golden words

The Mahabharata is the longest and, arguably, one of the greatest epic poems in any
language.
-Columbia University

W hat is found in this epic may be elsewhere;
W hat is not in this epic is nowhere else.
-The Mahabharata, condensed from Sanskrit and translated into English by P. Lal.

No matter what conditions you encounter in life, your right is only to the works--not to the fruits
thereof. You should not be impelled to act for selfish reasons, nor should you be attached to
inaction.
-Bhagavad Gita 2.47

Whenever virtue declines and unrighteousness rises, I manifest Myself as an embodied being.
To protect the Saints and Sages, to destroy the evil-doers and to establish Dharma
(righteousness), I am born from age to age.
-Bhagavad Gita 4.7 and 4.8

Seeing Your great form with many faces, many eyes, many arms, many thighs and feet, and
many terrible tusks and stomachs, O Mighty Armed, the worlds are terrified and so am I.
-Bhagavad Gita 11.23

I am pleased to see this universal form which was never seen by me before, and at the same
time my mind is terrified with fear. Therefore, please reveal to me Your previous form. O God
of Gods, O Refuge of the Universe, be gracious to me.
-Bhagavad Gita 11.45

To those who are constantly devoted and worship Me with love, I give the understanding by
which they can come to Me.
-Bhagavad Gita 10.10

Out of Compassion for them, I, dwelling in their hearts, destroy with the shining lamp of
knowledge the darkness born of ignorance.
-Bhagavad Gita 10.11

Having seen this terrible form of Mine do not be afraid or bewildered. Rid of fear, with a
cheeful heart, now behold again My previous form.

-Bhagavad Gita 11.49

Arjun said: O Janardana, having behld Your human form, I am now free of fear, my mind is composed, I have resumed by normal awareness.
-Bhagavad Gita 11.51

Picking up his conch, the golden Devadatta, Arjun blew on it fiercely; the heavens echoed with
the noise, and the chariot warriors stood petrified on the field. Their horses stood paralysed,
with eyes wide open ...
-Mahabharata, Book Seven: Drona (P. Lal)

O Countless formed Divinity, You are the First of the Gods, the Supreme Being, the Ancient
Self, and You are the resting place of the world. You are the knower, the knowable, and the
Supreme Abode of Lord Vishnu. This entire world is pervaded by You.
-Bhagavad Gita 11.38

O God of Incomparable Power, You are the Father of this creation consisting of movables and
immovables. You are the Adorable One, The Preceptor, and the Glorius One. There is no
equal to You in the three worlds, much less can any one excel You.
-Bhagavad Gita 11.43

Krishna said,"Do you duty, Arjun, as your nature dictates. All work fetters, as all fire gives
smoke. Only selfless duty saves. Fix your mind on me. Surrender all deeds to me. All
problems will be solved by my grace. Pride will lead only to your moral ruin. If, filled with pride,
you say, 'I will not fight,' it is all in vain. You are foolish. Fight you will, your nature will make
you fight. Your karma will make you fight. You will fight in spite of yourself."
-Mahabharata, Book Six: Bhishma (P. Lal)

The Blessed Lord said: You are grieving over those who are not fit to be grieved for, yet you
speak words like a great man of wisdom. But the wise do not grieve neither over the living nor
over the dead. Never did I not exist, nor did you nor these kings. Nor shall we ever cease to
exist in the future.
-Bhagavad Gita 2.11 and 2.12

Krishna drove the white-horsed chariot to where Bhishma stood, shining like the sun.
Obscured by an arrowy shower from Bhishma, Arjun's chariot was hidden from view, but
Krishna, with great skill and patience, drove the wounded horsed through. With his cloud-
booming Gandiva bow, Arjun shot Bhishma's bow out of his hands.
-Mahabharata, Book Six: Bhishma(P. Lal)

Urged on by Krishna, Arjun displayed his full prowess. He seemed like the Destroyer himself
at the end of creation. Many heroes, hoping to win glory and with death as their goal, came
befoe Arjun as he let loose his shafts. They fell by the thousands. Arjun carved a parth
through the Kauravas.
-Mahabharata, Book Six: Bhishma(Krishna Dharma)

Krishna drove the horses forward and the fine chariot moved into the center of the field.
Krishna smiled. "Just behold, O Arjun, all the Kurus assembled here." Arjun looked across the
field. Krishna could understnad Arjun's mind. The long-awaited time for war had arrived--a
terrible fratricidal war. There was now no turning back. Suddenly seeing the horror of it before
him, Arjun gazed at his relatives and friends arrayed across from him--med who were like
fathers, brothers, sons, and grandsons, as well as teachers, uncles, friends, in-laws, and well-
wishers.
-Mahabharata, Book Six: Bhishma(Krishna Dharma)

Life without Krishna has no joy for me. Tell me what is good for me. I am a wanderer with a
hollow heart.
-Mahabharata, Book Sixteen: The Battle W ith Clubs

Arjun chose Krishna, though Krishna had vowed to lay down his arms on the battlefield ...
... Krishna asked: "W hy did you pick me, knowing I would not fight?"
"I can handle the soldiers myself, O Krishna, if I have your presence to give me moral support.
Some of your glory will surely rub off on me."
-Mahabharata, Book Five: W ar Preparations(P.Lal)