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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Arjuna respond to Sri Krishna's advice from the previous chapter?

2. What is adhidaiva?

3. Where do all creatures find their existence?

4. What has the person done, who indulges his senses for his own pleasure, ignoring the needs of others, according to Krishna?

5. According to Krishna, what may no one gain perfection by abstaining from?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Krishna tell Arjuna concerning the performance of selfless action versus the renunciation of action?

2. How does Krishna say ignorance is destroyed?

3. What is Krishna's response to Arjuna's complaint that the mind is restless and difficult to control?

4. What does Krishna say about those who abstain from action to enjoy sensual pleasures?

5. Do actions cling to Krishna? Why?

6. What does Krishna say about the relationship between his unmanifested form and the existence of the manifested universe?

7. What does Krishna say is the difference between those whose desires are fragmented and those whose consciousness is unified?

8. What does Sri Krishna say about Ajuna's sorrow?

9. When does Krishna say a spiritual aspirant ascends to a unitive state?

10. What does Krishna say about those who have gone beyond the dualities of life?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Seeing Arjuna's despair prior to battle, Sri Krishna rebukes him saying such weakness in a time of crisis is unworthy of him. Krishna urges Arjuna to rise up with a brave heart and destroy the enemy.

Describe Arjuna's response in detail. What is the logic of Arjuna's argument? Upon what sources does Arjuna rely to support this argument? To what conclusion does the argument lead? Discuss while citing specific examples.

Essay Topic 2

At the beginning of the first chapter, Dhritarashtra asks Sanjaya to tell him what happened on the field of dharma where his family gathered to fight the Pandavas. The story of the Bhagavad Gita then unfolds for the reader through the mouth of Sanjaya.

How do we understand the story differently because it is narrated by Sanjaya, and not Krishna or Arjuna? How does this choice make the reader feel? In what ways does this narrative device enhance the effect of the story? Discuss citing specific examples.

Essay Topic 3

Krishna speaks to Arjuna at length about dying and one's conduct at the time of death. How does one's conduct at the time of death influence the destiny of one's soul? How does Krishna say Arjuna's soul may be united with him when Arjuna dies, and what are Krishna's instructions for this? Use specific examples from the text.

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