ICVE-BG - CH 4-6-Handbook
ICVE-BG - CH 4-6-Handbook
ICVE-BG - CH 4-6-Handbook
4.6 His appearance and disappearance are like the sun's rising, moving before
us, and then disappearing from our eyesight. When the sun is out of sight,
we think that the sun is set, and when the sun is before our eyes, we think
that the sun is on the horizon. Actually, the sun is always in its fixed
position,
4.14 He is aloof from the material actions and reactions. For example, the
rains are not responsible for different types of vegetation that appear on the
earth, although without such rains there is no possibility of vegetative
growth.
4.21 As a machine part requires oiling and cleaning for maintenance, so a
Kåñëa conscious man maintains himself by his work just to remain fit for
action in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. He is therefore
immune to all the reactions of his endeavors.
4.24 For example, a patient who is suffering from a disorder of the bowels
due to overindulgence in milk products is cured by another milk product,
namely curds. The materially absorbed conditioned soul can be cured by
Kåñëa consciousness as set forth here in the Gétä
5.10 One who performs his duty without attachment, surrendering the
results unto the Supreme Lord, is unaffected by sinful action, as the lotus leaf
is untouched by water.
5.15 The Lord is the constant companion of the living entity as Paramätmä,
or the Supersoul, and therefore He can understand the desires of the
individual soul, as one can smell the flavor of a flower by being near it.
6.34 The individual is the passenger in the car of the material body, and
intelligence is the driver. Mind is the driving instrument, and the senses are
the horses.
6.34 Mind is so strong and obstinate that it often overcomes even one‖s own
intelligence, as an acute infection may surpass the efficacy of medicine.
CLOSED-BOOK EXAMS Question
Bank
CHAPTER 4
Short Answer Questions
1. Describe the divine nature of lord Krishna's appearance based on 4.5-
10.
2. Explain the analogy Srila Prabhupada gives in 4.6 to explain how the
Lord appears in every millennium in His original transcendental form?
(4.6)
3. List the six kinds of avataras. (4.8)
4. List the eight steps from sraddha to prema, in English or Sanskrit.
(4.10)
5. List the 12 mahajanas. (4.16)
6. Explain, giving examples for each, the distinction between ‘karma’,
‘akarma’ & ‘vikarma’ in relation to the practice of Krishna bhakti, as
discussed by Sri Krishna in 4.17-18.
7. What is the purpose of sacrifices? What is the effective way to attain
spiritual knowledge? (4.30- 42)
Long Answer
1. Present a summary of Bhagavad-Gita Chapter 4, identifying the main
philosophical concepts, sections of verses, and how they connect.
2. Discuss three statements from Bhagavad-Gita, chapter 4, that reflect
Srila Prabhupada’s mood and mission.
CHAPTER 5
Short Answer Questions
1. Describe the characteristics of yoga yukta. (5.7-11)
2. Give the explanation of the phrase phalam tyaktva santim apnoti
naisthikim. (5.12)
3. Who are the three doers and how? (5.13-16)
4. List the nine gates of the body. (5.13)
5. Explain the analogy of smelling the flower. (5.15)
6. Describe the equal vision of a self-realized person. (5.18)
7. Why is sense enjoyment distressful and how to deal with it? (5.22-
23)
8. Write Sloka 5.29 and explain.
Long Answer
1. Present a summary of Bhagavad-Gita Chapter 5, identifying main
philosophical concepts and sections of verses, and how they
connect.
2. Explain how a living entity can “live happily within the city of nine
gates” as mentioned in BG 5.13 verse and purport.)
CHAPTER 6
Short Answer Questions
1. What are the eight practices of ashtanga yoga? (6.3-4)
2. Discuss how does 6.9 inspires you to cultivate friendly Vaishnava
dealings.
3. Explain the significance of the story of the sparrow. (6.24)
4. How is the mind both friend and enemy? What is the success
formula in yoga? (6.5-6 & 6.26)
5. Explain the analogy of the acute infection which may surpass the
efficacy of medicine. (6.34)
6. Why did Arjuna say that ashtanga yoga is impractical and what did
Krishna suggest? (33-36)
7. What is the destination of an unsuccessful Yogi? (6.40-45)
8. Who is the topmost Yogi? (6.46-47)
Long Answer Questions
1. Present a summary of Bhagavad-Gita Chapter 6, identifying main
philosophical concepts and sections of verses, and how they
connect.
2. Describe the characteristics of mind and the art of mind control
based on Chapter 6.
OPEN-BOOK EXAMS
Students should keep in mind the following guidelines when writing answers
to open book questions.
• NOTE
o Open-book exams can be attempted before the Closed-book
exam or after the completion of each module.
o Open-book exams, test the understanding of the students more
than their ability to memorize.
o Practical application, personal application, analysis and shastric
understanding are some of the themes on which the Open-book
questions are set.
• RELEVANCE
o Answers need to be relevant to the theme of the question.
o The answer may even negate the question by presenting relevant
arguments.
o Real life incidents and relevant shastric quotations, analogies,
examples and personal reflections may also be included, as
necessary.
• STRATEGY- PLEASE FORMULA
The following are some of the aspects observed in the evaluation of the
Open-book essays – Balanced presentation: PLEASE formula
o Personal/Practical application
o Lesson
o Example
o Analogy
o Shastric connections
o Elaboration
• PRESENTATION STYLE
o Divide the essay into sections and paragraghs. (optionally give
headings or bullet points)
o Follow a sequential development of concepts
o Include introduction and conclusion.
• FOCUS
o Write a focused and concise response responding to the
questions.
o Avoid additional irrelevant philosophical information.
o Do not exceed the word limit.
• QUOTATIONS
o Quote, with exact reference, to support your points.
o Explain the significance of the quotes.
o Quote specific phrases from verses, purports and lectures.
o Do not include long quotes without any explanation.
SHLOKAS FOR MEMORISATION
4.2
evaṁ paramparā-prāptam
imaṁ rājarṣayo viduḥ
sa kāleneha mahatā
yogo naṣṭaḥ paran-tapa
Synonyms
evam — thus; paramparā — by disciplic succession; prāptam — received; imam — this science; rāja-
ṛṣayaḥ — the saintly kings; viduḥ — understood; saḥ — that knowledge; kālena — in the course of
time; iha — in this world; mahatā — great; yogaḥ — the science of one’s relationship with the
Supreme; naṣṭaḥ — scattered; param-tapa — O Arjuna, subduer of the enemies.
Translation
This supreme science was thus received through the chain of disciplic succession, and the
saintly kings understood it in that way. But in course of time the succession was broken, and
therefore the science as it is appears to be lost.
4.8
paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ
vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām
dharma-saṁsthāpanārthāya
sambhavāmi yuge yuge
Synonyms
paritrāṇāya — for the deliverance; sādhūnām — of the devotees; vināśāya — for the
annihilation; ca — and; duṣkṛtām — of the miscreants; dharma — principles of
religion; saṁsthāpana-arthāya — to reestablish; sambhavāmi — I do appear; yuge —
millennium; yuge — after millennium.
Translation
To deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of
religion, I Myself appear, millennium after millennium.
4.9
janma karma ca me divyam
evaṁ yo vetti tattvataḥ
tyaktvā dehaṁ punar janma
naiti mām eti so ’rjuna
Synonyms
janma — birth; karma — work; ca — also; me — of Mine; divyam — transcendental; evam — like this; yaḥ —
anyone who; vetti — knows; tattvataḥ — in reality; tyaktvā — leaving aside; deham — this body; punaḥ —
again; janma — birth; na — never; eti — does attain; mām — unto Me; eti — does attain; saḥ — he; arjuna —
O Arjuna.
Translation
One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon
leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode, O
Arjuna.
4.34
tad viddhi praṇipātena
paripraśnena sevayā
upadekṣyanti te jñānaṁ
jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ
Synonyms
tat — that knowledge of different sacrifices; viddhi — try to understand; praṇipātena — by approaching a
spiritual master; paripraśnena — by submissive inquiries; sevayā — by the rendering of
service; upadekṣyanti — they will initiate; te — you; jñānam — into knowledge; jñāninaḥ — the self-
realized; tattva — of the truth; darśinaḥ — seers.
Translation
Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and
render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart knowledge unto you because they
have seen the truth.
5.22
ye hi saṁsparśa-jā bhogā
duḥkha-yonaya eva te
ādy-antavantaḥ kaunteya
na teṣu ramate budhaḥ
Synonyms
ye — those; hi — certainly; saṁsparśa-jāḥ — by contact with the material senses; bhogāḥ —
enjoyments; duḥkha — distress; yonayaḥ — sources of; eva — certainly; te — they are; ādi —
beginning; anta — end; vantaḥ — subject to; kaunteya — O son of Kuntī; na — never; teṣu — in
those; ramate — takes delight; budhaḥ — the intelligent person.
Translation
An intelligent person does not take part in the sources of misery, which are due to contact with
the material senses. O son of Kuntī, such pleasures have a beginning and an end, and so the wise
man does not delight in them.
5.29
bhoktāraṁ yajña-tapasāṁ
sarva-loka-maheśvaram
suhṛdaṁ sarva-bhūtānāṁ
jñātvā māṁ śāntim ṛcchati
Synonyms
bhoktāram — the beneficiary; yajña — of sacrifices; tapasām — and penances and austerities; sarva-loka — of
all planets and the demigods thereof; mahā-īśvaram — the Supreme Lord; su-hṛdam — the benefactor; sarva —
of all; bhūtānām — the living entities; jñātvā — thus knowing; mām — Me (Lord Kṛṣṇa); śāntim — relief from
material pangs; ṛcchati — one achieves.
Translation
A person in full consciousness of Me, knowing Me to be the ultimate beneficiary of all sacrifices
and austerities, the Supreme Lord of all planets and demigods, and the benefactor and well-
wisher of all living entities, attains peace from the pangs of material miseries.
6.47
yoginām api sarveṣāṁ
mad-gatenāntar-ātmanā
śraddhāvān bhajate yo māṁ
sa me yukta-tamo mataḥ
Synonyms
yoginām — of yogīs; api — also; sarveṣām — all types of; mat-gatena — abiding in Me, always thinking of
Me; antaḥ-ātmanā — within himself; śraddhā-vān — in full faith; bhajate — renders transcendental loving
service; yaḥ — one who; mām — to Me (the Supreme Lord); saḥ — he; me — by Me; yukta-tamaḥ — the
greatest yogī; mataḥ — is considered.
Translation
And of all yogīs, the one with great faith who always abides in Me, thinks of Me within himself
and renders transcendental loving service to Me – he is the most intimately united with Me in
yoga and is the highest of all. That is My opinion.