Chapter 4: With 42 verses or shlokas, the fourth chapter is similar in length to the first and third chapters.
Arjuna (Shloka 4): 1 shloka
Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead (Shloka 1-3;5-42): 41 shlokas
Brief Summary: In this chapter, Lord Krishna highlights that knowledge of the Bhagavad Gita has been transferred in disciplic succession since time immemorial :
Lord Krishna--> Sun God --> Manu--> Ikhshvaku
However, this succession was broken over time due to reasons not mentioned in the original text. Hence, the Lord restored this transcendental knowledge through his devotee and dear friend Arjuna. In this chapter's only shloka attributed to Arjuna, he has raised a doubt that the Sun god is from a much older period, then how Lord Krishna could have preached the Gita to him?
The rest of the Shlokas involve a detailed answer from lord Krishna to this question. Lord Krishna emphasized that all souls are transcendental and have existed for many lifetimes. The only difference is that the memory of souls is limited to the present life due to limited sense perception. However, lord Krishna remembers everything.
Two Shlokas (7 & 8) made famous by the television series Mahabaratha are part of this chapter. The interpretation of these two shlokas is that whenever irreligion becomes predominant, the lord himself appears on this planet to re-establish principles of religion. The concept of moksha is again explained in the subsequent shlokas. Moksha, or liberation from the endless cycles of birth and death, is the ultimate aim of life and can be attained by total surrender to the divine. Freedom from attachment, fear, anger, and fruitive activities will pave the path towards liberation. We cannot please Krishna with our fruitive efforts.
- Distinguishing between Action, Inaction, and Forbidden action is complex and requires subtlety.
- Abandoning proprietorship over our own possessions.
One of the most commonly recited Shlokas before consumption of food in India is Shloka 24, which states, "For those who are completely absorbed in God-consciousness, the oblation is Brahman, the ladle with which it is offered is Brahman, the act of offering is Brahman, and the sacrificial fire is also Brahman. Such persons, who view everything as God, easily attain Him."
i.e., oblation==ladle==act of offering==sacrificial fire==Brahman
Those who are interested in self-realization offer various types of oblations, such as:
- functions of all the senses, the vital force [breath]
- material possessions, practice the yoga of eightfold mysticism
- study the Vedas for the advancement of transcendental knowledge
- practice breath control (pranayama)
Favorite Shlokas:
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