Avinash

Didn't Sankara comment on BG? What about his Gita Bhasya?

Also, is the Bhagavad Gita praised in any Purana? Strangely, the Bhagavatam does not mention BG at all (Not very sure, though).

Bhagavad Gita is praised in Padma Purana. Bhagavatam does mention Gita. Before leaving Earth, Krsna answered questions of Arjuna. In the answer to one question He says that He gave the answer to that question to Arjuna when the latter was not ready to fight. Of course, the word 'Gita' is not explicitly used, it is quite clear that Krsna was referring to Gita. Padma Purana uses the word 'Gita' explicitly.

But it is also possible Arjuna was satisified with the instructions given in chapter II. Most of the following instructons are not relevant to Arjuna's situation in the battlefield. Talk on Yoga, Saankya, duties of Brahmanas, characterestics of Varnas, etc, etc were all unnecessary to Arjuna, especially when he is about to fight a war. All that was required was for Krishna to convince Arjuna to fight, to peform his duty without worrying over it's outcome, period. Everything else, is irrelevant.

At the beginning of third chapter, Arjuna asks Krsna to tell clearly which option between doing one's duty and renouncing all actions is better. Since Arjuna asked this question, it was quite appropriate for Krsna to answer this. This is not at all surprising. Very often it happens that when a person is explained something, then he gets some questions from the explanation itself and then those questions are to be answered if the person explaining is willing to answer. You have written that it is possible that Arjuna was convinced in the first two chapters itself. If you really want to consider all possibilities, I accept that it is definitely a possibility. But the first verse of 3rd chapter shows that Arjuna was still having doubts. Now, of course, it is one of the possibilities that even the first is latter addition. But, it is also possible that the first verse is not latter edition. In that case, the verses that show Krsna's answers are also not latter additions.

Didn't Yudhisthira go to heaven in his body?

J.N. Das ji,

One correction if you do not mind. In your post, you have used 'Vasistha' instead of 'Vishvamitra' at a few places.

Regarding Anu Gita, as Al Basham has himself written, Krshan says that He could not repeat everything and then explains to Arjuna what is known as Anu Gita. The words 'I can not repeat everything' prove that Bhagavad Gita must be larger than Anu Gita. So, it is not at all surprising if Bhagavad Gita contains something which is not there in Anu Gita.

The moral quandary of Arjuna is directly answered with verse 38 of chapter 2. These 2 chapters pose the moral dilemma of whether to fight or not and Krishna gives a convincing answer in these 2 chapters. So, only these 2 chapters formed the original BG.

I do not consider this argument given by Al Basham as good. We may think that the words spoken by Krsna in the first two chapters were convincing enough. But Arjuna, who was overcome with compassion, needed much more detailed explanation.

Hey Caitanyacandra,

You idiot. Where were you? I was not seeing posts from you. Or, were you using some alias?

Are you saying that others were busy creating the vyuhas when Krsna and Arjuna were talking?

I took 3 hours and a half to recite the whole of Gita once.

45 minutes is not a small duration when there are people ready to attack you. Why did the war not start even though the conch shells had been blown?

I have presented only one argument so far. I will wait till tomorrow and others have nothing more to contribute to that argument, then I will present my second.

Nooooooooooooo. You can't present another argument now. You wrote that Dhristdyumna had not blew his conch shell. But, Gita says that he did. So, that argument is wrong.

I have read a different version of this joke. In the joke that I read, it is Bill Clinton instead of Laloo yadav and Hillary Clinton instead of Rabri devi.

Have we not gone completely out of the topic that Karthik ji had in mind when he started this thread? Can we go back to the original topic?

Thanks for the Info. Is Krishna mentioned in this Purana? Is there a link established between Krishna and Radha?

Yes. When kumaras say that Kalavati would be the mother of Radha, they also say that it would be Radha from Goloka and the beloved of Krsna.

Tulsidas's Ramacaritmanas also holds the position that an illusory Sita was kidnapped by Ravana.

Radha has been mentioned very extensively in Brahm Vaivarta Puran. It can be argued that this Puran was written much after Bhagvatam. But, if we say this, then we have to believe that even Shiv Purana was written much after Bhagvatam. Shiv Purana has passing reference on Radha.

It is written in Parvati Khand of Rudra Samhita of Shiv Purana that Svadha had three daughters -Mena, Dhanya, and Kalavati. Once they went to Shveta Dwipa to meet Lord Visnu. Many seers were present there. The four kumaras (Sanak kumar and his brothers) came there. All those who had come to see Lord stood in order to give respect to the kumaras. But the three sisters kept sitting. The kumaras cursed them that they would be born on Earth. Mena became the wife of Himalaya. Parvati was their daughter. Dhanya became the wife of Janak. Sita was their daughter. Kalavati became the wife of Vrisbhanu. Radha was their daughter.

Dear Karthik,

It is written in Gita that Bhisma blew his conchshell first. Then others blew their conch shells. It is written that all the five Pandavas and also Dhrstdyumna blew conch shells before Krsna commenced His teachings.

In Valmiki's when Ravana abducted Sita, he grabs her and seats her in his lap. Kambar finds this offensive. So, in his Ramayana, Ravana lifts the entire piece of earth on which Sita is standing and flies away in his Vimana. He doesn't even touch her.

Don't you think that a fact is a fact even if it is offensive?

theist?

Dear Shashi ji,

I notice that you first wrote Didi for JRdd ji. Then you edited your post to change it to Mataji. Why is it so?

I asked the previous question so that a contributor can feel, "Oh, I am helping in feeding so many children!"

JN Das ji,

Could you tell, on an average, how much money you have to spend (in Indian Rupees) on one child?

If anyone is within India, they can donate by sending it directly to our Ashram in Orissa.

Thank you. In case, somebody wants to know the addresses from this thread itself, I am pasting the addresses here: -

If you wish to donate by check (International checks are accepted) and if you live outside of India, please make it payable to "Bhaktivedanta International Charities". Send your donation to the following address:

Bhaktivedanta International Charities

P.O.Box 34153

Los Angeles, CA 90034

United States of America

If you live within India, please make your check or DD out to "ISKCON" and send it by registered post to the following address (if by DD, please make it payable at Bhadrak, Orissa):

Bhaktivedanta Ashram,

c/o Kamala Kanta Sahu

At - Kuansh,

P.O. - Bhadrak,

District - Bhadrak

Pin - 756 100

Orissa

Why mail to USA? I know that you have centre there. But, when you have to carry out the program in India, don't you think it will be easier for you to control through some centre in India?

Sirona ji,

Are you white? No problem. You can still visit the temple if you want. You can dye your face so that you look black.