The purpose of the Bhagavad Geeta is to impart the Brahma Vidya

The purpose of the Bhagavad Geeta is to impart the Brahma Vidya

Innumerable are the sciences that have come into being in the march of time. New branches of them are taking shape day after day. Man’s knowledge in all its phases is rapidly on the increase. In the midst of this growing knowledge man is becoming vividly aware of another fact. The more he probes into the mystery of Nature, the more he is able to realize that the unexplored aspects of it happen to be numberless. What is already known is infinitesimal, and what is yet to be known is evidently infinite. This is the case with the scholar as well as with the beginner. Taking this limitation of the human intellect into account, an ancient sage raised a question: “What is it, knowing which, man need make no more search for knowledge? What is it, knowing which, the secrets of Nature do all become revealed?” Bold and indomitable enquiries were made. The doors of Nature were persistently knocked at. Relentless searches were made within and without. This superhuman attempt did not go in vain. The sages of yore had met with enormous success in their profound enquiry. They came face to face with Truth. They intuited the Basis of the elusive and fleeting phenomenal world.

The Substratum having been contacted, all mysteries got themselves revealed and explained. This knowledge of the Substratum is known as Brahma Vidya. It is eulogized in terms of other names as well. Theologians have their own terminologies applied to It. Sivajnanam, Atmabodham, Paravidya, Nirvikalpa Samadhi, Nirvanam—these are some of the appellations applied to It. The metaphysicians call It the Being in contrast with Nature, which because of its constant state of flux is called the Becoming.

The purpose of the Gita is to impart the Brahma Vidya, above everything else. Arjuna merely wanted to know whether he was to fight or beat a retreat. Instead of deciding the immediate issue, why did Sri Krishna digress into a dissertation on that profound subject? Yes, there was a supreme purpose behind it. Offering immediate solutions to immediate problems is one kind of enlightenment. But when ignorance is rooted out all problems get solved once for all. With the dawn of Brahma Vidya the mist of nescience vanishes. Sri Krishna chose to impart this Supreme Knowledge. Among the gifts bestowed on human beings, Brahma Vidya reigns supreme. When the recipient becomes worthy and competent, Enlightenment inevitably comes from the Supreme.

Source: Srimad Bhagavad Geeta-Commentary by Swami Chidbhavananda