What is the Bhagavad-gītā? The Bhagavad-gītā is the word of God in person.
It is the divine conversation between a man called Arjuna and God Himself: in the human
form, Lord Kṛṣṇa. The conversation took place in Kurukṣetra, India, more than 5000 years
ago. Bhagavad-gītā answers the all important questions of: who are we? Who is God? Why
do we suffer? Is there life after death? Is there life on other planets? How do we become
and remain happy in this and the next life? How can we attain the kingdom of God? This
is a narration of the Bhagavad-gītā verses published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust
International, Los Angeles. English translation of the Sanskrit verses by His Divine Grace
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Svāmī Prabhupāda, narrated by Titikṣava Kāruṇika dāsa, produced by Kamlesh
Patel of karamsad.com One may ask, what led to the great war on
the battlefield of Kurukṣetra, where the Bhagavad-gītā was spoken. More than 5000 years ago, the
great king Vicitravīrya passed away. Because his eldest son, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, was born blind,
and thus no fit to rule, Pāṇḍu, the younger son, inherited the kingdom. After the death
of King Pāṇḍu, the five sons of King Pāṇḍu became the lawful inheritors of the kingdom.
But as the Pāṇḍavas were just still boys, Dhrtarasta assumed the throne for himself.
Dhṛtarāṣṭra had 100 sons known as the Kauravas. When the Pāṇḍavas came of age, and were ready
to rule the kingdom, they did not want the entire kingdom for themselves which was rightfully
theirs. They were willing to share the kingdom with their cousins. Thus, the kingdom was
divided into two halves: between the Pāṇḍavas and the Kauravas. Duryodhana, the eldest of
the Kauravas, was not satisfied with his share. He wanted to enjoy the entire kingdom for
himself. He made several attempts to kill the Pāṇḍavas, but was unsuccessful. He then
unlawfully took possession of the entire kingdom and forced the Pāṇḍavas into exile. The Pāṇḍavas
then requested just five villages: one for each brother. To this, Duryodhana replied
that he would not give them enough land to stick a pin into. Lord Kṛṣṇa pleaded for a
non-violent and peaceful resolution for the land dispute, but Duryodhana rejected him
and declared war on the Pāṇḍavas. The big war of Mahābhārata was thus inevitable. In
preparation for the war, both Duryodhana and Arjuna approached Lord Kṛṣṇa for help. Kṛṣṇa,
as God Himself, would not turn away anyone who approaches Him for help: be they good
or wicked. Lord Kṛṣṇa offered His entire army to one side and Himself as an advisor to the
other side. Duryodhana snapped at Lord Kṛṣṇa's army and Arjuna was eager for the Lord Himself
as an advisor. Thus, Lord Kṛṣṇa became the advisor and charioteer for Arjuna. Arjuna
faced a dilemma on the battlefield: whether to fight for his rights or run away from the
war and let the wicked and evil sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra rule the kingdom.