Glories of Reading Bhagavad-gita
Hare Krishna
Glories of Reading Bhagavad-gita
Bhagavad-gita is also known as Gitopanishad. It is the essence of Vedic knowledge and one of the most important Upanishads in Vedic literature.
gitadhyayana-shilasya pranayama-parasya ca
naiva santi hi papani purva-janma-krutani ca
"If one reads Bhagavad-gita very sincerely and with all seriousness, then by the grace of the Lord the reactions of his past misdeeds will not act upon him." (Gita-mahatmya 2).
Because Bhagavad-gita is spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one need not read any other Vedic literature. One need only attentively and regularly hear and read Bhagavad-gita. In the present age, people are so absorbed in mundane activities that it is not possible for them to read all the Vedic literatures. But this is not necessary. This one book, Bhagavad-gita, will suffice, because it is the essence of all Vedic literatures and especially because it is spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.(Gita-mahatmya 4)
A person who studies the Gita during holy festival days especially the fasting day known as Ekadashi – such a person, whether awake or asleep, moving or still, is never defeated by enemies.
One who recites the Bhagavad-gita in the presence of the Deity Salagrama-sila, or in a temple of the Supreme Lord, or a temple of Lord Siva, at a holy place of pilgrimage or on the bank of a holy river – such a person becomes qualified to become the recipient of all good fortune.
The son of Devaki, the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna, cannot be satisfied by anyone’s study of the Vedas, charity, sacrifice, pilgrimage, or vows, as much as He is satisfied by the devotional recitation of the Gita.
The study of the Vedas and Puranas – verily, the study of all scriptures is completed in all respects by one who studies the Gita with devotion.
The highest perfection of life is attained by one who recites the Gita at a place where yoga meditation is performed, at an exalted holy place, before the Salagrama-sila, and during the performance of a sacrifice, and especially, in the association of devotees.
Great sacrifices such as the Ashvamedha, along with their remunerations are naturally achieved by one who daily hears and recites the Gita.
One who attentively hears and sings the glories of the purport of the Gita, or reiterates that purport to others – such a person attains to the supreme destination.
The misery caused by a curse or black rites can never enter into that house where the Gita is worshipped.
In that house, there is never any suffering from the threefold miseries, nor is there ever fear of any type of sickness, curse, sin or misfortune.
In that house, no one is ever born with an infected or deformed body; and those residing there achieve exclusive and continuous devotion in the mood of servitorship to the Lotus feet of Lord Krishna.
A person who is devoted to studying the Gita acquires a friendly disposition to all living beings, despite his accruing the reactions of his previous actions in this world.
That person is liberated and happy. Although acting in this world, he is not implicated. Even if by chance a person who studies the Gita happens to commit extremely horrible sin, he cannot be affected by that, just as a lotus leaf cannot be touched by even a drop of water.
Sin arising from offensive behavior or speech, the offence of eating forbidden things, and sinful activities incited by the senses and committed knowingly or unknowingly in daily routine activities – all kinds of sins are at once eradicated by devotional recitation of the Gita.
The protectors of the body, in the form of demigods, Rsis, or yogis, all reside within the body of one who constantly studies the Gita, and they are even present at the demise of his body.
With supreme ecstasy, the Supreme Lord Krishna and His divine consort Sri Radhika are graciously present wherever the conception of the Gita scripture is discussed, studied, and taught.
One should recite at least half the Gita if he is unable to recite the entire text at one time. Then without a doubt, one achieves the piety which is accrued from donating cows in charity to worthy recipients.
One will achieve the fruit of the Soma sacrifice by reciting one-third of the Gita, and the result of bathing in the holy river Ganga is achieved by uttering one-sixth of it.
One who regularly recites two of its chapters with full conviction, will without a doubt attain to residence in the planet of Lord Indra for one millennium (kalpa).
One who recites with devotion one chapter daily is perpetually taken to be on a par with the gods known as Rudra, and he thus attains to the planet of Lord Siva.
A person who regularly recites one-half or one-quarter chapter will achieve residence in the sun planet for duration of one hundred Manus.
A person who faithfully recites ten, seven, five, three, two, one, or even only half a verse of this Gita, will attain to residence on the moon for ten thousand years.
By uttering or hearing the purport of the Gita at the time of death even a gravely sinful person becomes entitled to liberation.
Certainly all actions performed along with the recitation of the Gita become purified and are then accomplished to perfection.
A person who recites the Gita in the performance of obsequial ceremonies (sraddha) satisfies his forefathers. Departing from hell, they ascend to heaven.
