My Perspective on the Story of Bhagavad Gita

Summary of The Bhagavad Gita

The story of Bhagavad Gita basically surrounds two main characters, the warrior prince Arjuna, and his charioteer lord Krishna, focusing their conversation during the Kurukshetra War in epic Mahabharata, which is the section Bhagavad Gita focused on. Beginning moments before the battle, Arjuna seeing full of his relatives and friends on the other side of the battlefield, questioned his long-time friend and companion Krishna, who is the incarnation of the supreme God Vishnu, with the doubt whether he should join this battle or not. Krishna then shared his full wisdom with Arjuna, amazed him with the teachings of yoga, the ways of connecting to the universe, becoming one with the all-existing Godhead, to achieve the "ultimate goal," in Krishna's words. As Krishna said, "Through constant spiritual effort over many lifetimes a person becomes purified of all desires and achieves the ultimate goal of becoming one with God."(Hawley 64) 

In this direction, Arjuna absorbed the knowledge given by Krishna, suggested if he would continue on with this path, he has to purify himself, of all radical emotions, desires and glorious possessions. "Cast from yourself all egoism, violence, arrogance, desire, anger, and attachment. Turn your back on luxuries and property. Possess very little, and shed any sense of 'mine.' Be calm, at peace with yourself and all others."(Hawley 163)

The Bhagavad Gita - Krishna Speaks With Prince Arjuna - Extra Mythology - Youtube - By Extra Credits

My Opinion About The Bhagavad Gita

Patung Satria Gatotkaca - A depiction of Gatotkaca fighting Karna.
 Denpasar airport, Bali, Indonesia.

My first experience with epic Mahabharata was knowing the other famous warrior Karna, who acknowledge Arjuna as his nemesis. Although Karna is on the other faction, he is also a warrior that embodies kindness and bravery. A brief story about him, he's the son of the sun God Surya, shares the same mother with Arjuna. He also earned the incredible weapon Vasavi Shakti bestowed by God Indra, ashamed by Karna's generosity, made compensation of his golden armor. He was killed by Arjuna nontheless without the protection of his golden armor. Knowing Karna has generated great interest for me in Arjuna, his nemesis.

Exploring Arjuna's mindset and expanding our thoughts to the greater universe in Bhagavad Gita is something that truly hits my point, although the conversations about becoming one with the god, wiping all desires might have not interest me too much, but the message that Gita delivers is absolutely understandable. In order continue this transcendence, we must focus on our devotion and our duties, for Arjuna, he continued his path and joined the war for Krishna, as the hand of fate will always continue, pushed by all of us - reflections of Arjuna. "All humanity is born for ultimately achieving perfection. This is the very purpose of humanity. Through being devoted to one's duties each person will find this perfection. But take heed, Arjuna, the person who abhors his or her duty can never become fulfilled."(Hawley 161)

I see this idea provided by the wisdom of Krishna's as something similar to the concept of the greater destiny that Master Yoda said after his one last adventure, "No longer certain that one ever does win a war I am, for in fighting the battles, the bloodshed, already lost we have, yet open to us, a path remains, that unknown to the Sith is. Through this path, victory we may yet find, not victory in the Clone Wars, but victory for all time."(Star Wars The Clone Wars - Ending Scene 1:10-1:38) These words that Yoda said proved not the desire to win the war, but to follow the will of the Force, which that guides through every living being in the Star Wars universe, from its will, achieve the ultimate goal of bringing balance to the Force as Yoda has always dedicated himself in.

Star Wars The Clone Wars - Ending Scene - Youtube - By Fulcrum Fan Edits

Why The Bhagavad Gita Is Relatable

I think people who have read Gita could already tell from a clear sense why the Gita is relatable, the knowledge it provided is such unimaginable, even until this day, the ideas of yoga, spiritual connection between humanity and universe still apply. Other than that, it always has been a big part of Hindu tradition, and served as a inpiration for many great creators we see today, it stretched out of the Hindu realm, and reached across the globe. Warriors like Arjuna and Karna have grown much more well-known because the great spirit they embodied. All these wisdoms from the Gita, put me on the side that agrees it is a great piece of wealth that ancient civilization has left us.

Works Cited

Extra Credits. “The Bhagavad Gita - Krishna Speaks with Prince Arjuna - Extra Mythology.” YouTube, 30 Sept. 2020, www.youtube.com/watch?v=G28qHASOtE8. Accessed 28 Feb. 2021.

Fulcrum Fan Edits. “Star Wars the Clone Wars - Ending Scene.” YouTube, 13 Nov. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvMlhfWI-sk. Accessed 28 Feb. 2021.

Hawley, Jack. The Bhagavad Gita : A Walkthrough for Westerners. Novato, Calif., New World Library, 2011.

Town, Nagina. “Indonesia as I ‘See’: Patung of Satria Gatotkaca at International Airport Bali , Indonesia.” Indonesia as I “See,” 12 July 2017, indonesiaasisee.blogspot.com/2017/07/patung-of-satria-gatotkaca-at.html. Accessed 28 Feb. 2021.