Bhagavad Gita

"Religion is philosophy in action. From time to time an ancient philosophy needs intelligent re-interpretation in the context of new times, and men of wisdom, prophets, and seers guide the common man on how to apply effectively the ancient laws in his present life. If we try to digest properly the implications of the Geeta's advice in the light of Vedic lore, it becomes amply clear how actions performed without ego-centric desires purge the mind of its deep-seated impressions and make it increasingly subtle in its purification and preparation for greater flights into the Infinite Beyond."

- Swami Chinmayananda

"The Bhagavad Gita, which literally means the Song of the Lord, is not a formal theology or a cut-and-dried system of philosophy. One does not find in the book consistency even in the use of certain important words, such as yoga, Brahman, and Atman. The Gita is written in the form of an inspired dialogue; it is that living dialogue which the discerning man finds going on constantly in his own heart between his everyday worldly self and his higher Self. To such a student it appears that he himself is raising the questions, which are then answered by the Lord within. The book’s power of suggestion is without limit if it is approached in the proper spirit. One feels that Arjuna’s dilemma and confusion are one’s own and that the Lord’s words are addressed to oneself from the continuous revelation going on within every human heart."

- Swami Nikhilananda

"The Srimad Bhagavad Gita is a dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna, narrated in the Bhishma Parva of the Mahabharata. It comprises 18 discourses of a total of 701 Sanskrit verses. A considerable volume of material has been compressed within these verses. On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Sri Krishna, during the course of His most instructive and interesting talk with Arjuna, revealed profound, sublime and soul-stirring spiritual truths, and expounded the rare secrets of Yoga, Vedanta, Bhakti and Karma...

The Gita is the cream of the Vedas. It is the essence of the soul-elevating Upanishads. It is a universal scripture applicable to people of all temperaments and for all times. It is a wonderful book with sublime thoughts and practical instructions on Yoga, devotion, Vedanta and action...

The study of the Gita alone is sufficient for daily Swadhyaya (scriptural study). You will find here a solution for all your doubts. The more you study it with devotion and faith, the more you will acquire deeper knowledge, penetrative insight and clear, right thinking...

The world is one huge battlefield. The real Kurukshetra is within you. The battle of the Mahabharata is still raging within. Ignorance is Dhritarashtra; the individual soul is Arjuna; the indweller of your heart is Lord Krishna, the charioteer; the body is the chariot; the senses are the five horses; mind, egoism, mental impressions, senses, cravings, likes and dislikes, lust, jealousy, greed, pride and hypocrisy are your dire enemies."

- Swami Sivananda

"The Gita is called an Upanishad, because it contains the essence of Self-knowledge, and because its teachings, like those of the Vedas, are divided into three sections, Karma (work), Upasana (devotion), and Jnana (knowledge)...

It is also usual to divide the work into three sections illustrative of the three terms of the Mahavakya of the Sama-Veda, “Thou art That” (Chhand. Upa., VI. viii. 7). In this view the first six chapters explain the path of work without desire for fruits, and the nature of “Thou”. The next six chapters deal with devotion and the nature of “That”. The last six describe the state of the highest knowledge and the nature of the middle term of the Mahavakya, in other words, the means of re-establishing the identity of “Thou” and “That”."

- Swami Swarupananda