MAHĀBHĀRATA
BACKGROUND
D–O–U–B–T
CHAPTER 1
BATTLEFIELD &
ARJUNA
FIVE BIG TOPICS
OF THE GĪTĀ
WISDOM FOR
EVERYDAY LIFE
100

This blind king asked Sañjaya what his sons and the sons of Pāṇḍu were doing at Kurukṣetra.

Who is Dhṛtarāṣṭra?

100

The letter D represents this challenge seen in Dhṛtarāṣṭra and Duryodhana.

What is Desire and Attachment?

100

The two armies assembled on this battlefield, where Kṛṣṇa spoke the Bhagavad-gītā to Arjuna.

What is Kurukṣetra?

100

This Sanskrit term means the Supreme Controller.

What is Īśvara?

100

This can prevent us from seeing the truth, even when it is obvious.

What is strong attachment?

200

These five brothers are the Pandavas.

Who are Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhīma, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva?

200

The letter O focuses on these warning signs on the battlefield, including the conchshell sounds.

What are Ominous Signs / Ominous Results?

200

This divine person served as Arjuna’s charioteer and was present on his side.

Who is Lord Kṛṣṇa?

200

This Sanskrit term refers to the living entity, the conscious self.

What is Jīva?

200

How should we understand Gita?

The Gītā should be understood according to Lord Krsna's instruction who speaks it, rather than changing the message to fit our ideas.

300

After 13 years of exile, the Pāṇḍavas reduced their request to just this many villages.

What are five villages?

300

The letter U describes Arjuna’s feelings when he sees teachers, elders, relatives, and friends on both sides.

What is Uncertainty?

300

This devotee and mighty hero appeared on Arjuna’s flag.

Who is Hanumān?

300

This Sanskrit term means material nature, including the body and material world.

What is Prakṛti?

300

This is the process of receiving spiritual knowledge.

What is authentic disciplic succession or parampara?

400

He went to Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s court as a peace messenger, but his proposal was rejected.

Who is Kṛṣṇa?

400

The letter B describes what happens when stress overwhelms Arjuna’s body and mind.

What is Bewilderment?

400

There are some of the physical & emotional symptoms that Arjuna experienced.

Trembling limbs, burning skin, and a dry mouth etc

400

This Sanskrit term refers to time, which brings change to material things.

What is Kāla?

400

What are the three types of miseries?

Adhyātmika (from our own body and mind), Adhidaivika (from natural disturbances), and Adhibhautika (from other living beings and society).

500

Duryodana and Arjuna chose these from Lord Krsna before the battle.

Narayani army and Krsna as a guide and charioteer

500

The letter T describes Arjuna’s decision to put down his bow and not fight.

What is the Turning Point?

500

Arjuna worried that fighting would cause this kind of harm in society

What are family destruction, irreligion & unwanted progeny?

500

This Sanskrit term means action or activity and consequences.

What is Karma?

500

The five eternal relationships with Kṛṣṇa

What are Śānta, Dāsya, Sakhya, Vātsalya, and Mādhurya?