Bhagavad-gita truly begins from the second chapter. Bhagavad-gita literally means the ‘Song of Bhagavan’ and Bhagavan means the Absolute Truth. Here for the first time in Bhagavad-gita, Shri Krishna is addressed as Bhagavan. According to Vedic scholars such as Parasara Muni, Bhagavan means one who possesses all wealth, strength, fame, beauty, knowledge and renunciation.
In modern times the influence of India's spiritual thought in America has taken leaps and bounds. Turbulent peace-seeking days of the sixties and seventies opened the doors for alternative thinking, and Spiritual India was welcomed with open arms.
Krishna is abhaya - beyond apprehension. By participation in His service there is no fear. Otherwise, mukti is like a strike in the organic system. That must be avoided. We have no right to misuse/abuse the service in a factory, or to declare a strike, that is cessation of service - both are abnormal.
Sannyasins who follow the philosophical path of acarya Sripada Sankara are now generally known as Vedantists. Those who follow the philosophical paths of Vaisnava acaryas such as acarya Sripada Ramanujacarya, Sripada Madhvacarya, Sripada Visnu-svami etc. are known as the Bhagavatas. The so-called Vedantists designate the followers of Vaisnava acaryas as Bhagavatas whereas for themselves they think that Vedanta philosophy is the monopoly subject matter for the studies of the Sankarites only. Following this principle, some other classes of sannyasins who are not recognized either by the Sankarites or by the Vaisnavites also designate themselves as Vedantists.
The original conception of prakrti (material nature) is that it is also conscious and personal. Maya is also conscious, in that, she also has got her personality. There is Brahma-loka and viraja. The viraja side is prakrti. Brahma means brhat - the prakrti as a whole. The ksana is the ray of bija (seed) sent by tal-linga bhagavan sambhuh. The ray is the linga from Maha-Visnu and that enters into viraja.
In the beginning of Srimad Bhagavad Gita’s fourth chapter, which is entitled Jnana-yoga (the yoga of knowledge), Bhagavan Sri Krishnacandra told Arjuna that previously He had instructed the sun-god on the topic of the perfection of nishkama-karma (activities without material desires) within jnana-yoga. The sun-god explained this knowledge to Manu, who in turn instructed Iksvaku. In this way the saintly kings obtained realisation of yoga via the parampara.
