Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2

The Bhagavad Gita, the Lord’s song, is a dialogue between Lord Sri Krishna and Pandava Prince Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra.

The second chapter, ‘Sankhya Yoga’, is said to contain the essential teachings of the Bhagavad Gita. After silently witnessing Arjuna’s deluded outpour, the Lord lashes out and admonishes him that such behaviour does not befit him. The real advice begins when Arjuna finally surrenders to the Lord as his disciple and requests for guidance. In this entire chapter, the Lord has mainly glorified Sankhya Yoga – ‘Atmavidya’, briefly touching upon Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga and Sannyasa Yoga as well, which are elaborated upon in later chapters, thus indicating a synthesis of all the paths. The Lord not only prods Arjuna to follow his Svadharma but also gives the reasoning for doing so. The chapter also elaborates on the ‘Man of Perfection’s through “Sthitaprajna Lakshana”.

This album contains discourses by Swami Advayananda, recorded in February-April 2022, during the Vedanta Sadhaka Course held in Adi Sankara Nilayam.