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Gitārthasaṅgraha

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

By Swami Harshananda

Gitārthasaṅgraha literally means ‘an abridgement of the essentials of the Gītā’.

Author[edit]

Though the Viśiṣṭādvaita Vedānta philosophy has been expounded and elaborated by Rāmānuja (A. D. 1017-1137), the contribution of his predecessors was considerable. Among them Yāmunācārya (A. D. 918-1038) was the most celebrated. He wrote three works in Sanskrit, out of which the Gītārthasañgraha is also the one.

Contents[edit]

Gītārthasañgraha has only 32 ślokas or verses summarizing the whole Bhagavadgītā. On this scripture, two commentaries are also available:

  1. Gitārthasañgraha raksā by Vedānta Deśika (A. D. 1268-1370)
  2. Gītārthasañgraha dīpikā by Varavara Muni (A. D. 1370-1443)

Verse 1-2[edit]

This verse declares that God, the Supreme, is Nārāyaṇa and he can be attained by only bhakti or devotion.

Verses 3-5[edit]

These verses state that the Gītā can be divided into three ṣaṭkas or triads of 6 chapters each.

First Saṭka[edit]

This ṣaṭka comprises of chapters 1-6. It states that ātmānubhuti or self-realization can come through the performance of:

  1. Desire less action - niṣkāma karma
  2. Knowledge - jñāna
  3. Meditation - yoga

Second Satka[edit]

It states that Bhaktiyoga results from Karmayoga and Jñānayoga. It is the means for realizing God and gives some details about it.

Third Satka[edit]

It deals with the rest of the relevant topics which serve the previous two ṣaṭkas. It gives some details of:

  1. Pradhāna or prakṛti - matter
  2. Puruṣa - the individual self
  3. Īśvara - God
  4. Disciplines related to jñāna - knowledge
  5. Disciplines related to bhakti - devotion
  6. Disciplines related to karma - work

Verses 5-22[edit]

The verses 5 to 22 very briefly gives the gist of the eighteen chapters of the Gītā. It explains the gist of each chapter individually.

Verses 23-32[edit]

The ideas spread over the rest of these ten verses can be summarized as follows:

  • Karmayoga is performing austerity (tapas), undertaking pilgrimages (tīrtha-yātrā), doing sacrifices and other similar activities.
  • Bhaktiyoga is meditation on God with love.
  • Obligatory (nityakarma) and occasional (naimittika-karma) works are associated with all the yogas.
  • Removal of nescience (ajñāna) leads to the realization of the Self (the ātman).
  • Practicing supreme devotion (parābhakti) towards God will help the aspirant to attain the world of God.
  • Bhaktiyoga can give the aspirant whatever he wants, temporary prosperity or eternal salvation (kaivalya).
  • The man of supreme knowledge is also a man of supreme devotion since they coalesce in the final stage.
  • All his activities are directed only to please God under all circumstances.
  • The perfect being finds his supreme satisfaction in several acts connected with devotion to God such as:
  1. Meditation
  2. Speaking about him
  3. Bowing down to him
  4. Singing his praises
  5. Etc.

References[edit]

  • The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore

Contributors to this article

Deval Sancheti

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