Bhagavad Gita (1st c. B.C.)

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Background

• Bhagavad Gita (1st c. B.C.), "Song of the Lord"
• later addition to the ancient Indian epic, Mahabharata (5th-4th c. B.C.)
• war between factions, Pandavas and Kauravas
• Hindu response to challenges of Buddhism
• designed to preserve Hindu social hierarchy, caste system; "the response of brahman thinkers who stood to lose the most from the potential disintegration of the Hindu social system" (Norton Anthology, p. 958)
• dharma vs karma
• attempt to reconcile Buddhist contemplative values with requirements of action in worldly life
• contradictory text
• new concepts: karma yoga ("discipline of action"), dutiful, discipline action without personal desire, sacred duty; bhakti yoga ("discipline of devotion")
• Mahatma Ghandi's later reading of the Gita as supporting doctrine of non-violence

Bhagavad Gita

Study Questions

Who composed the Gita? For what purposes? How did the historical and cultural conditions of the time affect the shaping of the work's ideological content? What arguments does Arjuna invoke to support his concern about participating in the battle? What arguments does Krishna employ to overcome Arjuna's objections to participating in the battle? Are they persuasive? Are they consistent with the Buddhist concern with the "bad karma" of violent action? Why? Why not? In what ways does the Gita attempt to smooth out the contradictions between the teachings of Buddhism and those of Hinduism? Is it successful in this endeavor? How do you feel about Krishna's argument that the immortality of souls makes killing less problematic? Is it possible to read this text (as Ghandi did) as an argument against violence? How?

Other Resources

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