Although widely published and read, 182

the Bhagavad Gita first appears as a narrative in the Sanskrit epic Mahabharata. The Mahabharata recounts the events leading up to the present Kali Yuga. At the beginning of this Yuga, nearly five thousand years ago, Lord Krishna spoke the Bhagavad Gita to his friend and devotee Arjuna.

This sermon, one of the greatest philosophical and religious discourses known to man, was delivered to the hundred sons of Dhritarashtra and their companions, the Pandavas (sons of King Pandu), before the start of the great fratricidal war.

The brothers Dhritarashtra and Pandu were born in the Kuru dynasty, descended from King Bharata, who had ruled the earth in the past. The name Mahabharata comes from King Bharata. Since the eldest brother Dhritarashtra was born blind, the throne that was due to him was given to his brother Pandu.

When King Pandu died at a young age, his five sons, Dharmaraja, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, and Sahadeva, temporarily came under the protection of King Dhritarashtra. Thus, the sons of Dhritarashtra and the sons of King Pandu grew up in the same palace. Both were trained in the arts of war by the skilled Drona and were guided by the venerable Bhishma Pita.

However, Dhritarashtra’s sons, especially the eldest, Duryodhana, hated the Pandavas and could not bear it. The blind and evil-minded Dhritarashtra wanted his own sons to inherit the kingdom, not the descendants of Pandu.

Thus, with the consent of Dhritarastra, Duryodhana conspired to kill the Pandavas. But the Pandavas escaped many attempts on their lives due to the protection of their uncle Vidura and their nephew Krishna.

Now, Lord Krishna is not an ordinary human being, but a real God who has incarnated on a dharani and is playing the role of a king in a contemporary dynasty. In that role, he is also like the nephew of Kunti, the wife of King Pandu (the mother of the Pandavas). Therefore, as a relative and an eternal protector of righteousness, Lord Krishna blessed and protected the righteous Pandavas.

However, the clever Duryodhana finally invited the Pandavas to a game of gambling. In that disastrous game, Duryodhana and his brothers won the Pandava wife, the chaste Draupadi, and tried to humiliate her by stripping her naked in front of the assembly of princes and kings. Only the divine grace of Lord Krishna saved her then. But the magic of gambling destroyed the Pandavas’ kingdom and sent them to exile for thirteen years.

After returning from exile, the Pandavas righteously asked Duryodhana for their kingdom. But he stubbornly refused. The five Pandavas, who were determined to serve as kings in the administration of the people, narrowed their request to five cities. But Duryodhana stubbornly replied that he would not give them even a space big enough to fit a needle. Vedari Dhota

While all this was happening, the Pandavas had been patient and tolerant. But now war seemed inevitable.

However, all the kings of the world were divided, some sided with the sons of Dhritarashtra, while others sided with the Pandavas. Lord Krishna himself went to Dhritarashtra’s court as an ambassador on behalf of the sons of Pandu and sought peace.

His request was denied and the war was then decided. “This

The Pandavas, who were the embodiment of the highest virtue, recognized Lord Krishna as the God of Gods. However, the wicked sons of Dhritarashtra did not do so. However, Lord Krishna agreed to enter the war as per the wishes of the atheists. As God, He was not going to fight the war Himself, but those who wanted could use Lord Krishna’s army. On the other hand, they could get Lord Krishna himself as an advisor and helper. Then Duryodhana, a statesman, took over Krishna’s army. However, the Pandavas, with equal enthusiasm, got Lord Krishna himself.

Accordingly, Lord Krishna was prepared to drive the famous bowless chariot and Arjuna became the charioteer. Both the sides, ready for war, strategically