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Not really. War is definitely the context there as it is said that it was spoken during the war itself, but it lays out what to do at what time. It isn't ambigu

Not really. War is definitely the context there as it is said that it was spoken during the war itself, but it lays out what to do at what time. It isn't ambiguous enough so that anyone can interpret it in any way. It lays out the scenarios and just states what is right to do in that scenario.

sudosysgen 5y ago
The ambiguity lies in which scenario you're choosing as an analog to your present. And yes the Bhagavad Gita is great for justifying atrocities to the individual, hence why Himmler carried it around.
- Xplune13 5y ago
  No. As with everything else in life, context is important. One can easily just read it and then proceed to justify their doings using it if they either don't know or choose to ignore the context of it. Whole of Bhagvad Gita was spoken during the Mahabharata War. It contains some overall guidance i.e. it can be applicable to normal day life as well as situational guidance on the context of the going war.
  - wolfretcrap 5y ago
    In mahabharata war countless men died. It was all justified by someone who goes by name Krishna in ancient text. Krishna origin is questionable as he's not one person throughout his history but fusion of multiple personalities which existed in past. Krishna could as well be a master manipulator who convinced other's that God and him are actually just one. Many Kings of that time actually did try to become God the prime example was Pondrak who believed he's the real Vasudev. His version couldn't survive because he lost the battle against Krishna. Mahabharata is not useful to for an average person, reading it will not enlighten you or anything. It's not a guide on how to live your life, it has many flaws, questionable ethics and morality defined in the text, bringing God into it to make beyond contest. If it had anything of use, India where this religious text is most popular would be epicenter of good behavior, technological advancements, ethics and morality. Is it? No it's far away from it. Before anyone questions my religion, I am Hindu from north India (Uttarakhand Purohit clan to be specific)
    - cscurmudgeon 5y ago
      1. In the first sentence you talk about the Mahabharata war as it was real. 2. Then you discount Krishna being not real. Do you see the obvious logical contradiction? Btw, unlike Christianity, Hinduism doesn't rely on Mahabharta being real. So this angle is a common attack from Christians. Your previous comment: > 666 is number of the beast. I wonder how many thiest scientists would have refused to work on it if they were to use 666 Why would a non-Christian believe that? You are probably new to the site and don't know that people can see your past comments. Your language perfectly mirrors the one used by missionaries in India (studied at one such school but didn't get baptized).
    - Xplune13 5y ago
      India always had one of the biggest economies in the world before Industrial Revolution in the Europe. Expecting anything to be "epicentre of good behavior" is wrong to begin with because every person is different no matter what any text/information/knowledge the person has access to and ancient India (as that is what we're talking about here) did have stable economies as well as kingdoms. Was it perfect? No, because nothing is. India had pretty significant technological advancements and all you have to do is Google Search for it. You have absurd definition of "anything of use". If you want everything to be perfect, then bad luck, there isn't such place to go for you.
    - kbsspl 5y ago
      > It's not a guide on how to live your life, it has many flaws, questionable ethics and morality defined in the text, bringing God into it to make beyond contest. Can you please elaborate. >Before anyone questions my religion, I am Hindu from north India (Uttarakhand Purohit clan to be specific) What Vedanta school of interpretation are you talking about.
    - la6471 5y ago
      That’s the greatness of Bhargava’s Gita and Hinduism. You are absolutely entitled to your own opinion and questions. As did Arjuna who pestered Krishna with continuous questions in Bhargava’s Gita. Hinduism , more specifically Santayana Dharma is not based on commandments , it is based on questions and answers.
- iamshs 5y ago
  Recently, Indian Embassy official in US borrowed Bhagvad Gita terminology and called Steve Bannon as great “Dharmic warrior”. https://thediplomat.com/2017/02/steve-bannon-dharma-warrior-hindu-scriptures-and-the-worldview-of-trumps-chief-ideologue/ https://thediplomat.com/2017/02/steve-bannon-dharma-warrior-...
- eklavya 5y ago
  As a Hindu I would be very interested in parts of Gita which justify atrocities. I don’t understand how anybody would spread nonsense like that.
  - deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]
  - rramadass 5y ago
    There is a small book of 3 essays by B.R.Ambedkar under the name "Ambedkar's India" which you should read. It behooves us all Indians to understand how ancient texts, beliefs and rituals have been subverted to oppress people and legitimize it from a Man who lived and suffered through it all. PS: Book link - https://www.amazon.in/Ambedkars-India-B-R-Ambedkar/dp/9387022897/ref=sr_1_8?dchild=1&keywords=B.R.Ambedkar&qid=1630294273&sr=8-8 https://www.amazon.in/Ambedkars-India-B-R-Ambedkar/dp/938702...
iamshs 5y ago
War for Dharma, and you perfectly know everything can be called dharma in Hindu religious texts. Cleaning toilets, dharma for the subjugated caste Hindu; worshipping god - dharma for the dominant caste Hindu; fighting territorial war - dharma for the kshtriya. Dharma is central core of bhagvad gita and which renders it ambiguous and yet attractive to certain people. Define whatever as your dharma and you are on your way to do good. Modern Example: Steve Bannon was defined as Dharmic warrior by Indian Consul General to US.

sudosysgen 5y ago

The ambiguity lies in which scenario you're choosing as an analog to your present. And yes the Bhagavad Gita is great for justifying atrocities to the individual, hence why Himmler carried it around.

Xplune13 5y ago
No. As with everything else in life, context is important. One can easily just read it and then proceed to justify their doings using it if they either don't know or choose to ignore the context of it. Whole of Bhagvad Gita was spoken during the Mahabharata War. It contains some overall guidance i.e. it can be applicable to normal day life as well as situational guidance on the context of the going war.
- wolfretcrap 5y ago
  In mahabharata war countless men died. It was all justified by someone who goes by name Krishna in ancient text. Krishna origin is questionable as he's not one person throughout his history but fusion of multiple personalities which existed in past. Krishna could as well be a master manipulator who convinced other's that God and him are actually just one. Many Kings of that time actually did try to become God the prime example was Pondrak who believed he's the real Vasudev. His version couldn't survive because he lost the battle against Krishna. Mahabharata is not useful to for an average person, reading it will not enlighten you or anything. It's not a guide on how to live your life, it has many flaws, questionable ethics and morality defined in the text, bringing God into it to make beyond contest. If it had anything of use, India where this religious text is most popular would be epicenter of good behavior, technological advancements, ethics and morality. Is it? No it's far away from it. Before anyone questions my religion, I am Hindu from north India (Uttarakhand Purohit clan to be specific)
  - cscurmudgeon 5y ago
    1. In the first sentence you talk about the Mahabharata war as it was real. 2. Then you discount Krishna being not real. Do you see the obvious logical contradiction? Btw, unlike Christianity, Hinduism doesn't rely on Mahabharta being real. So this angle is a common attack from Christians. Your previous comment: > 666 is number of the beast. I wonder how many thiest scientists would have refused to work on it if they were to use 666 Why would a non-Christian believe that? You are probably new to the site and don't know that people can see your past comments. Your language perfectly mirrors the one used by missionaries in India (studied at one such school but didn't get baptized).
  - Xplune13 5y ago
    India always had one of the biggest economies in the world before Industrial Revolution in the Europe. Expecting anything to be "epicentre of good behavior" is wrong to begin with because every person is different no matter what any text/information/knowledge the person has access to and ancient India (as that is what we're talking about here) did have stable economies as well as kingdoms. Was it perfect? No, because nothing is. India had pretty significant technological advancements and all you have to do is Google Search for it. You have absurd definition of "anything of use". If you want everything to be perfect, then bad luck, there isn't such place to go for you.
  - kbsspl 5y ago
    > It's not a guide on how to live your life, it has many flaws, questionable ethics and morality defined in the text, bringing God into it to make beyond contest. Can you please elaborate. >Before anyone questions my religion, I am Hindu from north India (Uttarakhand Purohit clan to be specific) What Vedanta school of interpretation are you talking about.
  - la6471 5y ago
    That’s the greatness of Bhargava’s Gita and Hinduism. You are absolutely entitled to your own opinion and questions. As did Arjuna who pestered Krishna with continuous questions in Bhargava’s Gita. Hinduism , more specifically Santayana Dharma is not based on commandments , it is based on questions and answers.
iamshs 5y ago
Recently, Indian Embassy official in US borrowed Bhagvad Gita terminology and called Steve Bannon as great “Dharmic warrior”. https://thediplomat.com/2017/02/steve-bannon-dharma-warrior-hindu-scriptures-and-the-worldview-of-trumps-chief-ideologue/ https://thediplomat.com/2017/02/steve-bannon-dharma-warrior-...
eklavya 5y ago
As a Hindu I would be very interested in parts of Gita which justify atrocities. I don’t understand how anybody would spread nonsense like that.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
- rramadass 5y ago
  There is a small book of 3 essays by B.R.Ambedkar under the name "Ambedkar's India" which you should read. It behooves us all Indians to understand how ancient texts, beliefs and rituals have been subverted to oppress people and legitimize it from a Man who lived and suffered through it all. PS: Book link - https://www.amazon.in/Ambedkars-India-B-R-Ambedkar/dp/9387022897/ref=sr_1_8?dchild=1&keywords=B.R.Ambedkar&qid=1630294273&sr=8-8 https://www.amazon.in/Ambedkars-India-B-R-Ambedkar/dp/938702...

iamshs 5y ago

War for Dharma, and you perfectly know everything can be called dharma in Hindu religious texts. Cleaning toilets, dharma for the subjugated caste Hindu; worshipping god - dharma for the dominant caste Hindu; fighting territorial war - dharma for the kshtriya. Dharma is central core of bhagvad gita and which renders it ambiguous and yet attractive to certain people. Define whatever as your dharma and you are on your way to do good. Modern Example: Steve Bannon was defined as Dharmic warrior by Indian Consul General to US.