Bhagavad-gita Overview Assignments
Dear students, Hare Krsna!
These Bhagavad-gita overview assignments are designed to help you go through the book
systemstically. Usually each assignment takes around one hour. If you are not able to
finish in one hour, there is no need to worry. You can take extra time to finish or just do
whatever you can in the alloted time. You will later be provided with the answers for each
assignment.
General Instructions
1.Please write your answers on the question-sheet itself. One-word answers can be
written beside the question; the rest can be answered on the bottom or the back of the
sheet. Assignments should be submitted daily to the teacher at the end of the class
pertaining to the chapter.
2.Please don’t spend any extra time reading the chapter before doing the
assignment. First, go through the questions and refer to the sections that are
given as references after each question. For the question: “Find the related
verses,” you need to read the verses of that chapter carefully. Try to answer that
question after just one reading.
3.Write short yet clear and complete answers.
4.Every analogy has two parts: first, explain the example; second, discuss the point of the
example.For instance: Analogy of a drowning man in reference to material existence.
Part 1: A man drowning in the ocean cannot save himself, however expert a
swimmer he may be, but if someone comes on a boat and picks him up, he is
saved.
Part 2: Similarly, a living entity drowning in the ocean of material existence cannot be
saved by his own endeavor, but if he is picked up by a spiritual master and is placed on
the boat of transcendental knowledge, then he is safe.
5.The significance of a word is not just its meaning, but the purpose behind its use.For
instance: The meaning of “drupada-putrena” is the son of Drupada, Dhrstadyumna.
The significance of Duryodhana’s use of the word “drupada-putrena” is that he wanted to
remind Dronacarya not to be lenient toward the Pandavas, for whom he had special
affection. Dronacarya had already shown leniency by teaching the military arts to
Dhrstadyumna, even though he knew that Dhrstadyumna, as a result of austerity
performed by Dronacarya’s enemy, Drupada, had been born to kill him.
6.Most of the questions are based on the verses themselves. Some are based on the
purports, and in such cases there will be a reference to the purport given in parentheses.
7.Abbreviations:
9p :
purport of verse 9.
BgO : Bhagavad-gita Overview
# (s) : number or numbers
3.7 : chapter 3, verse 7
P.378 : page 378
para :
paragraph
Bg: Bhagavad-gita
Ch :
Chapter
8.In the questions asking for a verse # (s), there may be more than one verse relevant to
that topic.Such verses may appear in the text separately or together.
For example: degradation of society - ch. 1.39-42
Arjuna is fearful of sinful reactions - 1.36 and 1.43-44.
Name : ____________________________________
Chapter 1
1.Explain the significance of the following names of Krsna used in ch. 1:
Acyuta, Govinda, Madhava, Hrsikesa. (refer to purports 15, 21-22, 24, 32-35, 36)
2. Who among the following warriors are in the Kaurava’s party? (Refer to verses
3-19, 9p)
Somadatta, Vikarna, Kuntibhoja, Yudhamanyu, Krpa, Jayadratha, Dhrstaketu,
Yuyudhana, Krtavarma, Sikhandi, Dhrstadyumna, Satyaki, Uttamauja, Kasiraja,
Bhurisrava.
3. Who are the six kinds of aggressors fit to be killed? (refer to 36p)
4.Give two examples of Duryodhana’s attempt to inspire his army by using
diplomacy (verses 3-12).
5.Explain how killing of elders leads to chaos in society, based on Arjuna’s
argument in this chapter. (verses 39-42)
6.Match the following: (refer to verses, and to Setting the Scene)
(a) Pancajanya 1. Yudhisthira
(b) Sughosha 2. Krsna
(c) Manipushpaka 3. Bhima
(d) Varnasankarah 4. son of Kunti
(e) Bhisma
5. brother of Draupadi
(f) Partha 6. Nakula
(g) Dhrstadyumna 7. Sahadeva
(h) Sanjaya
8. unwanted progeny
(i) Abhimanyu9. father of Dhrtarastra, Pandu & Vidura
(j) Vyasadeva 10. son of Arjuna
11. grandfather of Duryodhana
12. secretary of Arjuna’s uncle
Time taken to complete the assignment : ______________
Name : ____________________________________
Chapter 2
1.What are Arjuna’s reasons for wishing not to fight?
( From ch.1 and beginning of ch. 2 and BgO,ch 1 summary)
2.Give the verse #(s) that discuss the following topics:
(a) Lord uses different words to describe Arjuna’s compassion.
(b) Arjuna surrenders to Krsna.
(c) Bhagavad-gita in actuality starts (Lord starts teaching Arjuna).
(d) Lord and living entity are eternal and never merge (defeats Mayavada
conception of oneness of soul and Supreme Lord).
(e)Practical way we can perceive the eternal nature of the soul and the
temporary nature of the body in day-to-day life. (The verse on which Srila
Prabhupada has given the second most lectures).
(f) Even if Arjuna does not believe in the existence of the soul, still he should fight.
(g) Soul is described as amazing. (The amazing verse).
(h) Infamy is worse than death for a ksatriya.
(i) No loss on the path of Krsna consciousness.
(j) Subject matter that Vedas mainly deal with.
(k) We have a right to perform our prescribed duties, but there are three negative
injunctions.
(l) One who attains these four qualities can alone attain real peace, and if he is
situated like this even at the time of death, he can enter into the kingdom of God.
3.Explain the analogy: (refer to verses 46, 58, 60, 67, 70)
(a) small well and reservoir of water
(b) tortoise
(c) ocean
(d) boat on water
4.Describe the process of spiritual falldown. (verses 62-63)
5.What are Arjuna’s inquiries in verse 54? What does he really want to know?
Indicate the verses that Krsna spoke in response to each of those inquires.
(Refer to BgO or verses 54-72)
6.What incident shows that Maharaja Ambarisa was a sthita-prajna? (Refer to
61p)
Time taken to complete the assignment : ______________
Name : ____________________________________
Chapter 3
1.Why was Arjuna confused (text 1)? Summarize what Lord Krsna said to
dissipate his doubt. (1p and verses 1-8)
2.What was Arjuna’s inquiry about lust? What is the origin of lust? What are the
sitting places of lust? How does one conquer lust? (verses 36-43)
3.Explain:
(a) three degrees of the covering of lust, in increasing order. (verse 38)
(b) analogy of milk turning to yogurt. (37p)
(c) how lust is like fire. (3.39)
(d) hierarchy of soul, mind, senses, intelligence (lower to higher). (3.42)
4.Give the verse #(s) which discuss these points:
(a) work causes bondage if not done as a sacrifice for Visnu.
(b) devotees become free from sin, even by eating.
(c) everyone, including a man of knowledge, acts according to his own acquired
nature.
(d) one of the mahajanas achieved perfection through karma-yoga.
(e) Lord has no duty to perform.
(f) why a great person does work if he doesn’t need to work.
(g) material modes are actually the doer, not the soul.
(h) learned person should not disrupt the minds of the ignorant men engaged in
fruitive activities, although their duties are inferior due to the performer’s lack of
knowledge.
(i) those who follow the Lord’s instruction faithfully, without envy, become free
from material bondage; otherwise, one loses all knowledge and becomes ruined
in his endeavors.
(j) of the intelligence, mind and senses, the senses should be controlled first to
curb lust, by properly engaging them in Krsna’s service.
5.(a) How living bodies ultimately depend on Krsna, the Supreme Personality of
Godhead? (3.14-15)
(b) How performance of yajna leads to Krsna consciousness? (3.11p)
Time taken to complete the assignment : ______________
Name : ____________________________________
Chapter 4
1.Regarding transcendental knowledge, please answer the following questions
based on references given with the question.
(a) How is transcendental knowledge revealed? (4.2,4.34)
(b) Why this supreme science was given again to Arjuna? (4.2)
(c) Who else has received this knowledge before, according to verse 1? (Three
people)
(d) Who were bona fide candidates for understanding knowledge through disciplic
succession? (4.2)
(e) How kala or time destroys this system? (Introduction, page 15, last
paragraph)
(f) Why this transcendental knowledge of Bhagavad-gita was given to Arjuna, not
to others? What was his qualification? (4.3)
(g) Arjuna has another qualification for receiving this confidential knowledge.
What is it? (According to verse 9.1)
(h) According to 4.34p, what is the secret of advancement in spiritual life? (p.263,
halfway down)
(i) Prabhupada mentions in the purport to verse 4.34 that two things are
condemned in this verse. What are those two things?
(j) How should one approach a spiritual master?
(k) What is the result of achieving such transcendental knowledge? (verses
9,10,14-15,35-39)
(l) Who can successfully achieve transcendental knowledge? (4.39-40)
(m) What are the symptoms of one who has successfully applied transcendental
knowledge in his work? (4.41)
2.State several reasons why Krsna appears on earth? What is the main reason?
(4.7-8, 8p, last paragraph on p. 229)
3.Give the verse #(s) explaining the following:
(a) only inquiry of Arjuna in this chapter.
(b) one who knows this truth about the Lord does not take birth again but attains the
Lord’s abode.
(c) Three pitfalls or stages of attachment to the material world:
(i) negligence of spiritual life (gross materialists).
(ii) fear of retaining personal identity even after liberation (impersonalists).
(iii) conception of void arising from frustration in life (faithless).
(d) Everyone follows the Lord’s path in all respects, and according to their degree
of surrender, the Lord responds to them.
(e) One who understands this truth about the Lord is not entangled in fruitive
reactions of work.
(f) Varnasrama dharma is originally created by the Lord.
(g) Those who are less intelligent approach demigods to fulfill their material
desires very quickly, but are not aware that the demigods’ boons are temporary
and material, or that the demigods themselves are dependent on the Supreme
Lord to fulfill their desires.
(h) Even the intelligent are bewildered in determining this. Knowing this, one can
be liberated from all misfortune.
(i) When the soul is engaged in the activities of his constitutional position (the
soul is spiritually active), he gets no reaction for his bodily activities. But when the
soul is not engaged in his constitutional position, he gets a reaction for his bodily
activities (either good or bad). One who sees this is intelligent among men.
(j) Description of a person situated in transcendental knowledge.
(k) Without sacrifice one cannot live happily on this planet or in this life or the
next.
(l) Result of knowing the meaning of sacrifice.
(m) Sacrifice in knowledge is better than mere sacrifice of material possessions,
because sacrifice without knowledge is on the material platform and brings no
spiritual benefit.
(n) Three persons:
(i) ajna - ignorant of knowledge of scripture,
(ii) asraddadhana - faithless in scripture,
(iii) samsaya - one who doubts the scripture,achieve happiness neither in this
world,
nor in the next life.
Name : ___________________________________
4.Match the following: (verses 4.25-33, 28p)
(1) brahmacarya yajna
(a) sacrifice of comforts of life
(2) grhastha yajna (b) studying of different Vedic literatures
(3) dravyamaya yajna
(c) sacrificing the hearing processes and senses in the
fire of mental control
(4) tapomaya yajna (d) sacrifices objects of the senses in the fire of the senses
(5) hatha yajna (part of astanga-yoga)
(e) practicing different physical
postures, offering the functions of all the senses and of the life breath as
oblations into the fire of the controlled mind
(6) svadhyaya yajna (f) charitable activities like distributing food (anna-ksetra),
opening hospitals (ausadhalaya), educational institutions (vidya-pitha),
dharmasalas, etc.
5.Name three analogies that glorify transcendental knowledge (in last part of
chapter).
Time taken to complete the assignment : ______________
Name : ____________________________________
Chapter 5
1.Regarding renunciation of work and work in devotion, which one is better?
Why? (5.1-6, 4p)
2.Defeat the following argument: “Everything that is enacted is due to the modes
of material nature, which is under the jurisdiction of the Supreme Lord. Therefore,
the Lord, not the living entity, should receive the impious result of karma.”
(5.13-16, chapter summary in BgO)
3.What is the peace formula mentioned in this chapter? (5.12 and 5.29)
4.Who can achieve liberation? (Give the verse #s also)
5.The first symptom of a self-realized person is that he is not illusioned by the
false identification of his body with his true self (5.20p), and this is supported by
verses 8-9. Mention six more symptoms and give the verses related to each of
them.
6.Give verse #(s) of the following topics:
a) Definition of one who is always renounced.
b) One who works in devotion is dear to everyone, and everyone is dear to him.
c) Yogis act without attachment with the body, mind, intelligence and senses for the
purpose of purification.
d) Living entity neither works nor causes work to be done; does not create
activities, nor induce others to act; nor creates the fruits of action.
e) One becomes fully cleansed of his misgivings when his intelligence, mind,
faith and refuge are all fixed in Krsna.
f) One who is advanced in Krsna consciousness sees everyone (irrespective of
body) with equal vision (same soul and Supersoul in everyone). But that does not
mean he treats a
brahmana and a tiger in the same way.
g) Intelligent person does not take part in the sources of misery, knowing well
that misery is caused by the contact of the senses with the sense objects and
that pleasure derived from that contact is temporary.
Time taken to complete the assignment : ______________
Name : ____________________________________
Chapter 6
1.What is yoga? What is the beginning stage and the highest stage on the yoga
ladder, and what are the means of obtaining these stages? Explain the different
stages of the yoga ladder. (Refer to purport of verses 3,46,47 - p. 360 last
paragraph)
2.In verses 33-34, Arjuna says that the mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and
difficult to control.
(i) What is the need of controlling the mind?
(ii) What method does the Lord recommend to control the mind? (5-7, 24-26,
33-36)
(iii) What point does Srila Prabhupada make by the example of curing a disease
with the proper diet and treatment? (last part of 35p, p. 346)
3.What results accrue to one who after long practice deviates from yoga practice
and doesn’t attain success? What about after a short period of practice? (40-45)
4.Chapter 6 explains many practices for astanga yogis. But some of the practices
are common to all different types of yogic processes. Mention five of them.
(10-17)
5.Give verse #(s) which discuss the following topics:
(a) Being a renunciant (sannyasi) is the same as being a yogi, as one cannot
achieve success
in yoga, unless one renounces the desire for sense
gratification. (Two verses)
(b) Mind is the cause of bondage, and mind is the cause of liberation.
(c) One who conquers the mind has already reached the Supersoul.
(d) When one has revealed knowledge, sees everything as the same, but when
he makes further advancement he sees everyone with an equal mind.
(e) The stage of samadhi.
(f) Arjuna rejects the process of astanga yoga as impractical for him.
(g) By the suitable practice of engaging oneself in nine types of devotional
service, of which
the foremost is hearing about Krsna, and by detaching the
mind from matter by attaching it to the Supreme, one can control the mind.
(h) A yogi is greater than the jnani (empiricist) and tapasvi (ascetic), what to
speak of the karmi (fruitive worker). But devotees are even greater than the
yogis.
Time taken to complete the assignment : ______________
Name : ____________________________________
Chapter 7
1.Find the verse #(s) for the following topics:
(a) The hearing process.(The verse on which Prabhupada gave the greatest
number of lectures.)
(b) ‘Sri Bhagavan uvaca’ is used throughout the Bhagavad-gita to emphasize that
Krsna is he Supreme Personality of Godhead. Quote seven verses from this 7th
chapter which explain that Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
(c) Demigod worshipers. (5 verses)
(d) Verse 2.12 is a big blow in the face of the mayavadis, showing that Lord
Krsna and living entities are eternally separate and thus never merge. Quote
three verses from this
chapter which defeat mayavada philosophy.
(e) The qualification of a person who is able to engage in Krsna’s service.
(f) Not everyone was able to see Krsna as the Supreme Lord when He was
present on Earth. List the verse which explains why they were not able to see.
(g) One can cross over maya, which is the divine energy of the Lord, powerful
enough to overpower the living entity, by surrendering unto Him.
(h) To understand Krsna completely is very rare and takes many, many births.
(Two verses)
2.There are four classes of men who never surrender to Krsna (duskritinah-- miscreants,
or duratmas-- the cripple-minded). There are another four classes of men who do
surrender to or approach Krsna (sukrtinah-- pious men, or mahatmas-- magnanimous
souls). Mention their names (those who do not surrender and those who do surrender) in
Sanskrit and English. Of those who begin to render devotional service to Krsna, who is
the best? Why? What is the position of pure devotees? (Ref. 7.15-19, 18p)
3.Demigod worshipers are referred to as alpa-medhasah, hrta-jnana and
mudhas. What are the meanings of these words? What are the two things that
the Lord mentions He does for demigod worshipers (in terms of faith and boons)?
What are the different results of demigod worship and worship of Krsna?
(Mention two differences.) (ref.7.20-25)
4.Krsna mentions about 15 ways (vibhutis, opulences) one can perceive Him in
His all-pervasive form. Complete the following sentences: (ref. 7.8-12)
(a) Krsna is ________ in man.
(b) He is sex life which is ____________________________________.
(c) Krsna is the_____________________________ of the earth.
(d) Krsna says, I am the_____________ of all that lives, and the ____________
of all ascetics.
(e) Krsna is the____________ of all powerful and the____________ of strong
which should be ____________________.
5.There are eight elements known as the Lord’s separated material energies.
(a) Name them by categorizing them as gross or subtle elements.
(b) Prakriti is of two types - para (superior) and apara (inferior). These eight
elements constitute the Lord’s apara prakrti. What is para-prakrti?
6.(a) Give the meaning and significance of tat srnu (text 1p, p. 364, 2nd
paragraph).
(b) Give two Sanskrit words used for impersonalists (verses 24-25).
Time taken to complete the assignment : ______________
Name : ____________________________________
Chapter 8
1.Arjuna asked, in this Eighth chapter, eight questions of Lord Krsna. He has made these
inquiries because Krsna mentions certain terms (Brahman, adhyatma, adhibhuta,
adhidaiva, adhiyajna, karma, prayana-kale) in the last two verses of Ch. 7. Mention which
name appears in which verse. Which of them are asked by Arjuna in text 1 and which are
asked in text 2 of this 8th chapter? Also mention which verse answers which question.
(7.29-30, 8.1-8)
2.(a) What is the auspicious time for the yogi to leave his body so that he does
not return?
(b) What is the inauspicious time for the yogi to leave his body? What is the
result?
(c) What is the process of leaving the body for the devotees? (Verses 23-27)
3.(a) What is the duration of each yuga (Kali, Dvapara, Treta, Satya)? (verse 17)
(b) How long is Brahma’s day?
(c) How long is his night?
(d) His lifetime? (In earthly years and in brahmaloka years)
(e) How many cycles of divya-yuga take place in one day and night of Brahma?
4.Find the verse #(s) for the following topics:
(a) We can attain Krsna without doubt if we perform our prescribed duty (which is
in actuality fighting against maya) by constantly thinking of Him, just as a wife
whose husband
is abroad always thinks of him, or a wife who loves another
man always thinks of him while simultaneously discharging her household duties
(essential verse of Bhagavad-gita).
(b) The qualities (10 or so) of the Lord that help us meditate on Him.
(c) Yoga-misra bhakti (two different sections).
(d) Ananya bhakti (undeviated devotional service).
(e) Description of material world. (5 verses)
(f) Introduction to the spiritual world (for the 1st time in Gita). (2 verses)
(g) Verses 4.9 and 15.6 explain the spiritual world and how, after attaining it, one
never returns to this world. Mention three verses explaining the same point in this
chapter.
(h) Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. (Several verses)
(i) Like verse 6.47, which explains the supremacy of devotees on the yogaladder, a verse in
this chapter explains the supremacy of devotional service
over other processes (this verse is the summation of the 7th and 8th chapters,
according to Srila Prabhupada).
5.Match the following (in relation to this chapter):
(1) brahman
(a) demigods
(2) adhyatma (b) refers to body, senses, mind, intelligence, soul, Supersoul
(3) adhidaiva (c) any kind of activities
(4) adhiyajna (d) pious activities
(5) karma (e) spiritual activities
(6) adhibhuta (f) ever-changing material nature
(7) Hare Krsna mahamantra
(g) reaction that forces the living entity to take a
material body
(8) atma (h) indestructible living entity
(9) how to know Krsna at the time of death
(i) living entity’s nature
(j) after text 4, the rest of chapter 8
(k) mentioned by Srila Prabhupada seven times as process by which to
attain Krsna
(l) Supersoul within the heart
(m) Universal form of the Lord which includes all demigods
Time taken to complete the assignment : ______________
Name : ____________________________________
Chapter 9
1.Srila Prabhupada in his purport to verse 18.64 explains that Lord Krsna has
given in Bhagavad-gita confidential knowledge - the knowledge of Brahman;
more confidential knowledge - the knowledge of Paramatma; and the most
confidential knowledge - surrender to Bhagavan, the Supreme Personality of
Godhead. What does Srila Prabhupada explain in Verse 9.1 purport as
confidential, more confidential, and the most confidential knowledge? (p. 448,
2nd paragraph)
2.Give the Sanskrit term mentioned in the verse 2 for the following characteristics
of the knowledge given in Chapter 9 (explanation based on 9.2p):
(a) This knowledge is the essence of all doctrines and philosophies explained
before by the great philosophers.
(b) This is the knowledge of the eternal occupation of the living entity, knowledge
of Krsna and of the loving dealings between the Lord and the living entities in
both the spiritual and material worlds.
(c) One who is completely absorbed in loving devotional service to the Lord
becomes enlightened without a doubt and cannot be touched by sin. Such is the
purifying potency of devotional service.
(d) Transcendental to material activities or beyond the three modes of material nature.
(e) If one is engaged simply in the act of devotional service, everything is
revealed to him automatically.
(f) The highest perfection of religion is the attainment of devotional service. This
process is so potent that even without performing the religious process regularly
one can be raised to the highest perfection.
(g) Anyone, rich or poor, brahmana or outcaste, in every status of life, can very
easily accept the nine processes of devotional service, especially hearing and
chanting of the holy name and transcendental topics, and also can taste nice
palatable prasadam. One can very easily and happily perform this.
(h) Devotional service continues without any end, even in the liberated state (real
devotional
service begins after liberation), even in the spiritual world. It is
everlasting and ever-increasing.
3.Krsna is aloof from all material activities. Explain this with the examples of a
judge, the sky and a flower. (p.461, 1st paragraph, p. 464, 9p and p. 466, 10p)
4.Chapter seven explains four kinds of people who worship Krsna. In verse 15,
three other categories of worshipers are explained. Who are they, and what type
of worship do they do? Who are the worst and the best among them? (verse 15
and 15p)
5.Fill in the blanks:
(a) The Lord explained this most confidential knowledge to Arjuna because he is
_________________________ .(text 1)
(b) Destination of those who are faithless on the path of devotional service is
________________________.(text 3)
(c) Those who seek sense enjoyment by adhering to the principles of the Vedas
achieve only ___________________________. (text 21)
(d) Those who do not recognize ______________________________fall down.
(text 24)
(e)Those who worship ancestors go to _____________, those who worship
ghosts and
spirits will _____________________, and those who worship the
Lord will__________________.(text 25)
(f) The essential ingredients in one’s offering to Krsna are
____________________.(text 26)
(g) If one offers whatever he does, eats, or gives in charity, and the austerities
that he performs unto Krsna, the result is
_________________________________. (texts 27-28)
(h) Even if one commits the most abominable action, if he is engaged in
unflinching devotion and doesn’t waver or give up, he should be considered
saintly because _________________________ ______________________.
(texts 30-31)
Name : ____________________________________
6.Mark the following true or false [except for (a) all based on 9.30p]:
(a) When a living entity is conditioned, he has two kinds of activities (svadharmas) conditional (following the varnasrama-dharma or working for the needs
of body, family and society), and constitutional (spiritual activities or devotional
service).
(b) A person in Krsna consicousness commits some act which may be taken as
most abominable socially or politically. But such temporary falldown does not
disqualify him.
(c) A devotee in transcendental devotional service may act in all kinds of
abominable ways, even knowingly, still he should be considered saintly.
(d) Devotional service is more or less a declaration of war against maya, the illusory
energy. As long as one is not strong enough to fight the illusory energy, there may be
accidental falldowns.
(e) The word “sadhur eva” is a warning to the nondevotees that they should not
deride a devotee because of an accidental fall-down.
(f) The word “mantavyah” signifies that if one does not follow this rule, and
derides a devotee for his accidental falldown, then one is disobeying the order of
the Supreme Lord.
7.Find the verse #(s) related to the following topics:
(a) Krsna says, “All living beings are in Me.” Then He says, “All creation is not
situated in Me.” This is yogam aisvaryam, the Lord’s inconceivable mystic
opulence. (Two verses)
(b) Mayavadis say that when the Lord appears on the earth, He accepts a
material body like ours. The verse defeating this concept.
(c) Devotees who assume themselves to be in Krsna consciousness but at heart do not
accept the supremacy of the Lord cannot return back to Godhead. Those engaged in
fruitive pious activities, who have hopes for liberation but deride Krsna, and those who
attempt to become one with Krsna, are baffled in their attempts.
(d) The Lord’s opulences.
(e) The Lord is the sacrifice, the fire of sacrifice, the offerings, and the mantras of
sacrifice.
(f) The Lord is very merciful to the devotees, and He personally carries what His
devotees lack (due to their previous karma) and preserves what they have
(although they no more deserve it by their previous karma). In this way, He looks
for opportunities to serve His advanced devotees.
(g) According to verse 4.11, everyone follows the Lord’s path in all respects, and
thus worshipers of demigods worship only Krsna, but in a wrong way.
(h) The platform of niskama-bhakti or niskama karma-yoga.
(i) (Another verse explaining the more special mercy of the Lord on devotees).
The Lord explains that He is equal to everyone in His Paramatma feature, and
thus He is like a cloud which pours rain over all. But in His Bhagavan feature, He
gives special attention to His devotees.
(j) The middle verses of Bhagavad-gita (350th and 351st verses), describing devotees
who are under the protection of the divine nature and their activities.
(k) That anyone, regardless of his birth or material position, can perform
devotional service. (two verses)
(l) The middle verse (hidden in the exact middle of 18 chapters), describing how
one should be engaged so that one will surely go back to Krsna (the most
confidential knowledge).
Time taken to complete the assignment : ______________
Name : ____________________________________
Chapter 10
1.Mention the verse #(s) related to the following:
(a) The middle verse (in the middle of 18 chapters) along with verse 9.34, which
is the introduction to ch.10, explaining that the most confidential knowledge
constitutes knowledge of Krsna.
(b) No one understands Krsna’s origin or opulence, as He is the source of all.
(c) Brahma is aja and loka-mahesvaram, but not anadi. Demigods are lokamahesvaram, but neither aja nor anadi. Sages are aja, but neither anadi nor
loka-mahesvaram. Only Krsna is all of these, and one who knows this gets freed
from all sins.
(d) 25 personalities who appear from Krsna’s mind and are the patriarchs of the
living entities all over the universe.
(e) All the qualities of living beings are created by Krsna alone (and mentioning 20 of
these qualities).
(f) One should not neglect to understand fully how great Krsna is; for by knowing
the greatness of Krsna one will be able to be fixed in sincere devotional service.
(g) The catur-sloki of Bhagavad-gita; the nutshell verses.
(h) Krsna as the Supreme Person (five verses).
(i) Arjuna uses five names Purusottama, Bhutabhavana, Bhutesh,Devadeva and
Jagat pati because one may accept Krsna as Bhagavan, but may not understand
Him as Purusottama. Even among those who understand him as Purusottama
some may not understand him as Bhutabhavana and so on.(see purport of this
verse for the details of the names)
(j) There is no satiation in hearing about Krsna, for the more one hears about
Him, the more one hankers to hear.
(k) Whatever opulences the Lord has mentioned are just the prominent ones, a
mere indication of the Lord’s infinite opulences. With a single fragment of
Himself, He pervades and supports this entire universe.
2.(a) Why did Arjuna want to hear the vibhutis or opulences of the Lord? (16p)
(b) How does Krsna differ, while speaking about the beginning, middle, and end
in verses 20 and 32?
(c) Lord Caitanya likens transcendental devotional service to the sowing of a
seed in the heart of the living entity. Explain this analogy (10.9p, p. 518-519).
(d) What is the significance of “Gudakesa” in verse 20 (p. 532)?
3.The verses known as the Catur-sloki of Bhagavad-gita present the Gita in a
nutshell. Give the connections of the themes of those verses.
4.Fill in the blanks (choose from these: satyam, yasa, brahmana, devotee of the
Lord, tapa, ahimsa, bhaya, tusti, buddhi, jnanam, ksama, asammoha): ( verses
4-5p)
(a) _______________________ refers to the power to analyze things in their
proper perspective.
(b) _______________________ means knowing the distinction between spirit
and matter.
(c) _______________________ can be achieved when one is not hesitant and
when he understands the transcendental philosophy.
(d) _______________________ means that facts should be presented as they
are, for the benefit of others, irrespective of whether they are palatable or
unpalatable, and should be spoken in a straight-forward way, so that others will
understand what the actual facts are.
(e) _______________________ means not doing anything which will put others
into misery, distress, or confusion. Not only not causing physical harm, but also
not checking anyone’s spiritual advancement or arresting the progressive life of
any living entity. One cannot follow this principle completely if he is not elevating
people to spiritual knowledge by distributing real knowledge to them.
(f) According to Lord Caitanya, to be famous as a great devotee is real
__________________.
(g) One who knows the Brahman feature of the Lord is called a
____________________.
(h) One should give fifty percent of one’s earning (surplus) to some good cause.
The best charity is that given to a
_________________________________________.
(i) ________________________________ is caused by our absorption in the
illusory energy (not being in Krsna consciousness), when one doesn’t understand
that he is a spiritual part of the Lord.
Name : ____________________________________
5.Fill in the blanks. (These are related with the 72 opulences that the Lord
mentions. For answers, choose either from the options given along with the
question or from the following list: Lord Siva, Kapila, Vyasa, Marici, Visnu,
Narada, Usana [Sukracarya], Brhaspati, Kartikeya, Bhrgu.): (verses 19-42)
(a) There are fifty varieties of wind blowing in space, and of these winds (Maruts),
the controlling deity, ________________, represents Krsna. (text 21)
(b) Out of twelve Adityas, ___________________ is the principal (the Lord says
He is). (text 21)
(c) Out of eleven Rudras, the Lord says He is ___________________.(text 23)
(d) Among six seasons, He is __________________(summer, rainy, spring,
winter). (text 35)
(e) Among twelve months, He is _____________________(Karttika, Margasirsa).
(text 35)
(f) Among mountains, He is _______________________(Himalayas, Meru).
(texts 23,25)
(g) Among animals (beasts), He is _____________________(Uccaisrava the
horse, Airavata, lion, tiger). (texts 27,30)
(h) Among men, He is _____________(king, Manu, Brahma, brahmana, great
sages). (text27)
(i) Among birds, He is ______________(peacock, ostrich, Garuda,
Kakabhusandi, Brahma’s swan).
(j) Among serpents, He is ___________________(naga, Ananta, Vasuki, Kaliya). (texts
28,29)
(k) Among devarsis (sages among demigods), the Lord is _______________ .
(text 260)
(l) Among all siddhas (perfected beings), He is ____________________.(text 26)
(m) Among great thinkers (kavis), He is __________________.(text 37)
(n) Among munis (sages), He is _________________________ .(text 37)
(o) Among great sages (Maharsis), He is __________________.(text 25)
(p) Among priests, He is ____________________.(verse 24)
(q) Of poetry, He is ____________________.(Sama Veda, Brhat sama, Gayatri, Visnusahasranam)
(r) Of secret things, He is ____________________(Bhagavad-gita, silence,
bhakti).
(s) Among creators, He is __________________(Daksa, Manu, Brahma,
Kasyapa). (text 33)
(t) Of bodies of water, He is the ________________(river, ocean, the great lake
Mansarovar). (text 24)
Time taken to complete the assignment : ______________
Name : ____________________________________
Chapter 11
1.Since a pure devotee does not like to see Krsna in any form except His form
with two hands, state three reasons why Arjuna asked to see the Universal Form.
(11.3, 3p, 8p, last para. on p.560)
2.(a) The whole world is moving according to the plan of the Supreme Lord.
There is a specific plan being carried out by Him in this material world. What is
that plan? (11.33p)
(b) Explain the meaning of “savyasacin” and “nimitta-matram.” (11.33p)
(c) Explain the significance of “yogesvara” (11.4p, p. 557) and the significance of
‘lotus-eyed.” (11.2p, p.554-555)
3.Krsna has given many reasons why Arjuna should fight, especially in Ch. 2, on
the level of yoga, karma-kanda or sakama karma-yoga, niskama karma-yoga,
transcendental knowledge (in Ch. 4), buddhi-yoga or devotional service.
(a) What is the main reason (highest principle) why Arjuna should fight?
(b) Here in Ch. 11, Arjuna becomes completely convinced that he should fight. Why?
4.Find the verse #(s) for the following:
(a) Arjuna very humbly requests Krsna to show His universal form.
(b) Description of the universal form (from the first point when Krsna begins to
show the form to the point at which Arjuna asks Him to show His four-armed
form).
(c) Sanjaya’s description of universal form.
(d) Arjuna’s description of universal form.
(e) Besides Arjuna (also Sanjaya and Vedavyasa through their divine vision), there were
others who were seeing this universal form (in different planetary systems).
(f) The all-devouring form of the Lord. He is kala-rupa, destroyer of the world, and
Arjuna should simply become His instrument in the fight.
(g) No one before had ever seen this universal form of the Lord (Duryodhana and
Mother Yasoda have seen different universal forms, not this one). (two verses)
(h) It is very rare to see the universal form of the Lord, as by no other process
than devotional service can it be seen.
(i) It is even more rare to see the two-armed form, which can be seen only
through devotional service. (two verses)
(j) Arjuna’s rasa with Krsna is of friendship (sakhya). His relationship changes by
seeing the universal form to that of wonder (adbhuta). Later, it changed even
more, to fear (bhayanak). Then it changes to dasya, when Arjuna prays to the
Lord, begging for forgiveness and again he resumes his original sakhya rasa.
(divide the chapter in five sections according to these rasas)
5.Arjuna expresses his wish (verse 46) to see the four-armed form of the Lord. In verse
49, the Lord tells Arjuna that he can now see the form of his desire. Verse 50 doesn’t
mention any Sanskrit term for the two-handed form. Show that the word “sudurdarsanam” (very difficult to behold) is used for the two-handed form and not for the
Universal form nor for the four-armed form as some sampradayas consider.(verses 46-52)
6.(a) What is the conclusion of chapter 11?(first and last paragraphs of the
chapter)
(b) Universal form is: (there may be more than one correct answer). [5p (p
557-8), 45p, last para of the Chapter.]
i) real
ii) temporary
iii) eternal
iv) spiritual
v) material
vi) only in the material sphere (manifested for cosmic manifestation)
Time taken to complete the assignment : ______________
Name : ____________________________________
Chapter 12
1.What is the Lord’s answer to this inquiry of Arjuna - Which are more perfect those engaged in the devotional service of Your personal form or those who
worship impersonal Brahman? What is the disadvantage of impersonal worship?
What is the advantage of worship of the personal form? (At least 2 points)
(Verses 2-7 and 1st paragraph of 12.5p)
2.There are different stages of devotional service (direct process) mentioned in
verses 8-11. Reconstruct the stages from the lowest to the highest stages of
devotional service.
3.(a) What is the devotee’s attitude toward suffering? Toward an enemy? (12.13-14p, p.
628)
(b) Explain the analogy of the mail-box. (12.5p, 2nd paragraph, p. 616)
4.There are thirty-five qualities of devotees explained, which gradually manifest
as one makes advancement in devotional service. Mention seven of these, which
make the devotee dear to Krsna.
5.Mention the verse #(s) for the following:
(a) There are two types of worship - saguna (Lord possessing attributes) and
nirguna (the Lord possessing no attributes). Give the verses explaining nirguna
worship.
(b) Verses defeating the mayavada concept that worship of impersonal Brahman is the
ultimate and that the Lord, although ultimately impersonal, manifests His form for lessintelligent people.
(c) The Lord says He is the swift deliverer from this ocean of material existence,
of those who without deviation and with unflinching faith are absorbed in serving
Him (which is a very advanced platform of devotional service).
(d) In the middle section, a verse explains the indirect (gradual) process of
renunciation for some good cause, knowledge, meditation, renunciation (niskama
karma), and eventually realization of Brahman and Supersoul (Paramatma).
(e) A devotee is free from fear and anxiety, is not disturbed by any external
circumstances, and is so much concerned about everyone that he never acts in
such a way as to put others into anxiety.
(f) If the devotee loses something which is very dear to him, he does not lament.
Similarly, if he doesn’t get what he desires, he is not distressed. He neither
engages in pious or impious activities.Rather, he does everything for Krsna’s
pleasure, which is always for the welfare of everyone.
(g) (Visvanath Cakravarti Thakur says that even if one gains seven of these
thirty-five qualities, he starts becoming dear to Krsna, but) Those who manifest
all these qualities, while engaged in devotional service, become very, very dear
to the Lord.
Time taken to complete the assignment : ______________
Name : ____________________________________
Chapter 13
1A.Find the match for the terms on the left side (used in 13.1).(Note: there may be more
than one match for the terms on the left side; and the same terms on the right side can be
a match for more than one term on the left side.). (Use BgO, Chapter Summary)
(a) ksetra, field of activities
1. Soul, living entities
(b) ketra-jna, knower of the field of activities
2. Material world, consisting of
universes and planets
(c) jnana, knowledge 3. Body
(d) jneya, object of knowledge 4. Supersoul
(e) prakrti, material nature 5. The twenty items mentioned in verses 8-12,
beginning with humility
(f) purusa, the enjoyer 6. Verses 6-7 describing the constitution of this
1B.Mark T for true and F for false for the following (use your intelligence):
(a) Ksetra or field of activities also refers to the material world where the body is
active.
(b) The material nature is eternal and real.
(c) The manifestation of the material world is also real, but is temporary.
(d) The living entity is conscious of one body, the Lord (Supersoul) is conscious of all
bodies.
(e) There are as many Supersouls as there are living entities, a different one for
each. (Text17)
(f) Both living entity and material nature are prakrti, but one is conscious, the
other is not.
(g) Consciousness is generated by the interaction of matter.
(h) The Lord’s consciousness is materially affected when He descends into the
material world.
2.(a) Mention the Sanskrit terms and the meanings of the five stages of Brahman
realization. (5p)
(b) Mention the 24 elements under the headings of gross elements, subtle elements,
knowledge-acquiring senses, working senses,
sense objects and the rest .(13.6-7p)
(c) Mention the interactions or manifestations of gross elements. Also mention
the interactions or manifestations of subtle elements.
(d) Mention the 25th element and 26th element according to Sankhya philosophy.
(13.25p, p.671)
3.Based on verses 8-12 and purport, answer the following:
(a) If one takes to this item only, the other nineteen items automatically manifest
within him. (p. 649)
(b) Even to follow this most important item (above), one needs to accept another
item as a prerequisite,without which transcendental life cannot begin. (p.649, 1st
paragraph)
(c) The process of knowledge begins with this item. (new paragraph on p. 654)
(d) Among these twenty items of knowledge, 18 of them are related with both
jnana and bhakti. But two of them are related specifically to jnanis. Which two are
those? (Use your intelligence)
(e) ____________________ means that one should not be anxious to have the
satisfaction of being honored by others. (p. 649, last paragraph)
(f) ____________________ means that one should be prepared to bear insult
and dishonor from others. (p. 650, 2nd paragraph)
(g) ____________________ means that without diplomacy one should be so
straightforward that he can disclose the real truth even to an enemy. (p. 650, 3rd
paragraph)
(h) _____________________ means that one should not accept anything which
is detrimental to the path of spiritual progress. (1st paragraph on p. 651)
(i) _____________________ means that one should be very determined to make
progress in spiritual life. (p. 651, first paragraph)
(j) Mention how one can be externally and internally clean. (last paragraph, p. 650)
(k) If this sense is controlled, all other senses will be easily controlled .
(l) Give the proper engagements for the tongue (two of them), and for the eyes,
ears and nose.
(m) Differentiate between real ego and false ego. (2nd paragraph, p. 651)
(n) If these four principles are followed by the family members, then there is no
need to change from family life to renounced life. What are they? (p. 652)
Name : ____________________________________
4.(a) Explain the essence of Chapter 13 (p. 680, 1st paragraph).
(b) Explain the three processes to realize the Supersoul (verse 25). But there is
another process for those who have no knowledge of philosophy (not conversant
with spiritual knowledge). What is that?
(c) Name the two analogies used for the soul in verses 33 and 34?
5.Give the verse #(s) related to the following topics:
(a) Defeating the concept of mayavadis, that the soul and the Supersoul are the
same.
(b) Two verses explaining the details of ksetra.
(c) The Lord gives the items of knowledge and explains that anything besides these,
whatever it may be, is ignorance (ajnana).
(d) The Lord begins to describe the knowable, and the first knowable is the soul.
The term “brahman” in this verse refers to the living entity, because although he
is beginningless, he is subordinate to the Supreme Lord.
(e) Lord Krsna explains in this verse, the Supersoul as the knowable, who is
pervading everything and everywhere.
(f) The inconceivable potencies of the Supreme Truth: He is both moving and not
moving, far away and very near, outside and inside (verse similar to Sri
Isopanisad Mantra 5).
(g) Nature is the cause of all material causes and effects, and the living entity is
the cause of various sufferings and enjoyments in the material world, which are
caused by his association with the three modes of material nature. (two verses)
(h) This verse is particularly applicable to modern society, because modern
society has no education in spiritual matters. In this verse, the hearing process is
strongly recommended.
(i) The vision of one in knowledge. (jnana-caksusah) One who sees in knowledge
like this, actually sees. (5 verses)
(j) Two verses which give the essence of chapter 13. (refer to question 4a)
Time taken to complete the assignment : ______________
Name : ____________________________________
Chapter 14
1.Mention the verse #(s) related to the following topics:
(a) Verses glorifying the knowledge related to the three modes of material nature
as far, far superior to all other processes of knowledge. By understanding this
chapter through the process of philosophical speculation, one can come to an
understanding of devotional service and attain the transcendental nature like the
Lord.
(b) Mahat-tattva, the total material energy, the total cause of the cosmic
manifestation consisting of the three modes, is called Brahman, which is
impregnated by the Supreme Lord with the seeds of the living entities.
(c) Krsna is the Supreme father of all species of life, thus He is the Supreme
Lord.
(d) Even a man of intelligence may act foolishly, or even a great demon can show
the quality of mercy or compassion for someone.
(e) When one is situated in goodness, all the gates of his body are illuminated by
knowledge, that is, his gates (senses) act in and give proper knowledge.
(f) One attains the transcendental nature of the Lord when he knows the
Supreme Lord and sees that all activities are carried out by these modes of
nature.
(g) One can stay in a transcendental position even in this body.
(h) The Lord explains that one who is transcendental to the three modes has
these symptoms: he is free from the duality (dvanda) of desire (iccha) and hatred
(dvesa). He does not hate illumination (goodness), attachment (passion), and
delusion (ignorance) when they are present nor long (hanker) for them when they
disappear. Rather he is neutral and undisturbed by these reactions of the modes.
(i) “Impersonal Brahman is the supreme form of realization, and the Lord
mercifully takes a form for the less intelligent.” The verse defeating this concept
of the impersonalists.
2.Explain the analogy of the scorpion born out of rice. (Text 3p, last paragraph)
3.Material nature consists of three modes---goodness, passion and ignorance—
and the living entities are conditioned by these modes. Name the modes related
to the following (texts 6-18):
(a) has purifying effect and thus frees one from all sinful reaction (14.6)
(b) characterized by unlimited desire and hankering (longing) (14.7)
(c) causes delusion of the living entities
(d) opposite of goodness
(e) characterized by attraction between man and woman
(f) one desires honor and respect
(g) one does his work out of a sense of duty
(h) does his work for purification
(i) laziness, sleep, dullness, indolence, madness, inertia
(j) conditions one to a sense of happiness and knowledge
(k) conditions one to fruitive activity, or working to acquire some result
(l) intense endeavor and uncontrollable desire
(m) results in misery
(n) results in foolishness
(o) those situated in this mode go to the heavenly planets
(p) greed develops from this mode
4.True or false (use your intelligence):
(a) Those who are in ignorance cannot take up Krsna consciousness.
(b) For those in ignorance or passion, advancement in spiritual life is
troublesome.
(c) One is said to be conditioned when he is under the influence of the three modes.
Name : ____________________________________
(d) Knowledge which is not contaminated by the modes is called transcendental
knowledge.
(e) Brahman feature of the Lord has characteristics of sat, cit and ananda. (text
14.27)
(f) One who is engaged in devotional service has no need to carefully avoid the
lower modes or make any effort to act at least in the mode of goodness.
(g) Only by understanding the modes can one easily transcend them.
(h) Although there are these three modes of material nature, if one is determined
he can be blessed by the mode of goodness, and by transcending the mode of
goodness he can be situated in pure goodness (suddha sattva or visuddha
sattva), which is called the Vasudeva state, a state in which one can understand
the science of God.
(i) If one associates with a bonafide spiritual master and abides by his rules and
the scriptures, one can (gradually) change his position from ignorance to
goodness or from passion to goodness.
5.What is the behavior of one who has transcended the modes? What is the
process to transcend the modes of nature? (verses 21-26)
Time taken to complete the assignment : ______________
Name : ____________________________________
Chapter 15
1.Find the verse #(s) related to the following topics:
(a) Two verses explaining that after reaching the spiritual world one doesn’t come back.
(b) A verse defeating impersonalists’ concepts of the living entity merging in
Brahman and thus losing his identity after achieving liberation.
(c) A verse introducing us to the spiritual world.
(d) Four verses describing Krsna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
(e) The banyan tree of the material world (reflection of the spiritual world) is
situated on the ground of desire, as a tree’s reflection is situated on water. No
one can understand the beginning, end and foundation of this tree. But in order
to be saved from this material existence, one must with determination cut down
the tree with the weapon of detachment, then look for the way to the spiritual
world.
(f) Two verses explaining the process of transmigration of the soul from one body
to another (living entity carries his different conceptions of life as the air carries
aroma).
(g) The endeavoring transcendentalists, fixed on the platform of goodness and
engaged in devotional service, situated in self-realization, can see how the soul
transmigrates. But others, who are dominated by the lower modes, cannot see
this, even if they try.
(h) There are four kinds of foodstuff. The Lord is the digestive force for all of them.
(i) The Lord is situated in everyone’s heart and He provides remembrance,
knowledge and forgetfulness. He is the knower, compiler, and purpose of the
Vedas.
(j) In chapter 14, Krsna said He would speak the Supeme wisdom. Here He says
that this is the most confidential part of Vedic scripture, by understanding which
one becomes wise and perfect.
2.Chapter 15, in the beginning, gives the analogy of a great banyan tree. This
reflected tree, with its roots upward, refers to the material world, which is a
reflection of the spiritual world. Match the following on the basis of purports to the
first two verses:
(a) watered or nourished by
1. lower planetary system
(b) surface of water (or ground)
2. higher planetary system
(c) main root (upward) 3. object of senses
(d) other roots (downward)
4. Brahma-loka, total material substance
(e) fruits 5. three modes of nature
(f) upper branches 6. Vedic hymns
(g) lower branches 7. dharma, artha, kama, moksa
(h) tips of the branches 8. detachment
(i) leaves 9. senses
(j) twigs 10. in human planetary system
(k) weapon to cut the tree 11. desire
3.The opulences of the Lord were explained in Chapters 7, 9 and 10. Now
Chapter 15 lists further opulences. Explain those opulences related to splendor,
to entering into planets, to entering into the moon, and to digestion. (verses
12-14)
4.One who has these qualities comes to know how to surrender unto the
Supreme Person. The foremost of these qualities is to be undeluded by pride
(false prestige). What are the others? (verse 5)
5.From verse 16 onward, Lord Krsna presents in summary the contents of the
Vedanta-sutra. Give three points in relation to living entities, the Lord, and the
result of knowing the Lord. (15.16-19)
6.Explain the two main divisions of this chapter. (last paragraph of the chapter)
Time taken to complete the assignment : ______________
Name : ____________________________________
Chapter 16
1.Mention the verse #(s) for the following topics:
a) Chapter 15 explained the banyan tree, now Chapter 16 describes the lower
and upper branches of the tree. The upper branches of this upside-down tree
(near the root) refer to divine nature.These are transcendental qualities. Even
though the material conditions are miserable, if these qualities are developed by
practice, by all classes of men, then gradually it is possible to rise to the highest
platform of transcendental realization.
b) Verses describing the demoniac nature and their result (lower branches or the top of
this upside- down tree).
c) Six qualities belonging to the demoniac nature, which is the royal road to hell.
d) The verse confirming that Arjuna is born with the divine qualities.
e) The verse describing that there are two kinds of created beings in this world—
divine and demoniac.
f) The verse explaining that those who are demoniac are unclean, improper in
their behavior, not truthful and confused in making decisions (dominated by the
lower modes of passion and ignorance).
g) Verses describing the thoughts and the beliefs of the demons.
h) Similar to verses 4.40 and 9.12, this verse explains the result for those who
are whimsical and discard scriptures.
i) There are three gates leading to hell—lust, anger and greed. One who has been able to
carefully avoid these gates gradually attains the supreme destination by performing acts
conducive to self-realization. (two verses)
j) Those who are lowest among men (verse 7.15), and those who are envious
and mischeivous, are repeatedly cast into lower or demoniac species of life by
the Lord. For them to approach the Lord becomes almost impossible.
2A.Fill in the blanks:
a) A brahmana is considered to be the spiritual master of the three other sections
of society, but a ________ is considered to be the head or spiritual master of all
varnas and asramas. (p.741, last paragraph)
b) ________ is the first qualification for a sannyasi. He has to depend on
__________. (Reference same as (a))
c) Most important of all rules and regulations for a sannyasi is that
___________________.
(p.742, next paragraph)
d) For a sannyasi __________________ and possession of ___________________ are
strictly forbidden. (reference same as (c))
2B.There are twenty-six transcendental qualities mentioned in the beginning
verses. Srila Prabhupada explains that brahminical qualities of simplicity and
nonviolence are meant for all varnas and asramas.But according to him, each of
the following items are especially meant for a particular varna or asrama. Give
the names of the varna or asrama for these items:
a) nati-manita, not expecting honor (p.746, third paragraph)
b) saucam, cleanliness (p.746, third paragraph)
c) tejas, power (p.746, second paragraph)
d) satyam, truthfulness (p.745, last paragraph)
e) svadhyaya, Vedic study (p.744, second to last paragraph)
f) dana, charity (p.743)
g) dama, self-control (p.743)
h) yajna, sacrifice (p.744)
i) tapas, austerity (p.744)
j) abhayam, fearlessness (p.742, continued paragraph)
k) sattva-samsuddhi, purification of one’s existence (p.742)
l) jnana-yoga vyavasthitih, cultivation of spirtual knowledge (p.743, first
paragraph)
Name : ____________________________________
3.Apart from the six qualities of the demoniac nature mentioned in verse 4, state the other
ten qualities of the demoniac nature.
4.Give a brief answer to the following:
a) How do demoniac people think?
b) What is their preaching? (p.758)
c) What is their beliefs in terme of purpose of life and creation of this world?
(verse 8)
5.a) What does the Manu-samhita say about women’s liberation? (p.750, second
paragraph)
b) What is the conclusion of Chapter 16? (top four lines on page 770 and verse
24)
c) According to the last paragraph of this chapter (p.767), what is the cause of all
falldown?
What is the cause of demoniac life and how can one elevate himself?
Time taken to complete the assignment : ______________
Name : ____________________________________
Chapter 17:
1.Mention the verse #(s) for the following topics:
a) Arjuna inquired from Krsna about the position of those (under the modes of
material nature) who do not have faith in the scriptures, but have faith in
something else. (contrary to verse 16.24)
b) Sraddha or original faith comes from the mode of goodness. The Lord says that
according to one’s position of heart (consciousness), that is, according to his acquired
modes, his faith is established. c) One worships according to his established faith. Since
faith is of three types, the worship is also of three types, for those under the modes.
d) Demon is defined (those situated in the lower modes of passion and
ignorance).
e) "Om tat sat" indicates the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The acts of
charity, austerity and sacrifice, when aimed toward Him, become a means for
spiritual elevation.
f) When transcendentalists perform an act of sacrifice, charity or austerity, they
begin with the word "Om" because performance of everything on behalf of the
Supreme Lord assures the perfection of all activities.
g) With the word "tat" one performs his act of sacrifice, austerity or charity without
any expectation of fruitive results, so that one gets freed from material
entanglement.
h) The Absolute Truth, the objective of devotional sacrifice, the performer of such
sacrifice, and all works of sacrifice, penance or charity performed for the pleasure
of the Lord, are all indicated by the word "sat".
i) Acts of sacrifice, charity or penance done with faith in anyone other than
Krsna, the Supreme Lord, are impermanent, "asat", useless both in this life and
in the next .(verse 4.31)
2.a) What is the purpose of food? What type of food fulfills this condition? What
does the food in the mode of passion cause? (texts 8,9,10 and purport on p. 778)
b) What is the philosophy on accepting remnants? (P.779)
c) Which mode (ignorance, passion or goodness) do these foods come under?
(texts 8,9,10 and purport)
i) untouchable things like flesh of animals (meat and fish), eggs, onions and
garlic, stale food
ii) foods that are too sweet, vegetarian food cooked in restaurants (use your
intelligence)
iii) food cooked by mothers (use your intelligence)
iv) milk products, pure, fresh and natural foods, and raw foods
v) food offered to Krsna the day before
vi) someone’s remnants (nondevotee)
vii) a saintly person’s remnants (devotee)
3.The following are different austerities, either of the mind, body or speech. State
which kind of austerity they are: (verses 14,15,16)
a) purification of one’s existence
b) simplicity
c) reciting the Vedic literatures
d) self-control
e) cleanliness
f) speaking truthfully and pleasantly for the benefit of others, speech not meant to
agitate others
g) worship (of the Lord, spiritual master, brahmanas, sannyasis and superiors)
h) satisfaction
i) celibacy
j) gravity
k) nonviolence
Name : ____________________________________
4... Under which modes (ignorance, passion, goodness or transcendental) are the
following: (verses 11-13, 17-22)
A.Acts of sacrifice, charity or austerity done...
a) ...for some material benefit
b) ...without any regard to scriptures
c) ...without any expectation of result
d) ...in accordance with the injunctions of scriptures
e) ...as a matter of duty
f) ...without faith
g) ...for pride (gaining respect, honor and worship)
h) ...out of foolishness
B.a) sacrifice done without distribution of prasadam and remuneration (daksina)
to the priests
b) sacrifice done without chanting of hymns
c) penance or austerity of body, mind or speech performed with self-torture or
causing some harm to others
d) charity done in a grudging mood
e) charity given to Vaisnavas (devotees) in a holy dhama, a place of pilgrimage, to
temples, on Ekadasi or on the appearance days of the Lord
f) charity given to the poor or feeding the poor
g) charity given indiscriminately (to any one, at any time or place, without any
proper attention or respect)
h) charity given to devotees, desiring that one can make spiritual advancement
and some day become a devotee
i) charity given under some obligation
j) charity given on festival days, at a pilgrimage place, to brahmanas or
brahmacaris, on solar or lunar eclipses
k) fasting on Ekadasi day or on the appearance day of the Lord or acaryas
5A.a) Faith in the mode of darkness or ignorance is actually ______________.
(p.782)
b) __________ means to always think of self-realization, and thus speaking only
in relationship to Krsna. (p.784, v.16p)
c) __________means detaching the mind from sense enjoyment. (reference
same as in (b))
d) To make the mind austere is to ___________. The mind should be so trained
that it can be always thinking of doing good for others. The best training for the
mind is __________________. (ref. same as in (b))
e) Satisfaction of mind can be obtained only by __________. The _________ we think
of sense enjoyment, the less the mind becomes dissatisfied.(ref. same as in (b))
5B.Based on purport to text 4, fill in the blanks:
a) Those in the mode of __________ generally select a powerful man to be God.
They think that anyone can be worshiped as God and the same result will come.
b) Sexual service and worship of ghosts and dead spirits is considered in the
mode of _________.
c) Those who are in __________ worship Krsna or the Supreme Personality of
Godhead.
d) Impersonalists are situated in the mode of______________ and they
worship__________________.
e) The form of Visnu that impersonalists worship is known as
_____________________________.
f) By the association of _______________, persons in different qualities of
modes of nature can be purified.
Time taken to complete the assignment : ______________
Name : ____________________________________
Chapter 18
1.Mention the verse #(s) for the following topics:
a) No one among the embodied beings, be he a human or demigod. is free from
the three modes of material nature. (single verse)
b) Verses explaining that prescribed duties are meant to purify one’s heart
(consciousness) and thus they are never affected by sinful reactions. Therefore
one should not give up one’s prescribed duties despite all faults; ksatriyas have
to kill and use politics to maintain peace and prosperity, and a merchant has to
sometimes speak lies in his business. (two verses—one verse has the same first
two lines as verse 3.35)
c) The Lord explains the process how one can acheive the highest perfection, the
brahma-bhuta platform, simply by being engaged in his occupational duty, which is
the summary of the process of achieving self-realisation explained in Chapters 5 and
6. After attaining this, real devotional service begins. (five continuous verses)
d) Only by devotional service can one understand Krsna as He is (in His
fullness), and thus being conscious of Him, one can enter into His kingdom.
e) Verses explaining that Arjuna has only two choices—either he works under
Krsna’s instruction (under the protection of the Lord’s internal potency,
yogamaya) or he works under the dictation of his nature (under mahamaya). If he
follows the Lord, then he will overcome all obstacles; otherwise, he will be lost.
(three verses)
f) The verse showing that Lord Krsna has finished the summary or conclusion of
the Bhagavad-gita and He says to Arjuna, yatha icchasi tatha kuru, do as you
wish (by deliberating on the knowledge given by Krsna).
g) The Lord, being very compassionate to His friend, begins to enlighten him
further in the the next seven verses, which are known as the cream of the
Bhagavad-gita.
h) The verse (confirming that 9.34 is the most confidential message) wherein the
Lord asks for the four things to be done. (first two lines are the same as 9.34)
i) The ultimate message of Bhagavad-gita, the last word in all morality and
religion—surrender unto Krsna.
j) The Lord explains the highest occupation and how one engaged in this occupation is
the most dear of all, and that devotional service is guaranteed to such a devotee. (two
verses)
k) The verse explaining that finally the Bhagavad-gita ends here (although there
are still more verses).
l) The verse explaining the result of Arjuna’s hearing Bhagavad-gita: that he is
completely free from all doubts and prepared to act (fight) according to Krsna’s
instructions.
m) Verses explaining the ecstacy of Sanjaya which he experienced because of
hearing and witnessing the conversation between the two friends, Krsna and
Arjuna (like a river of nectar flowing from the mouth of Krsna to the ears of
Arjuna).
n) Sanjaya’s final conclusion, that predicts the result of the Mahabharata war.
(answer to Dhrtarastra's inquiry in verse 1.1)
2.When Arjuna inquired in the first verse (the only inquiry in the chapter) to clarify
the controversy of sannyasa and tyaga. Krsna first gives three different opinions
of learned persons (one in verse 2 and two in verse 3). In relation to the Lord’s
conclusion on this subject, mark true (T) or false (F) for the following: (based on
verses 1-12)
a) Lord Krsna concludes that renunciation is of three types, and that one should do
renunciation in the mode of goodness.
b) Giving up prescribed duties as troublesome or out of fear of bodily discomfort,
one is said to have renounced in the mode of ignorance.
c) When one is renounced, neither hateful of inauspicious work, nor attached to
auspicious work, and thus does his work as a matter of duty, he is said to be
situated in the mode of goodness.
d) One should renounce the fruits of action, but should never give up acts of
sacrifice, charity and austerity as they purify even the great souls.
e) The Lord’s conclusion is that sannyasa and tyaga are actually the same (two
names for the same thing). One has to be internally renounced (within one’s
mind or consciousness), not externally. i.e. renunciation is an internal process,
not external.
Name : ____________________________________
3.a) According to Vedanta, there are three doers—the soul, material nature and
Supersoul (Bg. Chapter 5). But the living entity, bewildered by false ego, thinks
himself the doer (3.27). There are five factors or causes for the accomplishment
of action performed by body, mind or speech. Mention them. (verses 13-16)
b) State the three factors that motivate action. (verse 18)
c) State the three constituents of action. (verse 18)
d) According to Lord Krsna, who are those not qualified to hear Bhagavad-gita?
For whom is Bhagavad-gita meant ? Why do devotees sometimes deliver the
message of the Gita to others or hold open class?(verses 67,68 and 71p)
e) What does Lord Krsna say is the result of listening to the Bhagavad-gita with faith?
(verse 71)
f) What is the Lord’s opinion about one who studies this sacred conversation of
Bhagavad-gita? (verse 70)
4.a) Natural qualities by which the brahmanas work are knowledge, wisdom,
religiousness, purity and self-control. State the four not mentioned. (verse 42)
b) The main qualities of ksatriyas are heroism, power, leadership and courage in
battle. State the other three. (verse 43)
c) The three natural types of work of the vaisyas are ____________,
___________ and business.
d) The sudras’ prescribed duties are __________ and ___________. He should
follow the instruction of the other classes and he should not make any decisions
himself (without proper consultation).
e) How can others attain perfection through performing their own work? (verses
45-46)
5.State which modes these come under:
a) That knowledge which allows us to see equally the spirit soul in every living
being whether a demigod, demon, human, hog or plant. (verses 20-22)
b) That knowledge by which you see each body as a different living entity which
will die with the body. They consider the material body to be a living entity and
think consciousness dies with the body.(same as (a))
c) Knowledge dealing mainly with an animalistic life of eating, sleeping, mating or
defending, which is blind to spiritual realisation (without knowledge of truth).
(same as (a))
d) Action done from a sense of false ego (pride) with great longing and
hankering, with overendeavor. (verses 23-25)
e) Regulated occupational duties as prescribed in the scriptures, done without love or
hatred, without attachment. (same as (d))
f) Destructive work or whimsically done activities. (same as (d))
g) The worker who is disturbed by failure and elated (overjoyed) by his success.
(verses 26-28)
h) The worker who does his activties with great determination and enthusiasm.
(same as (g))
i) One who cheats, is expert in insulting others, is lazy, procrastinating, obstinate,
and works against the scriptures or does not care for the scriptures (whimsical).
(Same as (g))
j) According to one’s heart (consciousness), one gets a particular faith and a
particular understanding. The understanding by which one considers irreligion to
be religion and vice-versa, under the spell of illusion and darkness, does what
should not be done and has a misunderstanding of what is binding or liberating.
(verses 29-32)
k) That understanding by which one is confused about what ought to be done
and what ought not to be done, and what is religion and irreligion. (verses 29-32)
l) That happiness which in the beginning is like nectar but poison in the end, and
which is born of the contact of senses with the sense objects. (verses 36-39)
m) That happiness which is blind to self-realisation, and which is delusion from
the beginning to the end. (verses 36-39)
n) Happiness derived from seeing movies, especially fiction movies
Name : ____________________________________
o) Happiness derived from sleeping.
p) Happiness derived from sexual enjoyment.
q) Happiness derived from playing games.
r) Happiness derived from reading the scriptures.
s) The determination that cannot go beyond dreaming, fearfulness, lamentation,
moroseness and illusion. (verses 33-35)
t) The unbreakable determination for dharma, artha and kama. (verses 33-35)
u) The determination that I am not going to give up Krsna consciousness or the
association of the devotees at all. Whatever ill happens to me, I am going to follow at
all cost, chanting sixteen rounds and follow the four regulative principles. (verses
33-35)
6.a) What are the five principal subject matters discussed in the Bhagavad-gita?
(p.865, middle paragraph)
b) What instruction of Bhagavad-gita constitutes the supreme process of religion
and of morality?(p.864, middle part)
c) The ritual of religion (varnasram dharma and kama-kanda) may be considered
confidential part of knowledge, meditation and cultivation knowledge are still
more confidential. What is the most confidential instruction that constitutes the
essence of the Eighteenth Chapter? (p.864, second to last paragraph)
Time taken to complete the assignment : ______________