| The Gita is a chapter in the
Mahabharata. It begins by describing the agitation of Arjuna when he saw men arrayed on
either side for mutual slaughter, and into this scene is fitted the exposition of Hindu
Dharrna, in terms of what Krishna spoke to Arjuna in order to quell his agitation and
clear his doubts. Krishna speaks throughout the Gita as God himself.
In spite of what is stated in the previous paragraph, and
the beauty and appropriateness of the background conceived by the bold unrivalled
imagination of the ancient author, the student should note that the Gita as a scripture of
Hinduism stands apart from the Mahabharata. The context has rightly receded into
insignificance and has practically disappeared in orthodox Hindu interpretation.
To take the battle of Kurukshetra literally and to
interpret all that is said in the Gita in the light of the motive of the particular scene
would not only not help the student to understand the Gita aright, but may even lead him
to error. It is true that the teachings in the Gita being of universal validity would also
be applicable to the Mahabharata scene and must help to solve Arjuna's problems and
doubts. |
