 

सततं कीता यिो िां यतिश्च दृढव्रताः। निस्यिश्च िां भक्त्या मनत्युक्ता उपासते ।X.14

Always glorifying Me, striving, firm in vows, prostrating themselves before Me, they worship Me with devotion always steadfast. 

पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं यो िे भक्त्या प्रयच्छमत। तदहं भक्त्युपहृतिश्नामि प्रयतात्मनः IX.26

Whosoever offers Me a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or water with devotion, I accept the offering of devotion by the pure-hearted. 

िन्मना भव िद्भक्तो िद्याजी िां निस्कुरु। िािेवैष्यमस युक्त्वैविात्मानं ित्परायिः IX.34

Having your mind fixed on Me, be devoted to Me, sacrifice to Me, and bow down to Me. By concentrating your mind and accepting Me as the supreme Goal, you shall surely attain Me who am thus the Self. 

अिे ष्टा सवाभूतानां िैत्रः करुि एव च। मनिािो मनरहङ्कारः सिदु ःखसुखः क्षिी XII.13 सिुष्टः सततं योगी यतात्मा दृढमनश्चयः। िय्यमपातिनोबुत्कद्धयो िद्भक्तः स िे मप्रयः XII.14

He who hates no creature, who is friendly and compassionate to all, who is free from attachment and egoism, balanced in pleasure and pain, and forgiving. Ever content, steady in meditation, self-controlled, possessed of firm conviction, with the mind and intellect dedicated to Me, he, My devotee, is dear to Me. 

यिािोमिजते लोको लोकािोमिजते च यः। हषाा िषाभयोिे गैिुाक्तो यः स च िे मप्रयः XII.15

Not agitating the world or by it agitated, he stands above the sway of elation, competition, and fear – such a one is dear to Me. 

सिः शत्रौ च मित्रे च तथा िानापिानयोः। शीतोष्णसुखदु ःखेषु सिः सङ्गमववमजा तः XII.18 तु ल्यमनन्दास्तुमतिौनी सिुष्टो येनकेनमचत् । अमनकेतः त्कस्थरिमतभाक्म तिान्मे मप्रयो नरः XII.19

Who serves both friend and foe with equal love, not buoyed by praise or cast down by blame, alike in heat and cold, pleasure and pain, free from selfish attachments and self-will, ever full, in harmony everywhere, firm in faith – such a one is dear to Me.

Gnana Yoga  न मह ज्ञानेन सदृशं पमवत्रमिह मवद्यते। तत्स्वयं योगसंमसद्धः कालेनात्ममन मवन्दमत IV.38 Indeed, there is nothing purifying here comparable to Knowledge. One who has become perfected after a (long) time through yoga, realizes the Self by himself in his own heart.  सवाभूतस्थिात्मानं सवाभूतामन चात्ममन। ईक्षते योगयुक्तात्मा सवात्र सिदशानः VI.29 With the mind harmonized by Yoga he sees the Self abiding in all beings and all beings in the Self; he sees the same everywhere.  यो िां पश्यमत सवात्र सवं च िमय पश्यमत। तस्याहं न प्रिश्यामि स च िे न प्रिश्यमत VI.30

He who sees Me everywhere and sees everything in Me, he never becomes separated from Me, nor do I become separated from him  सवाभूतत्कस्थतं यो िां भजत्ेकत्विात्कस्थतः। सवाथा वतािानोऽमप स योगी िमय वताते VI.31 He who, being established in unity, worships Me Who dwells in all beings, that Yogi abides in Me, whatever may be his mode of living.  ज्ञानयज्ञेन चाप्यन्ये यजिो िािुपासते। एकत्वेन पृथक्त्वेन बहुधा मवश्वतोिुखि् IX.15  Those who worship Me by adoring exclusively through the sacrifice of the knowledge of oneness; ………

Gnana Yoga  अिामनत्विदत्कित्विमहं सा क्षात्किराजावि्। आचायोपासनं शौचं स्थैयािात्ममवमनग्रहः XIII.8 

Humility, unpretentiousness, non-injury, forgiveness, uprightness, service of the teacher, purity, steadfastness, self-control.

 इत्कियाथेषु वैराग्यिनहङ्कार एव च। जन्मिृत्ुजराव्यामधदु ःखदोषानुदशा नि् XIII.9 Indifference to the objects of the senses and also absence of egoism; perception of (or reflection on) the evil in birth, death, old age, sickness and pain.  िमय चानन्ययोगेन भक्म तरव्यमभचाररिी। मवमवक्तदे शसेमवत्विरमतजानसंसमद XIII.11 Unswerving devotion unto Me by the Yoga of non-separation, resort to solitary places, distaste for the company of others.  अध्यात्मज्ञानमनत्त्वं तत्त्वज्ञानाथादशानि्। एतज्ज्ञानमिमत प्रोक्तिज्ञानं यदतोन्यथा XIII.12 Constancy in Self-knowledge, contemplation on the Goal of the knowledge of Reality-this is spoken of as Knowledge, and what is opposed to it is ignorance.

Dhyana Yoga  उद्धरे दात्मनाऽऽत्मानं नात्मानिवसादयेत्। आत्मै व ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मै व ररपुरात्मनः VI.5 बन्धुरात्माऽऽत्मनस्तस्य येनात्मै वात्मना मजतः। अनात्मनस्तु शत्रुत्वे वतेतात्मै व शत्रुवत् VI.6 One must elevate and not degrade oneself by one’s own mind. The mind alone is one’s friend (if you control it) as well as one’s enemy (if you don’t)  नात्श्नतस्तु योगोऽत्कस्त न चैकाििनश्नतः। न चामतिप्नशीलस्य जाग्रतो नैव चाजुान VI.16 This yoga is not possible for one who eats too much or who does not eat at all, who sleeps too much or too little.

 यतो यतो मनश्चरमत िनश्चञ्चलित्कस्थरि्। ततस्ततो मनयम्यैतदात्मन्येव वशं नयेत् VI.26 Wherever this restless and unsteady mind wanders during meditation, one should just witness it under the supervision and control of the Self.  सवाभूतस्थिात्मानं सवाभूतामन चात्ममन। ईक्षते योगयुक्तात्मा सवात्र सिदशानः VI.29

With the mind harmonized by Yoga he sees the Self abiding in all beings and all beings in the Self; he sees the same everywhere.  यो िां पश्यमत सवात्र सवं च िमय पश्यमत। तस्याहं न प्रिश्यामि स च िे न प्रिश्यमत VI.30 He who sees Me everywhere and sees everything in Me, he never becomes separated from Me, nor do I become separated from him.

Dhyana Yoga  आत्मौपम्येन सवात्र सिं पश्यमत योऽजुान। सुखं वा यमद वा दु ःखं सः योगी परिो ितः VI.32 The best yogi is one who regards every being like oneself and can feel the pain and pleasures of others as one’s own.  असंशयं िहाबाहो िनो दु मनाग्रहं चलं। अभ्यासेन तु कौिेय वैराग्ये ि च गृ ह्यते VI.35 Undoubtedly, the mind is restless and difficult to restrain, but it is subdued by any constant vigorous spiritual practice such as meditation with perseverance and by detachment  योमगनािमप सवेषां िद्गतेनािरात्मना। श्रद्धावान्भजते यो िां स िे युक्ततिो ितः VI.47 I consider the yogi-devotee who lovingly contemplates on Me with supreme faith and whose mind is ever absorbed in Me to be the best of all the yogis.

The Nature of Self – Thou (Tat)  न जायते मियते वा कदामचिायं भू त्वा भमवता वा न भू यः। अजो मनत्ः शाश्वतोऽयं पुरािो न हन्यते हन्यिाने शरीरे II.20

For the soul there is never birth nor death. Nor, having once been, does it ever cease to be. Self is unborn, eternal, ever-existing, undying and primeval. It is not destroyed when the body is destroyed.  वासां मस जीिाा मन यथा मवहाय नवामन गृ ह्णामत नरोऽपरामि। तथा शरीरामि मवहाय जीिाा न्यन्यामन संयामत नवामन दे ही II.22 Just as a person casts off worn-out clothes and puts on new ones, so also the embodied Self casts off worn-out bodies and enters others which are new.

 दे ही मनत्िवध्योऽयं दे हे सवास्य भारत तिात्सवाा मि भू तामन न त्वं शोमचतुिहा मस II.30 This, the Indweller in the body of everyone, is ever indestructible, O Arjuna; therefore, thou shouldst not grieve for any creature.

The Nature of God -- That  ििः परतरं नान्यत्किमञ्चदत्कस्त धनञ्जय। िमय सवामिदं प्रोतं सूत्रे िमिगिा इव VII.7 There is nothing whatsoever higher than Me, O Arjuna. All this is strung on Me, as clusters of gems on a string.  िया ततमिदं सवं जगदव्यक्तिूमताना ित्स्थामन सवाभूतामन न चाहं तेष्ववत्कस्थतः IX.4 All this world is pervaded by Me in My unmanifest aspect; all beings exist in Me, but I am not limited by them.  ियाऽध्यक्षेि प्रकृमतः सूयते सचराचरि् हे तुनाऽनेन कौिेय जगमिपररवताते IX.10 Under my watchful eye the laws of nature take their course. Thus is the world set in motion; thus the animate and the inanimate are created.

 अहं सवास्य प्रभवो ििः सवं प्रवताते इमत ित्वा भजिे िां बुधा भावसित्किताः X.8 I am the source of all; from Me everything evolves; understanding thus, the wise, endowed with meditation, worship Me.  सवास्य चाहं हृमद समिमवष्टो ििः िृमतज्ञाा निपोहनं च वेदैश्च सवैरहिेव वेद्यो वेदािकृिे दमवदे व चाहि् XV.15

And I am seated in the hearts of all. From Me (have come) memory, knowledge, and forgetfulness. I am alone the one to be known by all the Vedas and I alone am the author of the Vedaanta and the knower of the Vedas.

Equation between the Two -- Art  अभ्यासयोगयुक्तेन चेतसा नान्यगामिना परिं पुरुषं मदव्यं यामत पाथाा नुमचियन् VIII.8

O! Partha, reflecting as he was taught, with a mind endowed with the practice of yoga, with a mind that does not stray to anything else, he reaches the limitless, self-effulgent person. (Purusha)  िििाकृन्मत्परिो िद्भक्तः सङ्गवमजातः मनवैरः सवाभूतेषु यः स िािेमत पाण्डव XI.55

Among all people, the one who does all action for My sake, for whom I am paramount, who is devoted to Me, free from attachment and free from enmity comes to Me, Arjuna.  िां च योऽव्यमभचारे ि भत्कक्तयोगेन सेवते स गुिान्सितीत्ैतान्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते XIV.26 One who engages in full devotional service, who does not fall down in any circumstance, at once transcends the modes of material nature and thus comes to the level of Brahman.

 मनिाा निोहा मजतसङ्गदोषा अध्यात्ममनत्ा मवमनवृिकािाः िन्िै मवािुक्ताः सुखदु ःखसंज्ञै-गच्छन्त्यिूढाः पदिव्ययं तत् XV.5 One who is free from illusion, false prestige, and false association, who understands the eternal, who is done with material lust and is freed from the duality of happiness and distress, and who knows how to surrender unto the Supreme Person, attains to that eternal kingdom.

 ईश्वरः सवाभूतानां हृद्दे शेऽजुान मतष्ठमत भ्राियन्सवाभूतामन यन्त्रारूढामन िायया XVIII.61 The Supreme Lord is situated in everyone's heart, O Arjuna, and is directing the wanderings of all living entities, who are seated as if on a machine, made of the material energy.

Essence of Bhagavad Gita

सञ्जय उवाच

यत्र योगेश्वरः कृष्णो यत्र पाथो धनुधारः। तत्र श्रीमवाजयो भूमतर्ध्ुावा नीमतिामतिाि॥ Wherever there is Sri Krishna (the Intellect), the master of all mystics, and wherever there is Arjuna (Action), the supreme archer, there will also certainly be opulence, victory, extraordinary power, and morality. That is my opinion.

A goal without a plan is a mere wish

Ending Prayer ॐ सवे भविु सुत्कखनः सवे सिु मनराियाः । सवे भद्रामि पश्यिु िा कमश्चद् दु ःखभाग्भवेत् । ॐ शात्किः शात्किः शात्किः ॥ Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah Sarve Santu Niraamayaahaa | Sarve Bhadraanni Pashyantu Maa Kashchidduhkha-Bhaag-Bhavet | Om Shaantih Shaantih Shaantih || Meaning: Om, May All become Happy, May All be Free from Illness. May All See what is Auspicious, May no one Suffer. Om Peace, Peace, Peace.

References  Eknath Easwaran, The Upanishads: A Classic of Indian Spirituality, The Blue Mountain Center for Meditation, 2007  Swami Ranganathananda, The Message of the Upanisads, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan/Mumbai/India; 9th edition, 2007  Swami Chinmayananda, Kathopanishad/A dialogue with death, Central Chinmaya Trust, 2006  Swami Chinmayananda, Discourses on Taittiriya Upanishad, Central Chinmaya Trust, 1974  https://www.researchgate.net/publication/248392593_Deekshaantopadeshah_Hindu_Baccalaureate_Service_Organized_by_the_Hindu_Student_Association_of_Duke_ University

 https://www.gitasupersite.iitk.ac.in/srimad  Eknath Easwaran, The Bhagavad Gita for Daily Living, three volumes, Nilgiri Press, 1993  Paramahansa Yogananda, God Talks with Arjuna: The Bhagavad Gita, 2 Volume Set, Self-Realization Fellowship, 2001

 Swami Dayanand Saraswati, Bhagavad Gita - Home Study Course (Set of 9 Volumes), Arsha Vidya Centre Research & Publication