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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. Which of these qualities does Krishna say makes a person more inhuman?

2. What does Sanjaya say would resemble Krishna's revealed splendor?

3. What are those who "know" truly free from according to Krishna?

4. What does Arjuna say is Krishna's place among the gods?

5. What is the effect of Vishnu on Arjuna's heart?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the three gunas.

2. What instructions does Krishna give Arjuna at the beginning of this chapter?

3. What exists without Krishna?

4. With what kind of person is Krishna in love?

5. What does Krishna say are the two orders of being in the world? Is there anything beyond?

6. What are the limits to Krishna's divine power?

7. What kind of knowledge belongs to each of the gunas?

8. What are Krishna's instructions for Arjuna if he finds he cannot still his mind?

9. What does Sanjaya say that Krishna showed Arjuna?

10. What happens to souls who die in each of these states?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Krishna's teachings consistently return to several major things that bind souls to death and rebirth.

Part 1) Identify three such things and explain them clearly citing specific examples from the Gita.

Part 2) Outline in detail the means Krishna offers for transcending these, and breaking the cycle of death and rebirth.

Part 3) Attempt to unify these themes, using either your own words or Krishna's, into a single instruction for attaining what Krishna calls "the supreme goal."

Cite specific examples from the text for all of the above.

Essay Topic 2

Krishna says that "the wise see that there is action in the midst of inaction and inaction in the midst of action." What is the meaning of this cryptic statement? Discuss its significance in the Bhagavad Gita citing specific examples.

Essay Topic 3

"Awakened sages call a person wise when all his undertakings are free from anxiety about results; all selfish desires are consumed in the fire of knowledge." What does this statement of Krishna's mean? Why should one not care about the outcome of his actions? What is the "fire of knowledge?" Is this theme central to Krishna's teaching? Why or why not? Use specific examples from the text.

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