The Bhagavad Gita Short Answer/Multiple Choice

The Bhagavad Gita

Short Answer/Multiple Choice:

· Bhagavad Gita = “Song of the Lord”; part of the Hindu Scriptures

· Written in the form of a poem (18 chapters and 700 verses); part of the Sanskrit epic the Mahabharata

· Indian text most familiar to the West; second only to the Bible in terms of the number of times it has been translated

· Reason for the Gita’s universal appeal

· The meaning of ‘Karma’ (all actions involve inevitable consequences) and ‘Dharma’ (duty/responsibility)

· Tension between the action and how (in what spirit/manner)you do the action

· Three difficult questions the Gita asks (know any 2)

· Principal families (Kauravas & Pandavas) and characters – Arjuna, Krishna, Vishnu (know who they are/their role)

· Context of the Gita – moment of crisis in Arjuna’s mind and the conversation he has with Krishna on the brink of war

Essay:

· Explain the concepts of ‘discipline’, ‘dharma’ and ‘karma’ as seen in the given portions of the Gita. How similarly or differently are these concepts practiced in the world today (even if they are not known by those names)? Explain with specific examples.

· Compare and contrast the Gita with the Analects in terms of how both teach a person how to function in society. Which do you think offers better advice for today’s world and why?