Setting the Scene

Bhagavad Gita As It Is

Setting the Scene

By His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta
Swami Srila Prabhupada

Srimad Bhagavad Gita

Srimad Bhagavad Gita

Mahabharata

Composed 5000
Years Ago by
Maharishi
Vyasadev

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

Mahabharata History
Mahabharata
Dhritarashtra

Born Blind
Duryodhana
planned to kill
Pandavas many
times but under
careful
protection of
Uncle Vidura
they were
saved.

Eldest son
Duryodhana

100 sons

Kuru Dynasty
Dronacharya
Military Art Teacher

King Bharata

Former Ruler of Earth

Bhisma

Grandfather of
Pandavas & Kauravas

Yudhisthira

Pandu

Bhima

Arjuna

Younger brother
of Dhritarashtra
-Had 5 Sons

Nakula

Sahadeva

Mahabharata History contd

Sri Krsna

Supreme Personality
Of Godhead

Descended to Material
World as King

Nephew of Pandus wife

Kunti or Prtha (mother of
Pandavas)

Krsna favored the righteous

sons of Pandu and protected
them

History of Battle of Kuruksetra

Duryodhana

Challenged Pandavas
in Gambling Match

Kings all the World divided, some siding

Pandavas and some siding Kauravas. Pandavas
chose Krsna (SPG) to be in their side and
Kauravas were happy with Krsnas Narayani
sena. Krsna would personally not fight and
took a role of charioteer of Arjuna.

Battlefield Scene
Two armies arrayed, ready for combat

Cheated, took all all possession, disrobed

Draupadi (wife of Pandavas), Krsna saved her,
forced them to 13 years of exile.

Returning from exile, Pandavas requested

Kingdom, bluntly refused, Krsna went as
mediator for peace and asked for 5 villages
which was refused. War was in evident.

Dhrtarastra ask Sanjaya

What did they do?

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.

Bhagavad Gitas Message

Krsna is both Goal and substance of Bhagavad Gita, as per Gita itself.

About this Translation

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 and comprehensible.
Since Krsna is the speaker of Bhagavad Gita and its ultimate goal, Bhagavad
Gita As It Is presents this Great Scripture in its true terms.

Complied from the Teachings of

Compiled by Amritananda das

email : amritanandadas@yahoo.com

End
Setting the Scene