10 Questions
What is the reason for Arjuna's depression according to the conversation?
Arjuna has lost his will to fight against his teachers.
What does Krishna criticize Arjuna for?
His impotence in the face of a great challenge
What is Arjuna's concern about the outcome of the battle?
That he will be guilty of killing his teachers
What does Arjuna see as an alternative to fighting?
Begging and living in poverty
What does Arjuna ask Krishna to do?
To instruct him on what is best for him
According to Kṛṣṇa, what do wise people not lament for?
For the living or the dead
What is the nature of the self, according to Kṛṣṇa?
Eternal and indestructible
Why should Arjuna not be disturbed by happiness and distress?
Because they arise from sense perception
What is the consequence of being disturbed by happiness and distress?
Ineligibility for liberation
What is the relationship between the material body and the soul?
The soul pervades the entire material body
Study Notes
The Conversation Between Arjuna and Kṛṣṇa
- Kṛṣṇa speaks to Arjuna, who is filled with compassion and depression, and asks him why he has become impure.
- Arjuna is conflicted about fighting his respected teachers and family members, such as Bhīṣma and Droṇa, in the battle.
Arjuna's Dilemma
- Arjuna feels that it would be better to live by begging than to kill his teachers and enjoy the fruits of their deaths.
- He is unsure of what is better, conquering or being conquered by them, and is consumed by grief and weakness.
Kṛṣṇa's Counsel
- Kṛṣṇa advises Arjuna that wise men do not lament for the living or the dead, as the soul is eternal and indestructible.
- He explains that the changes in the body, such as from boyhood to old age, are similar to the changes in seasons, and should not be a cause for distress.
- A person who is steady in the face of happiness and distress is eligible for liberation.
The Nature of the Soul
- The soul is eternal, unborn, and ever-existing, and does not come into being or cease to be.
- The material body is indestructible and will come to an end, but the soul is not slain when the body is slain.
- Neither the one who thinks the soul is the slayer nor the one who thinks it is slain is in knowledge, as the soul does not slay or get slain.
The Call to Action
- Kṛṣṇa encourages Arjuna to fight, as the soul is indestructible and the material body will come to an end anyway.
This quiz is based on the 2nd chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, a Hindu scripture. It discusses Arjuna's depression and Krishna's words of advice to him.
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