“Our whole program is to train the untrained.”
Key Verses to Memorize
- Bhagavad-gītā (31 verses)
- Śrī Īśopaniṣad (2 verses)
- Nectar of Instruction (3 verses)
- Nectar of Devotion (4 verses)
The following verses are the Key Thematic Verses for Bhagavad-gita. Students are expected to know in English (if not by heart, at least sufficiently well to be able to locate) many of these verses. Key Memory Verses are in orange. Students are required to learn these in both Sanskrit and English, and they will be assessed these verses during the exams. The respective totals for both sets of verses are shown the table below.
|
Chapters
|
Verses
|
KMV’s
|
KTV’s
|
|
1
|
— |
0
|
0
|
|
2
|
12 13 14 20 22 23 24 45 55 56 59 70 |
1
|
12
|
|
3
|
4 5 6 7 8 9 13 27 30 43 |
1
|
10
|
|
4
|
1 2 3 6 8 9 11 13 34 |
4
|
9
|
|
5
|
2 3 5 6 13 14 15 18 22 23 24 29 |
2
|
12
|
|
6
|
1 6 20 21 22 23 26 27 29 30 31 32 35 46 47 |
1
|
15
|
|
7
|
1 4 5 6 7 14 15 16 19 20 23 24 |
3
|
12
|
|
8
|
5 6 7 14 16 28 |
2
|
6
|
|
9
|
1 2 4 5 10 11 12 13 14 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 29 34 |
5
|
19
|
|
10
|
8 9 10 11 |
4
|
4
|
|
11
|
54 55 |
0
|
2
|
|
12
|
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 |
0
|
11
|
|
13
|
3 20 21 22 23 25 26 |
1
|
7
|
|
14
|
4 6 7 8 18 26 27 |
1
|
7
|
|
15
|
7 8 9 15 19 20 |
2
|
6
|
|
16
|
13 14 15 19 21 23 24 |
0
|
7
|
|
17
|
— |
0
|
0
|
|
18
|
42 43 44 46 47 48 54 55 61 65 66 |
4
|
12
|
|
Total
|
31
|
151
|
|
Nectar of Instruction (3 verses)
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jñāna-karmādy-anāvṛtam
ānukūlyena kṛṣṇānu-
śīlanaḿ bhaktir uttamā
SYNONYMS
anya-abhilāṣitā-śūnyam — without desires other than those for the service of Lord Kṛṣṇa, or without material desires (such as those for meat-eating, illicit sex, gambling and addiction to intoxicants); jñāna — by the knowledge of the philosophy of the monist Māyāvādīs; karma — by fruitive activities; ādi — by artificially practicing detachment, by the mechanical practice of yoga, by studying the Sāńkhya philosophy, and so on; anāvṛtam — not covered; ānukūlyena — favorable; kṛṣṇa-anuśīlanam — cultivation of service in relationship to Kṛṣṇa; bhaktiḥ uttamā — first-class devotional service.
TRANSLATION
’When first-class devotional service develops, one must be devoid of all material desires, knowledge obtained by monistic philosophy, and fruitive action. The devotee must constantly serve Kṛṣṇa favorably, as Kṛṣṇa desires.’
(quoted in Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta Madhya 19.167)
sarvopādhi-vinirmuktaḿ
tat-paratvena nirmalam
hṛṣīkeṇa hṛṣīkeśa-
sevanaḿ bhaktir ucyate
SYNONYMS
sarva-upādhi-vinirmuktam — free from all kinds of material designations, or free from all desires except the desire to render service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead; tat-paratvena — by the sole purpose of serving the Supreme Personality of Godhead; nirmalam — uncontaminated by the effects of speculative philosophical research or fruitive activity; hṛṣīkeṇa — by purified senses freed from all designations; hṛṣīka-īśa — of the master of the senses; sevanam — the service to satisfy the senses; bhaktiḥ — devotional service; ucyate — is called.
TRANSLATION
’Bhakti, or devotional service, means engaging all our senses in the service of the Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master of all the senses. When the spirit soul renders service unto the Supreme, there are two side effects. One is freed from all material designations, and one’s senses are purified simply by being employed in the service of the Lord.’
(originally from Nārada-pañcarātra, quoted in Śrī Caitanya Caritāmṛta Madhya 19.170)
Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu 1.2.234
ataḥ śrī-kṛṣṇa-nāmādi
na bhaved grāhyam indriyaiḥ
sevonmukhe hi jihvādau
svayam eva sphuraty adaḥ
SYNONYMS
ataḥ — therefore (because Kṛṣṇa’s name, form and qualities are all on the absolute platform); śrī-kṛṣṇa-nāma-ādi — Lord Kṛṣṇa’s name, form, qualities, pastimes and so on; na — not; bhavet — can be; grāhyam — perceived; indriyaiḥ — by the blunt material senses; sevā-unmukhe — to one engaged in His service; hi — certainly; jihvā-ādau — beginning with the tongue; svayam — personally; eva — certainly; sphurati — become manifest; adaḥ — those (Kṛṣṇa’s name, form, qualities and so on).
TRANSLATION
’Therefore material senses cannot appreciate Kṛṣṇa’s holy name, form, qualities and pastimes. When a conditioned soul is awakened to Kṛṣṇa consciousness and renders service by using his tongue to chant the Lord’s holy name and taste the remnants of the Lord’s food, the tongue is purified, and one gradually comes to understand who Kṛṣṇa really is.’
(originally from Padma Purana, quoted in Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya 17.136)
Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu 1.2.255-6
anāsaktasya viṣayān
yathārham upayuñjataḥ
nirbandhaḥ kṛṣṇa-sambandhe
yuktaḿ vairāgyam ucyate
SYNONYMS
anāsaktasya – of one who is without attachment; viṣayān – to material sense objects; yatha-arham – according to suitability; upayuñjatah – engaging; nirbandhah – without bondage; kṛṣṇa-sambandhe – in relationship with Krsna; yuktam – proper; vairāgyam – renunciation; ucyate – is called;
TRANSLATION
"When one is not attached to anything but at the same time accepts everything in relation to Kṛṣṇa, one is rightly situated above possessiveness."