1.
Where do the teachings of Bhagavad-gītā originate from and how have they reached
us?
The Bhagavad-gītā is spoken by Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, to
Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukṣetra. Originally, it was passed down through disciplic
succession (paramparā) starting from Vivasvān (the sun-god), to Manu, to Ikṣvāku, and so
on. However, it was lost over time and was revived again by Kṛṣṇa personally to Arjuna.
2. What is the significance of paramparā? How does the disciplic succession become
broken?
Paramparā ensures that the teachings of Kṛṣṇa are passed on unchanged, with the same
spirit and understanding. The succession becomes broken when the essence is lost, when
speculation or misinterpretation creeps in, or when unqualified people claim to teach
without being authorized.
3. Even though so many editions of the Gītā in English were already present, why did Śrīla
Prabhupāda still write Bhagavad-gītā As It Is?
Most editions misinterpreted Kṛṣṇa's message, presenting Him as impersonal or merely
symbolic. Śrīla Prabhupāda wrote Bhagavad-gītā As It Is to present the original intent of
Lord Kṛṣṇa—that He is the Supreme Person and that the goal is devotional service (bhakti),
not impersonal liberation or material goals.
4. The Lord has many agents who can vanquish demons. Then why does He incarnate
personally?
The Lord incarnates to:
Protect His devotees (like Prahlāda Mahārāja and Devakī).
Annihilate the miscreants.
Re-establish dharma. He does this in many ways—through His incarnations
(avatāras), expansions, representatives, or His own presence depending on the
need.
5. Why are the appearance and disappearance of the Lord compared to the rising and
setting of the sun?
Just as the sun never actually sets or rises but simply becomes visible or invisible to our
vision, similarly, the Lord is eternally existing, but He appears and disappears according to
His will, not like ordinary living beings.
6. Contrast the peculiar nature of the birth of the Lord and that of human beings.
Humans take birth due to karma and past actions.
Kṛṣṇa takes birth out of His own sweet will (ājñā), not forced by karma. His birth is
divine (divyam)—He appears, not takes birth like conditioned souls.
7. How is Kṛṣṇa the “object of everyone’s realization” according to their desires?
Kṛṣṇa reciprocates according to the surrender of each person (BG 4.11).
To the devotee, He is the Supreme Lord.
To the impersonalist, He appears as Brahman.
To the yogī, He is Paramātmā. He allows each soul to realize Him in the way they
desire.
8. How does one become free from reactions while performing activities?
By performing actions as a sacrifice for Viṣṇu (BG 3.9), with no personal motive, and
offering the results to Kṛṣṇa, one becomes free from karmic reactions.
9. What is the process of learning from a spiritual master? What are the three aspects in
this process?
BG 4.34 explains the process:
Praṇipāta – Humble submission.
Paripraśna – Sincere inquiry.
Sevā – Rendering service. These three allow the disciple to receive transcendental
knowledge purely.
10. How does Śrīla Prabhupāda explain the obstacles of attachment, fear, and anger?
Attachment: To material things and bodily identification.
Fear: Of spiritual realization due to false ego.
Anger: When desires are frustrated. These block spiritual progress. One must
surrender to Kṛṣṇa and take shelter in bhakti-yoga to overcome them.
11. What is the purpose of the varṇāśrama institution? On what principle is it organized?
The purpose is to:
Enable society to function harmoniously.
Help individuals gradually progress in spiritual life. It’s based on guna (quality) and
karma (work)—not birth.
12. What is the purpose of sacrifice? Why are there different types of sacrifices in the
Vedas?
Sacrifice purifies the performer and connects them to the Supreme Lord. Different sacrifices
exist because people are at various levels of understanding. Eventually, all sacrifices should
lead to devotional service to Kṛṣṇa (BG 4.23-28).
13. What are the respective destinies of the faithful and the doubtful?
The faithful, who practice with devotion and knowledge, attain peace and liberation
The doubtful cannot progress spiritually and remain deluded, lost, and bound
