Hapter: Closed Book Short
Hapter: Closed Book Short
Hapter: Closed Book Short
1. Give the English meanings of the words prakrti, purusa, and jneyam. (1)
2. Give the English meaning of ksetra-jnam (3)
3. Explain the analogy of the citizen and his patch of land. (3)
4. List five levels of brahma puccham pratiṣṭha as stated in the Taittireya Upanishad 2.9. (5)
5. List the 11 senses. (6-7)
6. List any four aspects of the Supersoul. (13-18)
7. What advice is given, by Krishna, to those who are not conversant in spiritual knowledge? (26)
8. Explain the analogy of how air enters into water, mud and stool etc. compared with living
entities. (33)
1. Explain how the living entity becomes entangled in the modes of nature with reference to BG
13.20-23, verses and purports.
2. Explain how the living entity is the cause of the various sufferings and enjoyments in this world.
Give reference to 13.21-22, verses and purports, in your response.
3. Explain with reference to verses and purports in Chapter 13, the relationship between the
material nature, individual soul and the Supersoul.
4. Contrast what constitutes ‘knowledge’ and ‘ignorance’ as per the Bhagavad-gita, with the
modern-day understanding of ‘knowledge’ and ‘ignorance’. Provide reference to verses and
purports purports from BG chapter 13 in your response.
CHAPTER 14
1. With reference to Bhagavad-Gita Chapter 14, verses and purports, discuss in your own words,
ways you are personally influenced by the modes of passion and ignorance practical ways you
can develop the mode of goodness.
2. Discuss the relevance of Krishna’s statements in BG 14.3-4 in relation to current social, moral,
scientific, and environmental issues. Give reference to BG 14.3-4., verses and purports in your
response.
3. Srila Prabhupada writes in purport to 14.17: ‛Even if the majority of the people aren’t happy
and prosperous, if a certain percentage of the population develops Krishna consciousness and
becomes situated in the mode of goodness, then there is the possibility for peace and
prosperity all over the world.‛ Discuss the significance of this statement for ISKCON, present
and future.
4. The present human civilization is, of course, grossly misled by the modes of passion and
ignorance. It is a very dangerous age, and all nations should take care to provide the easiest
process, Krishna consciousness, to save humanity from the greatest danger. Discuss this
statement in relation to Srila Prabhupada’s mission. Give reference to 14.16, verse and purport
in your response.
5. Present an overview of the three modes of material nature along with their symptoms and
identify contemporary examples of their influence with reference to BG chapter 14 verses and
purports in your response.
CHAPTER 15
1. Explain the process of freeing oneself from weaknesses of heart, with reference to 15.1-5,
verses and purports. Discuss the relevance of this process in your own practice of Krishna
consciousness.
2. Refute the argument that in the liberated state becomes one with the Supreme Lord. Give
reference to 15.7, verse and purport, in your response.
3. Srila Prabhupada writes: ‚the living entities also have fragmental portions of His qualities, of
which independence is one‛. Discuss the import of this statement, for preaching Krsna
consciousness, with reference to 15.7, verse and purport.
4. Explain the process of transmigration with reference to 15.8-10, verses and purports.
5. Explain the significance of Krishna’s statement, ‚From Me come remembrance, knowledge and
forgetfulness‛. Give reference to 15.15, verse and purport, in your response.
6. Present an overview of the banyan tree analogy explaining its relationship to the conditioning
of the modes of material nature, with reference to BG 15.1-7.
7. Discuss the relevance of Krishna’s statement ‘sa sarva-vid bhajati mam’ for personal and
preaching application. Give reference to 15.17-20, verses and purports, in your response.
CHAPTER 16
Closed Book Short
1. Select three divine qualities listed in 16.1-3, and discuss the importance of developing them for
a practitioner of Krishna consciousness. Discuss how cultivating these qualities effects one’s
capacity for spreading Krishna consciousness.
2. Select divine qualities listed in 16.1-3, and discuss challenges you face in developing them.
How has your study of this section of Bhagavad Gita practically helped you to overcome these
challenges? Give reference to BG Chapter 16, verses and purports in your response.
3. Identify examples of demoniac nature from current local and global issues. Give reference to
16.4-18, verses and purports in your response.
4. Present to a contemporary audience:
a. the three gateways to hell and importance of avoiding these
b. the necessity of following scriptural injunctions
5. Provide reference to BG 16.21-24 verses and purports in your response.
6. ‚One has to raise himself at least to the mode of goodness before the path to understanding
the Supreme Lord can be opened. Without raising oneself to the standard of the mode of
goodness, one remains in ignorance and passion, which are the cause of demoniac life.‛
Discuss this statement, in relation to the practice of Krishna consciousness, with reference to
BG Chapter 16, verses and purports.
CHAPTER 17
1. Give the English meaning of the phrase: ‚tri-vidha bhavati sraddha‛ (2)
2. List four results of eating food in the mode of goodness. (8)
3. List three characteristics of a sacrifice in the mode of ignorance.(13)
4. Austerity of the body consists of what eight items? (14)
5. Give the English meaning of svadhyaya abhyasanam. (15)
6. List 3 characteristics of penance performed in the mode of passion. (18)
7. List 3 symptoms of charity in the mode of goodness. (20)
CHAPTER 18
1. What do the wise call giving up the results of all activities? (2)
2. List 3 acts which should not to be given up even the great souls. (5)
3. List the five causes for the accomplishment of all action. (13-14)
4. Give 5 characteristics of a worker in the mode of ignorance. (28)
5. List three symptoms of happiness in the mode of goodness. (37)
6. List 5 qualities each, by which the brahmanas and kṣatriyas respectively work. (42-43)
7. List six symptoms of surrender in Sanskrit or English (66)
8. This confidential knowledge may never be explained to whom? (67)
1. Discuss why a sannyasi would encourage the marriage ceremony? Give reference to 18.5-7,
verses and purports, and examples from Srila Prabhupada’s life, in your response.
2. Analyze renunciation according to the modes of nature with reference to 18.7-12, verses and
purports, in your response.
3. Present to a contemporary audience, the five factors of action and the importance of this
understanding/the relevance that this understanding holds for us. Refer to BG 18.13-17 verses
and purports in your response.
4. Discuss the relevance, for preaching application, of Krishna’s analysis of knowledge in the
modes. Give reference to 18.20-22, verses and purports, in your response.
5. Discuss the relevance, for personal and preaching application, of Krishna’s analysis of
knowledge, action, worker, understanding and determination in the modes of nature with
reference to Bhagavad-Gita Chapter 18.19-35 verses & purports.
6. Discuss the relevance, for personal and preaching application, of Krishna’s analysis of
happiness in the modes. Give reference to 18.36-39, verses and purports, in your response.
7. Sometimes a merchant says, ‚Oh, my dear customer, for you I am making no profit...‛.Explain
the importance of this statement with reference to 18.46-48, verses and purports.
8. Summarize Krsna’s instructions to Arjuna in 18.55-66 and discuss their relevance for personal
and preaching application with reference to 18.55-66 verses and purports in your response.
9. Discuss the relevance for personal and preaching application, of Krsna’s instructions regarding
teaching and studying Bhagavad-gita with reference to BG 18.67-71 verses and purports.
10. Present BG 18.78 in a preaching context. Provide reference to the verse and statements from
Srila Prabhupada’s purports in your response.
1. Discuss how the explanation of the three modes of material nature given in Bhagavad-gita
helps you as a practicing devotee. Give reference to relevant verses and purports from BG
chapters 14, 17 & 18 in your response.
2. Summarize Krsna’s instructions regarding varnasrama-dharma in Bhagavad-gita, with
appropriate reference to verses and purports, and discuss their relevance for personal and
preaching application.
3. Summarize Krsna’s instructions regarding ananya-bhakti, with appropriate reference to
Bhagavad-gita verses and purports, and discuss their relevance for personal and preaching
application.