About Bhagavad Gita Sankara Bhashyam

Shri Veda Bharathi (SVB) has been conducting several On-line courses on various subjects for the past few years, as part of its objectives of Preservation and Propagation of Vedic wisdom. For making the students and youth of modern education to understand the meanings and concept of Bhagavadgita, as commented by Sri Sankara Bhagavatpada.

Beneficiaries

The course will be highly beneficial for all, particularly adults, who already have some exposure and knowledge regarding some of these subjects in real life.

Outcome Expected

The teaching of this holy text will lead to improvement in the knowledge, performance, and behavior of the participants, and make them role models for others.

Course Content

Elaboration of the “Sanskrit commentary of Adi Sankaracharya for every sloka of Bhagavadgita with meaning in Sanskrit and Telugu.

Origin of Bhagavadgita: Just before the commencement of Mahabharata war, Arjuna requests Lord Sri Krishna to keep the chariot between the warring armies of Pandavas and Kauravas so that the former could get a comprehensive view of the war commanders on either side. Lord Sri Krishna obliges and places the chariot accordingly. Arjuna, gets the full view of the war scene.

But suddenly his mind is entangled in grief because of the peculiar thought that he would be the cause for the death of several on both sides, including his revered elders and teachers like Bhishma and Drona, also that of his very close kith and kin, in addition to the miserable termination of innumerable soldiers, elephants and horses.

With his own logic, Arjuna prefers to be slain by his enemies, rather than killing them. He also prefers to go for alms rather than winning the war. Continuing to be in that disturbed condition, he submits to Lord Sri Krishna to guide him at that critical moment, and that he would abide by His sane advice just like a disciple.

In reply to this, Lord Krishna gives an elaborate description of cosmic system with an integral approach, displays His Cosmic form, and exhorts Arjuna to carry out his tasks in a righteous way. Cleared of all doubts after receiving the spiritual knowledge, Arjuna fully participates in the war.

Sri AdiSankaracharya picked up that text of conversation between Lord Sri Krishna and Arjuna,, popularly known as Bhagavadgita, from Bhishma Parva of Mahabharata, written by Sage Veda Vyasa. The Acharya wrote an elaborate commentary, throwing light on several aspects of human system, and various philosophies explaining those aspects. As part of it, he explains each word, its grammatical formation, etymology, its physical and divine meanings, the philosophical connotations, references from various branches of Vedas, Upanishads, Brahmasutras, Puranas, Smritis, Dharma Sastras, and several other holy texts which are unheard and unknown to even erudite scholars. Briefly it can be stated that Sri Sankaracharya’s commentary is like a tall and powerful light house on the shores of ancient Indian traditional knowledge and philosophies.

With a view to have a comprehensive understanding of the above, it was planned to have a detailed teaching of Sri Sankaracharya’s commentary.