Questions in Bhagavad Gita: A Comprehensive List

Questions in Bhagavad Gita: A Comprehensive List

The Bhagavad Gita is one of the most highly respected books of the Hindus. It has been translated into almost every language in the world. It contains 700 shlokas. This text is part of the Mahabharata’s Bhishma Parva, which describes the first day of the battle when Bhishma was the commander-in-chief of the Kauravas. This separate book of 700 shlokas is a conversation between Arjuna and Bhagwan Krishna. It is in a question-and-answer format. Most of the questions were asked by Arjuna, but sometimes Krishna, in turn, asks questions in between and answers them. Here is the list of all the questions in the Bhagavad Gita. The chapter number and shloka number of each shloka are given. Based on your interest, you can look for the meaning and interpretation of these questions.

Bhagwat Gita Slokas with Questions

1. न काङ्क्षे विजयं कृष्ण न च राज्यं सुखानि च । किं नो राज्येन गोविन्द किं भोगैर्जीवितेन वा ॥1-32॥
2. एतान्न हन्तुमिच्छामि घ्नतोऽपि मधुसूदन । अपि त्रैलोक्यराज्यस्य हेतोः किं नु महीकृते ॥1-35॥
3. निहत्य धार्तराष्ट्रान्नः का प्रीतिः स्याज्जनार्दन । पापमेवाश्रयेदस्मान्हत्वैतानाततायिनः ॥1-36॥
4. कथं भीष्ममहं सङ्ख्ये द्रोणं च मधुसूदन । इषुभिः प्रतियोत्स्यामि पूजार्हावरिसूदन ॥2-4॥
5. अवाच्यवादांश्च बहून्वदिष्यन्ति तवाहिताः । निन्दन्तस्तव सामर्थ्यं ततो दुःखतरं नु किम् ॥2-36॥
6. स्थितप्रज्ञस्य का भाषा समाधिस्थस्य केशव । स्थितधीः किं प्रभाषेत किमासीत व्रजेत किम् ॥2-54॥
7. ज्यायसी चेत्कर्मणस्ते मता बुद्धिर्जनार्दन । तत्किं कर्मणि घोरे मां नियोजयसि केशव ॥3-1॥
8. सदृशं चेष्टते स्वस्याः प्रकृतेर्ज्ञानवानपि । प्रकृतिं यान्ति भूतानि निग्रहः किं करिष्यति ॥3-33॥
9. अथ केन प्रयुक्तोऽयं पापं चरति पूरुषः । अनिच्छन्नपि वार्ष्णेय बलादिव नियोजितः ॥3-36॥
10. अपरं भवतो जन्म परं जन्म विवस्वतः । कथमेतद्विजानीयां त्वमादौ प्रोक्तवानिति ॥4-4॥
11. किं कर्म किमकर्मेति कवयोऽप्यत्र मोहिताः । तत्ते कर्म प्रवक्ष्यामि यज्ज्ञात्वा मोक्ष्यसेऽशुभात् ॥4-16॥
12. संन्यासं कर्मणां कृष्ण पुनर्योगं च शंससि । यच्छ्रेय एतयोरेकं तन्मे ब्रूहि सुनिश्चितम् ॥5-1॥
13. योऽयं योगस्त्वया प्रोक्तः साम्येन मधुसूदन । एतस्याहं न पश्यामि चञ्चलत्वात्स्थितिं स्थिराम् ॥6-33॥
14. अयतिः श्रद्धयोपेतो योगाच्चलितमानसः । अप्राप्य योगसंसिद्धिं कां गतिं कृष्ण गच्छति ॥6-37॥
15. किं तद् ब्रह्म किमध्यात्मं किं कर्म पुरुषोत्तम । अधिभूतं च किं प्रोक्तमधिदैवं किमुच्यते ॥8-1॥
16. किं पुनर्ब्राह्मणाः पुण्या भक्ता राजर्षयस्तथा । अनित्यमसुखं लोकमिमं प्राप्य भजस्व माम् ॥9-33॥
17. अथवा बहुनैतेन किं ज्ञातेन तवार्जुन । विष्टभ्याहमिदं कृत्स्नमेकांशेन स्थितो जगत् ॥10-42॥
18. पितासि लोकस्य चराचरस्य त्वमस्य पूज्यश्च गुरुर्गरीयान् । न त्वत्समोऽस्त्यभ्यधिकः कुतोऽन्यो लोकत्रयेऽप्यप्रतिमप्रभाव ॥11-43॥
19. एवं सततयुक्ता ये भक्तास्त्वां पर्युपासते । ये चाप्यक्षरमव्यक्तं तेषां के योगवित्तमाः ॥12-1॥
20. कैर्लिङ्गैस्त्रीन्गुणानेतानतीतो भवति प्रभो । किमाचारः कथं चैतांस्त्रीन्गुणानतिवर्तते ॥14-21॥
21. ये शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य यजन्ते श्रद्धयान्विताः । तेषां निष्ठा तु का कृष्ण सत्त्वमाहो रजस्तमः ॥17-1॥
22. संन्यासस्य महाबाहो तत्त्वमिच्छामि वेदितुम् । त्यागस्य च हृषीकेश पृथक्केशिनिषूदन ॥18-1॥

Questions in Bhagwat Gita

Below are the questions implied or directly stated in the provided Bhagavad Gita slokas, derived from their context and meaning. Some slokas (e.g., 10-12, 11-15, 11-36, 11-43, 11-51, 18-73) do not contain direct questions but imply curiosity or wonder, which are framed as implicit questions based on Arjuna’s reactions or statements.

Chapter 1

1. Sloka 1-32: न काङ्क्षे विजयं कृष्ण न च राज्यं सुखानि च। किं नो राज्येन गोविन्द किं भोगैर्जीवितेन वा ॥
   • Question: “What is the use of a kingdom, enjoyment, or even life itself to us, O Govinda?”
2. Sloka 1-35: एतान्न हन्तुमिच्छामि घ्नतोऽपि मधुसूदन। अपि त्रैलोक्यराज्यस्य हेतोः किं नु महीकृते ॥
   • Question: “O Madhusudana, why should I kill them even for the sake of dominion over the three worlds, let alone this earth?”
3. Sloka 1-36: निहत्य धार्तराष्ट्रान्नः का प्रीतिः स्याज्जनार्दन। पापमेवाश्रयेदस्मान्हत्वैतानाततायिनः ॥
   • Question: “What pleasure would we derive from killing the sons of Dhritarashtra, infact we earn sin by killing these Aatataayis, O Janardana?”

Note: Aatataayi is sanskrit word it means 1. One who sets fire. 2. One who gives poison. 3. One who is armed with a weapon to kill. 4. One who takes away land. 5. One who takes away wealth. 4. One who takes away women. 7. A cruel person. A tyrant. A tormentor of people.

Chapter 2

1. Sloka 2-4: कथं भीष्ममहं सङ्ख्ये द्रोणं च मधुसूदन। इषुभिः प्रतियोत्स्यामि पूजार्हावरिसूदन ॥
   • Question: “How can I fight Bhishma and Drona with arrows in battle, O Madhusudana, when they are worthy of reverence?”
2. Sloka 2-36: अवाच्यवादांश्च बहून्वदिष्यन्ति तवाहिताः। निन्दन्तस्तव सामर्थ्यं ततो दुःखतरं नु किम् ॥
   • Question: “What could be more painful than enemies speaking ill of your prowess?”
3. Sloka 2-54: स्थितप्रज्ञस्य का भाषा समाधिस्थस्य केशव। स्थितधीः किं प्रभाषेत किमासीत व्रजेत किम् ॥
   • Question: “What is the description of a man of steady wisdom who is settled in Samadhi, O Keshava? How does he speak, sit, and move?”

Chapter 3

1. Sloka 3-1: ज्यायसी चेत्कर्मणस्ते मता बुद्धिर्जनार्दन। तत्किं कर्मणि घोरे मां नियोजयसि केशव ॥
   • Question: “If you consider intelligence superior to action, O Janardana, then why do you engage me in this terrible action, O Keshava?”
2. Sloka 3-33: सदृशं चेष्टते स्वस्याः प्रकृतेर्ज्ञानवानपि। प्रकृतिं यान्ति भूतानि निग्रहः किं करिष्यति ॥
   • Question: “What can restraint do when even the wise act according to their nature?”
   • Context: Krishna says what is the effectiveness of controlling actions when nature dominates behavior?
3. Sloka 3-36: अथ केन प्रयुक्तोऽयं पापं चरति पूरुषः। अनिच्छन्नपि वार्ष्णेय बलादिव नियोजितः ॥
   • Question: “By what is a man impelled to commit sin, O Varshneya, even against his will, as if forced?”
   • Context: Arjuna asks what force drives humans to sin despite their reluctance.

Chapter 4

1. Sloka 4-4: अपरं भवतो जन्म परं जन्म विवस्वतः। कथमेतद्विजानीयां त्वमादौ प्रोक्तवानिति ॥
   • Question: “How am I to understand that you taught this [yoga] in the beginning, when your birth is later and Vivasvan’s is earlier?”
   • Context: Arjuna questions how Krishna, born later, could have taught the Sun God long ago.
2. Sloka 4-16: किं कर्म किमकर्मेति कवयोऽप्यत्र मोहिताः। तत्ते कर्म प्रवक्ष्यामि यज्ज्ञात्वा मोक्ष्यसेऽशुभात् ॥
   • Question: “It is not question but a statement. What is action, and what is inaction even the wise are confused about this? There I declare that as Karma by knowing wich you become free from unauspiciousness”

Chapter 5

1. Sloka 5-1: संन्यासं कर्मणां कृष्ण पुनर्योगं च शंससि। यच्छ्रेय एतयोरेकं तन्मे ब्रूहि सुनिश्चितम् ॥
   • Question: “Which is better—renunciation of actions or the yoga of action, O Krishna? Tell me definitively.”

Chapter 6

1. Sloka 6-33: योऽयं योगस्त्वया प्रोक्तः साम्येन मधुसूदन। एतस्याहं न पश्यामि चञ्चलत्वात्स्थितिं स्थिराम् ॥
   • Question: “O Madhusudana, This Samyata Yoga that you have talked about, I do not see it to be a permanent state because of the fickle nature of the mind?”
   • Context: Arjuna questions the practicality of maintaining steady yoga given the mind’s instability.
2. Sloka 6-37: अयतिः श्रद्धयोपेतो योगाच्चलितमानसः। अप्राप्य योगसंसिद्धिं कां गतिं कृष्ण गच्छति ॥
   • Question: “What fate befalls one who has faith but falls from yoga without attaining perfection, O Krishna?”

Chapter 8

1. Sloka 8-1: किं तद् ब्रह्म किमध्यात्मं किं कर्म पुरुषोत्तम। अधिभूतं च किं प्रोक्तमधिदैवं किमुच्यते ॥
   • Question: “What is Brahman, what is Adhyatma, what is Karma, O Purushottama? What is Adhibhuta, and what is Adhidaiva?”
   • Context: Arjuna seeks definitions of key metaphysical concepts from Krishna.

Chapter 9

1. Sloka 9-33: किं पुनर्ब्राह्मणाः पुण्या भक्ता राजर्षयस्तथा। अनित्यमसुखं लोकमिमं प्राप्य भजस्व माम् ॥
   • Question: Krishna says “If even the fallen, who later devoted to me, can reach me, then what to say of the holy Brahmins, pious devotee and devoted royal sages?
2. Sloka 10-42: अथवा बहुनैतेन किं ज्ञातेन तवार्जुन। विष्टभ्याहमिदं कृत्स्नमेकांशेन स्थितो जगत् ॥
   • Question: “What need is there to know all this in detail? O Arjuna I exist, supporting this whole world by one part of Myself.”
3. Sloka 11-43: पितासि लोकस्य चराचरस्य त्वमस्य पूज्यश्च गुरुर्गरीयान्। न त्वत्समोऽस्त्यभ्यधिकः कुतोऽन्यो लोकत्रयेऽप्यप्रतिमप्रभाव ॥
   • Question: “You are the Father of this world, moving and unmoving. You are adored by this world, as the greatest Guru; (for) none there exists who is equal to you; how then could there be another superior to you in the three worlds?”

Chapter 12

1. Sloka 12-1: एवं सततयुक्ता ये भक्तास्त्वां पर्युपासते। ये चाप्यक्षरमव्यक्तं तेषां के योगवित्तमाः ॥
   • Question: “Who are the better yogis—those who worship you devotedly or those who worship the imperishable unmanifest?”

Chapter 14

1. Sloka 14-21: कैर्लिङ्गैस्त्रीन्गुणानेतानतीतो भवति प्रभो। किमाचारः कथं चैतांस्त्रीन्गुणानतिवर्तते ॥
   • Question: “O Prabho, by what signs is one, who has gone beyond these three alities, is idemtified? What is his behaviour, and how does he transcend these three alities?”

Chapter 17

1. Sloka 17-1: ये शास्त्रविधिमुत्सृज्य यजन्ते श्रद्धयान्विताः। तेषां निष्ठा तु का कृष्ण सत्त्वमाहो रजस्तमः ॥
   • Question: “What is the position of those who perform sacrifices with faith but ignore scriptural rules, O Krishna—is it sattva, rajas, or tamas?”

Chapter 18

1. Sloka 18-1: संन्यासस्य महाबाहो तत्त्वमिच्छामि वेदितुम्। त्यागस्य च हृषीकेश पृथक्केशिनिषूदन ॥
   • Question: “O mighty-armed Hrishikesha, O slayer of Kesi, I want to know the essence of renunciation and sacrifice separately.?”

Translation and Commentry on Bhagwat Gita

is available at https://www.gitasupersite.iitk.ac.in/srimad/

• Hindi Translation By Swami Ramsukhdas
• Hindi Translation By Swami Tejomayananda
• Hindi Translation Of Sri Shankaracharya’s Sanskrit Commentary By Sri Harikrishnadas Goenka
• Sanskrit Commentary By Sri Shankaracharya
• Hindi Commentary By Swami Chinmayananda
• Hindi Commentary By Swami Ramsukhdas
• Sanskrit Commentary By Sri Abhinavgupta
• Sanskrit Commentary By Sri Ramanujacharya
• Sanskrit Commentary By Sri Anandgiri
• Sanskrit Commentary By Sri Jayatirtha
• Sanskrit Commentary By Sri Madhvacharya
• Sanskrit Commentary By Sri Vallabhacharya
• Sanskrit Commentary By Sri Madhusudan Saraswati
• Sanskrit Commentary By Sri Sridhara Swami
• Sanskrit Commentary By Sri Vedantadeshikacharya Venkatanatha
• Sanskrit Commentary By Sri Purushottamji
• Sanskrit Commentary By Sri Neelkanth
• Sanskrit Commentary By Sri Dhanpati
• English Commentary By Swami Sivananda
• English Translation By Swami Sivananda
• English Translation By Purohit Swami
• English Translation By Swami Gambirananda
• English Translation Of Sri Shankaracharya By Swami Gambirananda
• English Translation By Dr. S. Sankaranarayan
• English Translation of Abhinavgupta’s Sanskrit Commentary By Dr. S. Sankaranarayan
• English Translation of Ramanujacharya’s Sanskrit Commentary By Swami Adidevananda
• English Translation By Swami Adidevananda