Bhagavad Gita In English
By Adrija Choudhury
Each episode will feature a calm and contemplative reading of chapters from the Bhagavad Gita. There are no elaborate discussions or scholarly interpretations here—just the soothing cadence of the verses as they were intended to be heard.
Bhagavad Gita In English Aug 21, 2023
Chapter 18 – Mokṣa Yoga (The Yoga of Supreme Perfection)
In Chapter 18 – Mokṣa Yoga (The Yoga of Supreme Perfection) of Swami B.G. Narasingha’s Bhagavad-gītā, Kṛṣṇa teaches Arjuna about renunciation and detachment. Kṛṣṇa explains what it means to do one's duty as well as knowledge and action in the three modes of material nature. Kṛṣṇa then describes the various roles of society according to varṇa. Ultimately Kṛṣṇa finishes his instructions to Arjuna by telling him to offer all actions unto Him (Kṛṣṇa) and to take shelter of Him alone, He will deliver Arjuna from all reaction.
Chapter 17 – Śraddhā-Traya Vibhāga Yoga (The Yoga Explaining Three Types of Faith)
In Chapter 17 – Śraddhā-Traya Vibhāga Yoga (The Yoga Explaining Three Types of Faith) of Swami B.G. Narasingha’s Bhagavad-gītā, Kṛṣṇa answers Arjuna's question about faith in goodness, passion and ignorance. He also explains food, sacrifice, austerity and charity in the three modes of nature. Finally he explains the vedic aphorism, 'Oṁ Tat Sat'.
Daivāsura Sampad Vibhāga Yoga (The Yoga of Discretion-Pious and Impious Natures)
In Chapter 16 – Daivāsura Sampad Vibhāga Yoga (The Yoga of Discretion-Pious and Impious Natures) of Swami B.G. Narasingha’s Bhagavad-gītā, Kṛṣṇa describes to Arjuna the two types of people in this world, those with the mentality of asuras (impious) and those with the mentality of devas (pious), as well as their qualities and final destination.
Puruṣottama Yoga (The Yoga of the Supreme Person)
In Chapter 15 – Puruṣottama Yoga (The Yoga of the Supreme Person) of Swami B.G. Narasingha’s Bhagavad-gītā, Kṛṣṇa compares the material cosmos to a great banyan tree with it's roots above and branches below - a reflection of reality. He says one must cut this tree down with the weapon of detachment and search out knowledge of the supreme abode of Kṛṣṇa.
Guṇa-Traya Vibhāga Yoga (The Yoga of Understanding the Three Modes of Material Nature)
In Chapter 14 – Guṇa-Traya Vibhāga Yoga (The Yoga of Understanding the Three Modes of Material Nature) of Swami B.G. Narasingha’s Bhagavad-gītā, Kṛṣṇa explains to Arjuna the three modes of material nature (goodness, passion and ignorance) and how to transcend them.
Prakṛti-Puruṣa Viveka Yoga (The Yoga of Differentiation)
In Chapter 13 - Prakṛti-Puruṣa Viveka Yoga (The Yoga of Differentiation) of Swami B.G. Narasingha's Bhagavad-gītā, Kṛṣṇa describes the three elements of existence - the field, the knower of the field, and the object of knowledge.
Bhakti Yoga (The Yoga of Devotion)
In Chapter 12 - Bhakti Yoga (The Yoga of Devotion) of Swami B.G. Narasingha's Bhagavad-gītā, Arjuna inquires who is better situated in yoga, those who constantly glorify Śrī Kṛṣṇa or those situated in the impersonal aspect of the Supreme. Śrī Kṛṣṇa explains that the impersonal path is fraught with difficulty whereas those who worship His personal aspect are most dear to Him.
Viśvarūpa-darśana Yoga (The Yoga of the Universal Form)
In Chapter 11 - Viśvarūpa-darśana Yoga (The Yoga of the Universal Form) of Swami B.G. Narasingha's Bhagavad-gītā, Arjuna, after contemplating everything Śrī Kṛṣṇa has told him so far, requests Him to reveal His majestic universal form.
Vibhūti Yoga (The Yoga of Divine Splendour)
In Chapter 10 - Vibhūti Yoga (The Yoga of Divine Splendour) of Swami B.G. Narasingha's Bhagavad-gītā, Śrī Kṛṣṇa instructs Arjuna about His various manifestations and how He is the source of all things.
Rāja Guhya Yoga (The Yoga of the Greatest Secret)
In Chapter 9 - Rāja Guhya Yoga (The Yoga of the Greatest Secret) of Swami B.G. Narasingha's Bhagavad-gītā, Kṛṣṇa tells Arjuna the greatest secret by which one attains wisdom and is released from the shackles of repeated birth and death.
Tāraka-Brahma Yoga (The Yoga of the Supreme)
In Chapter 8 - Tāraka Brahma Yoga (The Yoga of the Supreme) of Swami B.G. Narasingha's Bhagavad-gītā, Arjuna asks Śrī Kṛṣṇa nine questions concerning Brahman, karma, the demigods, the material world, and how to know Him at the time of death. Kṛṣṇa answers his queries and stresses how by the path of yoga and by remembrance of Him, one can attain Him. Kṛṣṇa describes different paths of yoga, as well as charity, jñāna, austerities etc. but ultimately tells Arjuna that the results of all these is automatically achieved by a bhakti-yogī.
Jnana Vijnana Yoga - (The Yoga of Knowledge and Realisation)
In Chapter Seven - Jñāna-Vijñāna Yoga (The Yoga of Knowledge and Realisation) of our audio book rendition of Swami B.G. Narasingha's Bhagavad-gītā, Kṛṣṇa describes His energies and opulence to Arjuna. He also explains about the modes of nature and the impious persons that never surrender unto Him.
Dhyana Yoga (The Yoga of Meditation)
In Chapter Six - Dhyāna Yoga (The Yoga of Meditation) of Swami B.G. Narasingha's Bhagavad-gītā, Kṛṣṇa describes to Arjuna the process of Aṣṭāṅga Yoga and meditation as a means to control the mind and senses.
Karma Sannyasa Yog - (The Yoga of the Renunciation of Action)
In Chapter 5 - Karma Sannyāsa Yoga (The Yoga of the Renunciation of Action) of Swami B.G. Narasingha's Bhagavad-gītā, Kṛṣṇa describes how to achieve perfection through Niṣkāma-karma-yoga, or work without expectation of any result.
Jnana Yog - (The Yoga of Knowledge)
In Chapter 4 - Jñāna Yoga (The Yoga of Knowledge) of Swami B.G. Narasingha's Bhagavad-gītā, Kṛṣṇa explains to Arjuna about the process to attain Transcendental knowledge.
Karma Yog (The Yoga of Action)
In Chapter Three - Karma Yoga (The Yoga of Action) of Swami B.G. Narasingha's Bhagavad-gītā, Kṛṣṇa explains the path of action (karma) to Arjuna, and Arjuna asks Him why men are driven to perform evil deeds.
Saankhya Yoga - Immortality
In Chapter Two - Saṅkhyā Yoga (The Yoga of Analysis) of Swami B.G. Narasingha's Bhagavad-gītā, Arjuna surrenders to Kṛṣṇa, and Kṛṣṇa gives a summary of the contents of the Gītā.