People are often puzzled with questions like - What is Bhagavad-gita, why should I read it? What can I achieve by understanding it? Being perplexed and unable to find a strong reason, they lose the most fortunate opportunity to read this divine literature. Can there be a good reason for not reading the Gita? No! Because the message that Bhagavad-gita conveys, touches every aspect of life and solves problems forever. Four important reasons can be...
Reason 1: Nothing further remains to be known.
Bhagavad-Gita has complete answers for all questions of life like – How was the world created? A hundred 100 years ago, where was I? Who am I? What is my true identity? After 100 years, where will I be? Who is God? What is the purpose of this world? What is my duty?
These kinds of questions are expected from all intelligent human beings, and answers to these questions lead oneself to the highest perfection. Therefore, Lord Krishna says to Arjuna in BG 7.2- "I shall now declare unto you in full this knowledge both phenomenal (this material world) and noumenal (spiritual world), by knowing which there shall remain nothing further to be known."
Modern scientists are doing enormous research work for knowledge. But, if one understands Bhagavad-Gita, nothing further remains to be known.
Reason 2: Grants immortality and solves all problems of life.
Bhagavad-Gita keeps an end to all problems of life, including those which no one can solve. For example, the solution to stop the cycle of birth & death.
BG 4.9 - "One who knows the transcendental nature of My (Krishna) appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode (Spiritual world), O Arjuna."
BG 8.5- "And whoever, at the time of death, quits his body, remembering Me (Krishna) alone, at once attains My nature (Spiritual world). Of this, there is no doubt."
Bhagavad-Gita not only gives solutions to prominent problems like death but also all kinds of issues (personal, social, national, international). Srila Prabhupada says- " I have experienced that this Krishna Consciousness movement or to present the philosophy of the 'Bhagavad-Gita-as it is', can solve all problems of the world."
Reason 3: Secrets to the highest perfection of life.
Lord Krishna says - BG 9.1, 9.2 - "My dear Arjuna because you are never envious of Me, I shall impart to you this most secret wisdom, knowing which you shall be relieved of the miseries of material existence. This knowledge is the king of education, the most secret of all secrets."
By learning under the direction of a bona fide spiritual master like Srila Prabhupada, one quickly understands secrets & shortcuts. Once, Srila Prabhupada was asked, "There are many editions of Bhagavad-Gita in the market, which one to read?" Srila Prabhupada replied that one could understand the real purport of Krishna’s words only through His bona fide representative in the disciplic succession and there is no other way.
Therefore, Srila Prabhupada, the 32nd Acharya of Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya sampradaya, for our benefit, wrote a commentary called “Bhagavad-Gita, As It Is” and presented the message of Krishna without any compromise and changes.
Reason 4: Lifts us to the spiritual dimension
Bhagavad-gita is the essence of the entire Vedic wisdom and is called Gitopanishad. Bhagavad-gita uplifts our standard of thinking, perspectives. The same circumstances, situations which are bothering & overwhelming us become teeny & insignificant. For example, Arjuna was deeply afflicted and confused, but, after hearing Bhagavad-Gita, he was entirely transformed.
BG 18.73- "Arjuna said, my dear Krishna, O infallible one, my illusion is now gone. I have regained my memory by Your mercy, and I am now firm and free from doubt." This statement signifies that Arjuna with the help of Bhagavad-Gita reached the spiritual platform where there cannot be any dilemmas, impediments.
It is impossible for a person living in modern society to thoroughly read and comprehend the Vedas. But, the goal of the entire Vedic literature which is to elevate us to spiritual existence and understand Krishna is reached just by understanding Bhagavad-Gita.
