श्री कृष्ण दर्शन

Krishna talks about Himself in the Bhagavad-gita, explaining how anyone can know Him through Krishna consciousness, bhakti-yoga. The Srimad-Bhagavatam further describes Krishna's uncommon and fascinating personality and activities in its Tenth Canto.

Krishna is the source of brahman, the all-pervading spiritual energy which includes everything and everyone. We are all one with Krishna, in the sense that we are all parts of the supreme whole. He is also present in every atom, as well as in the hearts of all living things as Paramatma, the Supersoul. But ultimately, Krishna is Bhagavan, the Supreme Person who possesses all opulences—wealth, strength, fame, knowledge, beauty, and detachment—to the fullest degree.

Realization of Krishna progresses in three stages; first comes an understanding of His all-pervading brahman feature, then one realizes His presence within one's self and others as Paramatma, and finally one comes to appreciate Krishna as He is, as Bhagavan, the all-attractive Supreme Person, the ultimate cause of all causes, the source of all of us and of being itself.

Krishna always appears as a fresh youth with a dark complexion, surrounded by loving devotees, decorated with garlands of flowers and peacock feathers in His curling, bluish-black hair. He plays as a cowherd boy in the rural setting of Vrindavan, along with countless other cowherd boys, gopas, and cowherd girls, gopis. In His pastimes as a small child, He captivates the minds of the residents of Vrindavan with His charming, naughty behavior, such as stealing butter. In His youth, He captures the hearts of the gopis by His irresistible beauty, charm, and flute playing.

The greatest personalities of ancient times, such as Narada, Asita, Devala, Vyasadeva—who compiled the Vedas—and Arjuna, to whom Krishna spoke the Bhagavad-gita, all accept Krishna to be the Supreme Person, the Absolute Truth, the ultimate source of all energies, and the One ultimately responsible for the creation, maintenance, and annihilation of everything in the material world.

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Dharma (Duty and Righteousness): Krishna emphasizes the importance of fulfilling one's duties and responsibilities, or dharma. He advises individuals to perform their duties selflessly and without attachment to the outcomes.

Karma (Action and Consequences): Krishna teaches the concept of karma, which means that every action has consequences. He advises individuals to act without attachment to the fruits of their actions.

Bhakti (Devotion): Bhakti yoga, the path of devotion, is a central theme in Krishna's teachings. He encourages a loving and devotional relationship with the divine. This often involves devotion to Krishna himself.

Self-Realization: Krishna emphasizes the importance of self-realization and understanding one's true nature, which is considered eternal and beyond the physical body.

Detachment: Krishna teaches detachment from the material world and the transient nature of physical existence. He encourages a focus on the eternal and spiritual aspects of life.

Equality: Krishna preaches the idea that all beings are equal in the eyes of the divine. He encourages treating everyone with respect and compassion.

Yoga: Krishna describes different paths of yoga, including Karma Yoga (the yoga of selfless action), Bhakti Yoga (the yoga of devotion), Jnana Yoga (the yoga of knowledge), and Dhyana Yoga (the yoga of meditation). These paths offer different approaches to spiritual growth.

Respect for All Religions: Krishna teaches respect for all religions and paths to the divine, emphasizing that all genuine paths ultimately lead to the same truth.

Importance of the Present Moment: Krishna advises individuals to focus on the present moment, as it is the only time that truly exists. Dwelling on the past or worrying about the future can lead to suffering.

Conflict Resolution: In the Bhagavad Gita, Krishna guides Prince Arjuna in resolving his moral dilemma on the battlefield. This teaches the importance of ethical decision-making and conflict resolution.

Humility: Krishna encourages humility and teaches that true wisdom comes from recognizing one's own limitations and the vastness of the divine.

Service: Krishna emphasizes selfless service to others, which is a form of devotion and a means to spiritual growth.

These teachings and principles reflect the essence of Krishna's ideology as presented in the Bhagavad Gita and other Hindu scriptures. They offer profound guidance on leading a life filled with purpose, spiritual growth, and a deeper understanding of the self and the divine.

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The Gita appears as a central chapter in the Mahabharata, the history of greater India. It is the essence of Vedic knowledge and one of the most important books of Vedic literature.

Bhagavad-gita As It Is Chapter Summary

A chapter-by-chapter summary with links for further exploration:

Bg 1: Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kurukshetra

As the opposing armies stand poised for battle, Arjuna, the mighty warrior, sees his intimate relatives, teachers and friends in both armies ready to fight and sacrifice their lives. Overcome by grief and pity, Arjuna fails in strength, his mind becomes bewildered, and he gives up his determination to fight.

Bg 2: Contents of the Gītā Summarized

Arjuna submits to Lord Krishna as His disciple, and Krishna begins His teachings to Arjuna by explaining the fundamental distinction between the temporary material body and the eternal spiritual soul. The Lord explains the process of transmigration, the nature of selfless service to the Supreme and the characteristics of a self-realized person.

Bg 3: Karma-yoga

Everyone must engage in some sort of activity in this material world. But actions can either bind one to this world or liberate one from it. By acting for the pleasure of the Supreme, without selfish motives, one can be liberated from the law of karma (action and reaction) and attain transcendental knowledge of the self and the Supreme.

Bg 4: Transcendental Knowledge

Transcendental knowledge-the spiritual knowledge of the soul, of God, and their relationship-is both purifying and liberating. Such knowledge is the fruit of selfless devotional action (karma-yoga). The Lord explains the remote history of the Gita, the purpose and significance of His periodic descents to the material world, and the necessity of approaching a guru, a realized teacher.

Bg 5: Karma-yoga-Action in Krishna Consciousness

Outwardly performing all actions but inwardly renouncing their fruits, the wise man, purified by the fire of transcendental knowledge, attains peace, detachment, forbearance, spiritual vision and bliss.

Bg 6: Dhyāna-yoga

Astanga-yoga, a mechanical meditative practice, controls the mind and the senses and focuses concentration on Paramatma (the Supersoul, the form of the Lord situated in the heart). This practice culminates in samadhi, full consciousness of the Supreme.

Bg 7: Knowledge of the Absolute

Lord Krishna is the Supreme Truth, the supreme cause and sustaining force of everything, both material and spiritual. Advanced souls surrender unto Him in devotion, whereas impious souls divert their minds to other objects of worship.

Bg 8: Attaining the Supreme

By remembering Lord Krishna in devotion throughout one's life, and especially at the time of death, one can attain to His supreme abode, beyond the material world.

Bg 9: The Most Confidential Knowledge

Lord Krishna is the Supreme Godhead and the supreme object of worship. The soul is eternally related to Him through transcendental devotional service (bhakti). By reviving one's pure devotion one returns to Krishna in the spiritual realm.

Bg 10: The Opulence of the Absolute

All wondrous phenomena showing power, beauty, grandeur or sublimity, either in the material world or in the spiritual, are but partial manifestations of Krishna's divine energies and opulence. As the supreme cause of all causes and the support and essence of everything, Krishna is the supreme object of worship for all beings.

Bg 11: The Universal Form

Lord Krishna grants Arjuna divine vision and reveals His spectacular unlimited form as the cosmic universe. Thus He conclusively establishes His divinity. Krishna explains that His own all-beautiful humanlike form is the original form of Godhead. One can perceive this form only by pure devotional service.

Bg 12: Devotional Service

Bhakti-yoga, pure devotional service to Lord Krishna, is the highest and most expedient means for attaining pure love for Krishna, which is the highest end of spiritual existence. Those who follow this supreme path develop divine qualities.

Bg 13: Nature, the Enjoyer, and Consciousness

One who understands the difference between the body, the soul and the Supersoul beyond them both attains liberation from this material world.
Bg 14: The Three Modes Of Material Nature

All embodied souls are under the control of the three modes, or qualities, of material nature: goodness, passion, and ignorance. Lord Krishna explains what these modes are, how they act upon us, how one transcends them, and the symptoms of one who has attained the transcendental state.

Bg 15: The Yoga of the Supreme Person

The ultimate purpose of Vedic knowledge is to detach one self from the entanglement of the material world and to understand Lord Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One who understands Krishna 's supreme identity surrenders unto Him and engages in His devotional service.

Bg 16: The Divine and Demoniac Natures

Those who possess demoniac qualities and who live whimsically, without following the regulations of scripture, attain lower births and further material bondage. But those who possess divine qualities and regulated lives, abiding by scriptural authority, gradually attain spiritual perfection.

Bg 17: The Divisions of Faith

There are three types of faith, corresponding to and evolving from the three modes of material nature. Acts performed by those whose faith is in passion and ignorance yield only impermanent, material results, whereas acts performed in goodness, in accord with scriptural injunctions, purify the heart and lead to pure faith in Lord Krishna and devotion to Him.

Bg 18: Conclusion—The Perfection of Renunciation

Krishna explains the meaning of renunciation and the effects of the modes of nature on human consciousness and activity. He explains Brahman realization, the glories of the Bhagavad-gita, and the ultimate conclusion of the Gita: the highest path of religion is absolute, unconditional loving surrender unto Lord Krishna, which frees one from all sins, brings one to complete enlightenment, and enables one to return to Krishna's eternal spiritual abode.

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