The Bhagavad Gita Chapter 1 Quiz
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Questions and Answers

Who consoles Prince Arjuna as he is about to go into battle?

Sri Krishna

Why is Prince Arjuna about to go into battle?

to fight for his older brother's claim to the throne of Kurus

What is the meaning of Bhagavad Gita?

song of the lord

What is the meaning of bhagavan?

<p>the lord</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is Bhagavan?

<p>Sri Krishna</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is the incarnation of Lord Vishnu?

<p>Sri Krishna</p> Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of God is Krishna?

<p>the aspect that destroys evil and protects good</p> Signup and view all the answers

How has Krishna appeared on earth?

<p>a royal prince of the house of the Yadavas</p> Signup and view all the answers

Whose fight is the Bhagavad Gita?

<p>Arjuna's</p> Signup and view all the answers

Whose advisor is Krishna?

<p>Arjuna's</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is Krishna's role in the battle?

<p>noncombat</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who do Arjuna and his brother have to fight in the battle to claim the throne?

<p>their cousins who have held the throne for many years, uncle, and their teachers</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is King Dhritarashtra?

<p>Arjuna's blind uncle</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Arjuna ask Krishna on the day of the battle and what is his answer?

<p>deep questions about life, the Bhagavad Gita</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Pandavas mean?

<p>the sons of Pandu (Arjuna and his brother)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the opposite of Pandavas?

<p>Kauravas</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Kauravas mean?

<p>the sons of Kuru</p> Signup and view all the answers

Both sides of the royal family are _____ at birth.

<p>Kurus</p> Signup and view all the answers

Krishna combines _____ and _____ power.

<p>earthy, spiritual</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who was Pandu?

<p>was once king of Hastinapura but retired and died young</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is Dhritarashtra?

<p>never named a ruler because he was blind at birth</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why didn't Yudhishthira take the throne when his father Pandu died and who took it instead?

<p>he was too young, Dhritarashtra</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who did Dhritarashtra want to take the throne instead of Yudhishthira when he got older?

<p>his son Duryodhana</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a brahmin?

<p>a member of the priestly caste</p> Signup and view all the answers

Drona was born a _____ but became a _____ in search of wealth.

<p>brahmin, warrior</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is Drona?

<p>teacher of Pandu and Dhritarashtra's sons</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is Ashvatthama?

<p>Drona's son</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is Bhishma?

<p>respected elder statesman and Dhritarashtra's advisor</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is Sanjaya?

<p>narrates the entire Bhagavad Gita to Dhritarashtra</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is Vyasa?

<p>composer of the Bhagavad Gita</p> Signup and view all the answers

The orthodox Hindu viewpoint of the Gita condones war for the warrior class.

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is dharma?

<p>the moral duty</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the dharma of soldiers?

<p>to fight in a good cause for a good leader</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the lesson of the Mahabharata?

<p>although war is evil, evil can't be avoided</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why do Yudhishthira and his brothers find peace in the next world?

<p>the Mahabharata justifies their war</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the mystics' view of the Gita?

<p>the battle is a cosmic struggle between good and evil, it is spiritual, Arjuna is fighting his lower self, not his family</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who is Mahatma Gandhi?

<p>based his life on the Gita, thought it was impossible to live by the Gita and allow violence</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an Upanishad?

<p>mystical statement from the Vedas</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Key Characters and Relations

  • Sri Krishna consoles Prince Arjuna before battle, acting as his advisor and guiding him through moral dilemmas.
  • Arjuna fights for his brother’s rightful claim to the Kurus throne against cousins, uncles, and teachers.
  • King Dhritarashtra, Arjuna’s blind uncle, struggles with leadership due to his condition.
  • Yudhishthira, Arjuna’s brother, was too young to assume the throne after their father Pandu's death; Dhritarashtra took control.

Conceptual Foundations

  • The term "Bhagavad Gita" translates to "song of the lord," encapsulating its spiritual essence.
  • "Bhagavan" signifies "the lord," specifically referring to Sri Krishna, who embodies the qualities of divine protection and righteousness.
  • Krishna represents an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, characterized by the role of both destroyer of evil and protector of good.

Conflict and Its Dynamics

  • The conflict sees Arjuna, a Pandava, against the Kauravas, his cousins and rivals for the throne, highlighting themes of familial struggle and duty.
  • The Mahabharata narrative emphasizes philosophical debates regarding war, justice, and dharma (moral duties) that warriors must uphold.
  • The Gita explores Arjuna’s internal conflicts as he questions his purpose and the morality of fighting against his own kin.

Philosophical and Ethical Themes

  • Dharma is crucial, understood as the moral duty each individual holds, with soldiers required to fight for just causes under capable leadership.
  • The orthodox Hindu perspective validates war for the warrior class, stressing the inevitability of conflict against evil.
  • Mystics view the battle as a spiritual allegory; Arjuna’s fight symbolizes the struggle against his lower self rather than a familial battle.

Major Figures and Their Roles

  • Drona, born a Brahmin, becomes a warrior to gain wealth; he teaches the sons of Pandu and Dhritarashtra.
  • Ashvatthama is introduced as Drona's son, adding complexity to the familial conflict.
  • Bhishma serves as a respected elder and advisor to Dhritarashtra, emphasizing traditional roles in governance.
  • Sanjaya narrates the Gita to Dhritarashtra, providing an external perspective on the unfolding events.

Broader Implications

  • The Mahabharata's teachings suggest that while war is inherently evil, sometimes it is unavoidable and necessary for establishing justice.
  • Yudhishthira and his brothers find peace post-war, as their actions are justified within the narrative.
  • Mahatma Gandhi's interpretation of the Gita connects its teachings to his philosophy of non-violence, illustrating the text's enduring moral significance.
  • Upanishads are highlighted as mystical statements that influence philosophical perspectives in the Gita, linking them to the broader Vedic tradition.

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Test your knowledge of Chapter 1 of The Bhagavad Gita with these flashcards. Delve into the key characters, themes, and definitions that set the stage for this epic text. Understand the significance of Arjuna's dilemma and Krishna's role in guiding him.

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