Srimad BhagavadGita

Below is a summary of the knowledge delivered by Kṛṣṇa so far

Ślokas 2.1 to 2.10- An introduction to the Bhagavad Gītā.

Ślokas 2.11 to 2.30- Knowledge about the soul which is distinct from the body. Removal of Arjuna's

misplaced compassion (excessive compassion shown in areas where it should not be shown-

asthānakāruṇyaṃ) and resulting grief.

Ślokas 2.31 to 2.34- Removal of Arjuna's delusion of perceiving his dharma as adharma.

Ślokas 2.35 to 2.37- Removal of Arjuna's misplaced affection (excessive affection shown in areas where it

should not be shown- asthānasnehaṃ)

Śloka 2.38- How a person aiming for mokṣa should execute his sva-dharma (own duty based on class and

stage in life) In Arjuna's case it is his duty of fighting the war.

So far, Kṛṣṇa convinced Arjuna with many supporting reasons that he should not grieve. The first and foremost of the reasons explained was the reality about the soul. With this knowledge about the soul as the base, Kṛṣṇa now begins to instruct about 'karma yoga' which is a means to attain liberation. Moving on, HE will begin to instruct about jñāna yoga with the BG 2.55 śloka prajahāti yadā kāmān... Jñāna yoga is a result of the practice of karma yoga. The current śloka is the foundation for the knowledge of karma yoga which is going to be imparted by Kṛṣṇa. Here, Kṛṣṇa says to Arjuna, "This knowledge about the nature of the soul has been imparted to you so far. Now listen to the yoga concerning karmas. By performing karmas backed by this intelligence, your shall attain release from the bondage of saṃsāra caused by the karmas."

sāṇkhye yoge Some people assume these terms to be referring to the Sāṇkhya and Yoga philosophies which are not in accordance with the vedas. However, since there is no mention about these philosophies anywhere in the Bhagawad Gītā before or after this śloka and also since they do not fit into the current context, it is not right to assume so. The actual meaning is going to be presented now.

sāṇkhye buddhirmatiśca medhā saṇkhya saṃviddhirupalabdhiḥ From this statement it is known that

according to the Sanskṛt nighantu (similar to a thesaurus), the terms buddhi and saṇkhya are synonyms.

Therefore, the term 'saṇkhya' is used for buddhi (knowledge) and the reality about the soul which can be

known by this saṇkhya (buddhi) is referred to by the term 'sāṇkhya' here. Kṛṣṇa's teachings about the

nature of the soul from ślokas 2.12 to 2.30 further support the meaning given by us for the term

'sāṇkhya' here.

sāṇkhye eṣā buddhiḥ te abhihitā From the śloka na tvevāhaṃ BG 2.12 to na tvaṃ śocitum arhasi BG 2.30, that knowledge needed for knowing the inherent nature of the soul has been imparted to Arjuna.

Stated below are the references supporting the interpretation of the word sāṇkhya to be the soul entity.

-As it is the knowledge of the soul that is imparted first by Kṛṣṇa, it is apt for the word sāṇkhyam in this

context to refer to the 'soul entity'.

-From the statement puruṣaṃ nirguṇaṃ sāṇkhyaṃ Mānḍūkya Up, it is known that the knowable entity

Paramātma is referred to as sāṇkhyaṃ in the upanishads. Along the same lines the word 'sāṇkhyaṃ'

can be rightly used to refer to the knowable soul entity here (since the soul has been Kṛṣṇa's topic of

discussion here).

-In the ślokā jñāna yogena sāṇkhyānāṃ... B.G 3.3, in line with our interpreted of the word saṇkhya, the

meaning of the term saṇkhya is taken to be jñāna/buddhi and the practitioners of jñāna yoga are called 'The

Sāṇkhyas'. The contexts being different, in this chapter the word sāṇkhya refers to the knowable soul

and in Chapter 3 it refers to the practitioners of jñāna yoga endowed with this knowledge. It is a common

occurrence in the Bhagawad Gītā as well as other śāstras for the same word to have different meanings in

different contexts.

yoge (Related to this yoga (practical intelligence) The Buddhi (practical intelligence) which is required for the

performance of karmas backed by knowledge of the soul, which thus serve as the means of attaining

release from the bondage of saṃsāra, is referred to as 'yogaṃ' here. In the śloka dūreṇa hyavaraṃ

karma buddhi yogād BG 2.49 too (karmas performed without this buddhi are far too inferior to karmas

performed with this buddhi), the latter is referred to as buddhi yoga in line with our explanation.

yoge tu imām buddhiṃ śṛṇu (The knowledge related to this yoga (practical intelligence) is going to be

imparted now. Listen to it, O Arjuna!) Kṛṣṇa asks Arjuna to listen carefully to HIS teachings of this yoga

which is the knowledge with which the karmas must be executed. Since it is the yoga (union) of karmas with

buddhi, it is rightly named as karma yoga.

pārtha Son of mother Kunti who had this knowledge. She was named Pṛthā at birth.

yayā buddhyā yuktaḥ (tvam) karma-bandhaṃ prahāsyasi Hear about that buddhi upon acquiring which you will cast off your karma-bandhaṃ.

   karma-bandhaṃ The bondage with saṃsāra( bondage of appearing in the repeated cycles of birth and

death) caused due to our karmas (chain of our actions and their reactions) is called karma-bandhaṃ here. 

Summary:

Here, Kṛṣṇa tells Arjuna, “If you perform your duties like fighting the war, etc, with this buddhi that I will impart to you, you will be freed from the bondage of saṃsāra and attain mokṣa.