Gitārthasaṅgraha
By Swami Harshananda
Gitārthasaṅgraha literally means ‘an abridgement of the essentials of the Gītā’.
Author[edit]
Though the Viśiṣṭādvaita Vedānta philosophy has been expounded and elaborated by Rāmānuja (A. D. 1017-1137), the contribution of his predecessors was considerable. Among them Yāmunācārya (A. D. 918-1038) was the most celebrated. He wrote three works in Sanskrit, out of which the Gītārthasañgraha is also the one.
Contents[edit]
Gītārthasañgraha has only 32 ślokas or verses summarizing the whole Bhagavadgītā. On this scripture, two commentaries are also available:
- Gitārthasañgraha raksā by Vedānta Deśika (A. D. 1268-1370)
- Gītārthasañgraha dīpikā by Varavara Muni (A. D. 1370-1443)
Verse 1-2[edit]
This verse declares that God, the Supreme, is Nārāyaṇa and he can be attained by only bhakti or devotion.
Verses 3-5[edit]
These verses state that the Gītā can be divided into three ṣaṭkas or triads of 6 chapters each.
First Saṭka[edit]
This ṣaṭka comprises of chapters 1-6. It states that ātmānubhuti or self-realization can come through the performance of:
Second Satka[edit]
It states that Bhaktiyoga results from Karmayoga and Jñānayoga. It is the means for realizing God and gives some details about it.
Third Satka[edit]
It deals with the rest of the relevant topics which serve the previous two ṣaṭkas. It gives some details of:
- Pradhāna or prakṛti - matter
- Puruṣa - the individual self
- Īśvara - God
- Disciplines related to jñāna - knowledge
- Disciplines related to bhakti - devotion
- Disciplines related to karma - work
Verses 5-22[edit]
The verses 5 to 22 very briefly gives the gist of the eighteen chapters of the Gītā. It explains the gist of each chapter individually.
Verses 23-32[edit]
The ideas spread over the rest of these ten verses can be summarized as follows:
- Karmayoga is performing austerity (tapas), undertaking pilgrimages (tīrtha-yātrā), doing sacrifices and other similar activities.
- Bhaktiyoga is meditation on God with love.
- Obligatory (nityakarma) and occasional (naimittika-karma) works are associated with all the yogas.
- Removal of nescience (ajñāna) leads to the realization of the Self (the ātman).
- Practicing supreme devotion (parābhakti) towards God will help the aspirant to attain the world of God.
- Bhaktiyoga can give the aspirant whatever he wants, temporary prosperity or eternal salvation (kaivalya).
- The man of supreme knowledge is also a man of supreme devotion since they coalesce in the final stage.
- All his activities are directed only to please God under all circumstances.
- The perfect being finds his supreme satisfaction in several acts connected with devotion to God such as:
- Meditation
- Speaking about him
- Bowing down to him
- Singing his praises
- Etc.
References[edit]
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore