Bhagavad Gita Mahatmya
by Adi Shankaracharya
Text 1
gita-shastram idam punyam, yah pathet prayatah puman
vishnoh padam avapnoti, bhaya-shokadi-varjitah
Translation
One who, with a regulated mind, recites with devotion the Bhagavad-gita
scripture which is the bestower of all virtue, will attain to a holy abode such
as Vaikuntha, the residence of Lord Vishnu, which is always free from the
mundane qualities based on fear and lamentation.
Text 2
gitadhyayana-shilasya, pranayama-parasya cha
naiva santi hi papani, purva-janma-kritani cha
Translation
If one reads Bhagavad-gita very sincerely and with all seriousness, then by the
grace of the Lord the reactions of his past misdeeds will not act upon him.
Text 3
maline mocanam pumsam, jala-snanam dine dine
sakrid gitamrita-snanam, samsara-mala-nashanam
Translation
One may cleanse himself daily by taking a bath in water, but if one takes a bath
even once in the sacred Ganges water of Bhagavad-gita, for him the dirt of
material life is altogether vanquished.
Text 4
gita su-gita kartavya, kim anyaih shastra-vistaraih
ya svayam padmanabhasya, mukha-padmad vinihsrita
Translation
Because Bhagavad-gita is spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one need
not read any other Vedic literature. One need only attentively and regularly
hear and read Bhagavad-gita. In the present age, people are so absorbed in
mundane activities that it is not possible for them to read all the Vedic
literatures. But this is not necessary. This one book, Bhagavad-gita, will
suffice, because it is the essence of all Vedic literature and especially
because it is spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Text 5
bharatamrita-sarvasvam, vishnu-vaktrad vinihsritam
gita-gangodakam pitva, punar janma na vidyate
Translation
By drinking the Ganges water of the Gita, the divine quintessence of the
Mahabharata, emanating from the holy lotus mouth of Lord Vishnu, one will never
take rebirth in the material world again. In other words, by devotionally
reciting the Gita, the cycle of birth and death is terminated.
Text 6
sarvopanishado gavo, dogdha gopala-nandanah
partho vatsah su-dhir bhokta, dugdham gitamritam mahat
Translation
All the Upanishads are like a cow, and the milker of the cow is Lord Shri
Krishna, the son of Nanda. Arjuna is the calf, the beautiful nectar of the Gita
is the milk, and the fortunate devotees of fine theistic intellect are the
drinkers and enjoyers of that milk.
Text 7
ekam shastram devaki-putra-gitam
eko devo devaki-putra eva
eko mantras tasya namani yani
karmapy ekam tasya devasya seva
Translation
There need be only one holy scripture–the divine Gita sung by Lord Shri Krishna;
only one worshipable Lord–Lord Shri Krishna; only one mantra–His holy names; and
only one duty–devotional service unto that Supreme worshipable Lord, Shri
Krishna.