Arjuna Revived Bhagavad-Gita Knowledge Despite Krishna's Absence

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Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 1.15.30 — December 8, 1973, Los Angeles 731208SB-LOS ANGELES [37:33 Minutes] SB-01.15.30_731208SB-LOS ANGELES Pradyumna: Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. Oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. [leads chanting of verse] [Prabhupāda and devotees repeat] gītaṁ bhagavatā jñānaṁ yat tat saṅgrāma-mūrdhani kāla-karma-tamo-ruddhaṁ punar adhyagamat prabhuḥ [SB 1.15.30] [break]

Prabhupāda: That's all. Pradyumna: gītam—instructed; bhagavatā—by the Personality of Godhead; jñānam—transcendental knowledge; yat—which; tat—that; saṅgrāma-mūrdhani—in the midst of battle; kāla-karma—time and actions; tamaḥ-ruddham—enwrapped by such darkness; punaḥ adhyagamat—revived them again; prabhuḥ—the lord of his senses. [break] [02:52] Translation: "Because of the Lord's pastimes and activities and because of His absence, it appeared that Arjuna forgot the instructions left by the Personality of Godhead. But factually this was not the case, and again he became lord of his senses." Prabhupāda: Hmm.

So, here it is explained what is Bhagavad-gītā. Gītaṁ bhagavatā. Bhagavatā means "by the Supreme Personality of Godhead," and gītaṁ means "spoken." They say "sung by." You can say. But gītaṁ means "spoken by." Therefore it is called Bhagavad-gītā, "the instruction given by the Supreme Personality of Godhead personally." Therefore it is called Bhagavad-gītā. Now Arjuna said that this science was spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

If we read Bhagavad-gītā, then we must follow the version of Arjuna, because Arjuna directly heard Bhagavad-gītā from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. And he says that this science, gītaṁ bhagavatā. So why there should be interpretation? Because the person who heard directly from Bhagavān, the Supreme Per..., he says that this is spoken by the Bhagavad-gī..., erm, Supreme Personality of Godhead.

So one who is hearing directly, he's saying something, but you are saying something. You have no right. This is called paramparā system. The person who heard Bhagavad-gītā directly from Kṛṣṇa, whatever he says, that is to be accepted.

You cannot interpret. This is the paramparā system. So if you want to understand Bhagavad-gītā, then we must understand in the same way as the person who directly heard from him. This is called paramparā system. Suppose I have heard something from my spiritual master, so I speak to you the same thing.

So this is paramparā system. You cannot imagine what my spiritual master said. Or even if you read some books, you cannot understand unless you understand it from me. This is called paramparā system.

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