Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Reading Notes: The Bhagavad Gita Part B

Title: The Bhagavad Gita Part B
Translator: Ramanand Prasad
Year: 1988

- Krishna is telling Arjuna that he is the reincarnation of Vishnu, stating that he is the origin of all. I feel like this would be similar to one of the disciples talking with Jesus, although in this case, Krishna is trying to convince Arjuna to go to war with his family. I feel like this story could be retold where it is some other religious figure, perhaps Jesus, speaking to someone about who they are. 

- Krishna tells Arjuna to fight and enjoy the kingdom he is about to inherit as all the warriors on the other side have already been destroyed by Krishna. Arjuna is merely an instrument. 

- Krishna tells Arjuna that he is the only one to see him in his four-armed form. I could write a story about Arjuna, years later, explaining to his grandchildren what it was that he saw and how he was able to see it.

- Krishna refers to his body as "the mini universe."

- I believe that in the version of the Mahabharata that I read, this conversation between Arjuna and Krishna was taking place during the middle of the war. I could retell this story with these two talking on the middle of the battle field as warriors fight all around them, but in slow motion, and even coming to a standstill when Krishna changes form.

- Krishna names off hypocrisy, arrogance, pride, anger, harshness, and ignorance as someone born with demonic qualities. These qualities describe Duryodhana completely. I could retell this story where instead of Krishna telling Arjuna how great he (Arjuna) is, he could be talking to Duryodhana, telling him how awful he is with Duryodhana vowing to change his ways in the end.

- The entire conversation between Krishna and Arjuna is being told by Sanjaya to King Dhritarashtra. I could retell this story where it's being told to all of the Kauravas, changing their minds about wanting to go to war with the Pandavas.

Four-Armed Krishna
Image Author: Ramanarayanadatta astri
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

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