BHAGAVATGEETA FOR BUSY PEOPLE - COURTESY : THE DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY

[Guest guest]

Priya Bhagavat Banduvullara,

 

His Holiness Sri Sri Sri Swami Sivananda penned an abridged

edition of the Gita and named it BHAGAVAD GITA FOR BUSY PEOPLE.

 

The Divine Life Society has published it as early as in 1966.

For the benefit of those who do not possess a copy of this excellent

abridged version of the Gita, I am reproducing one chapter daily.

Please assimilate and follow the Gita.

 

FOREWARD

 

Life is very complex in these days. The struggle for

existence is very keen. Mand finds no time to study big

philosophical and religious books, or the whole of the Gita. Here is

an abridged edition of the Gita which contains its quintessence for

the use of the students, doctors, advocates and busy people.

 

That man who merely studies daily even a few Slokas is not

stained by Karma. He obtains perfect wisdom, Supreme Peace and

eternal bliss and Immortality. Then what to speak of him who lives

and acts according to the spirit of the teachings of the Gita?

 

He who reads even a quarter of a Sloka is freed from the great

sins and fear of death.

 

The Gita is your benefactor and constant companion. The Gita

is your Teacher and Guru. The Gita is your real Father and Mother.

The Gita is your Solace, support and prop. The Gita is an embodiment

of nectar. Drink this nectar daily and attain immortality. May the

Gita guide you.

 

-- THE DIVINE LIFE SOCIETY

 

CHAPTER ONE

 

THE DESPONDENCY OF ARJUNA

 

(Arjuna Vishada Yoga)

 

This is the Yoga of the despondency of Arjuna. Arjuna saw all

his kinsmen, sons, brothers-in-law, cousins, teachers, (Bhisma, Drona

and others) standing arrayed in battle and said to Lord Krishna

(26) " My limbs fail and my mouth is parched, my body quivers and my

hairs stand on end; Gandiva slips from my hand (29) I do not wish to

kill them even for the sake of the Kingship of the three worlds

(35) It is a great sin to kill my teachers and relatives. If I kill

them, family traditions will perish. There will be lawlessness (40)

Women will become corrupt. There will be cosate-confusion. The

slayer of the families will go to hell for, their ancestors will

fall, deprived of rice-balls and oblations (42). Caste-customs and

family customs will vanish (43) Arjuna was overwhelmed with grief.

He threw away his bow and arrows and sank down on the seat of chariot