Bhagvad-Gita: Treatise of Self-help by BS Murthy (best summer reads of all time TXT) 📕

8  
Privy to this will realize
On his body as it works 
Say hath he none to name one.  

9 
Wise do realize needs physical 
Urges are they driven by genes.  

10  
Spreads on lotus leaves as water
Sticks none sin of deeds duteous. 

11 
Wise in selfless work engage
Forego while they self-purify.  

12 
Wise ever stay cool never in want 
Bog down but naive ever in want.

13  
Covetous not ’n ever laid back 
Wise in tune with Supreme lay.  

14  
It’s his nature, not the Spirit  
Makes man act by wants induced.

15  
Takes not Supreme credit or fault  
Grasp none have of this uncouth.

16  
He that keeps his bias at bay  
Sun-like he shines being wise.

17  
In clear conscience ’n fairness 
Gives man freedom faith in Him. 

19  
Keeps who equity ever in thought   
Faultless being attains he Brahman.

20  
In state Brahman, 
Gloats never man as smiles fortune   
Nor loses heart when things go wrong.

21  
Joys induced all tire one soon  
Stay self-joyous all blissful souls.

22  
End as in grief joys of flesh
Go not wise for pleasures such brief.

23  
Subdue lust ’n rein in wrath
Leads that to thy state of joy.  

24  
Live in ease the true knowing 
Enjoy they all within themselves.

25  
With pure intent sans ill-will 
Realized all reach State Supreme.    

26  
Unmoved by his mind subdued 
Stays ever free the self-realized.

Ends thus:
Art of Renunciation,
The Fifth Chapter  
Of Bhagavad-Gita,
Treatise of self-help.

Chapter 6

Practice of Restraint

This chapter of 47 slokas, known as ãtma samyama yoga, Self Restraint, deals with all aspects of self-control needed for renunciation in action. Here Arjuna’s queries as to what would be the fate of man were he to fail midway, in his efforts at self- control (s37). Even if it were the case, assures the Lord, still one wouldn't come to grief here or hereafter (s40). What is more, after being born many times over, eventually he attains moksha (s45). Further in s46, the Lord asserts that such a man is superior to the ritualistic character, and concludes in s47 that he remains His most blessed devotee. 

Seen in this background, s 41 and s42 are clearly interpolations not only for affecting the continuity of the text but also for what they contain. S41 would have it that those who perform the asvamedha (ritualistic horse sacrifice) would reach heaven to be born again rich.

Likewise s 42 would have us that, or such would be born in learned homes. It would seem that s46-s47 are digressions, but in effect they carry forward the Lord’s discourse from s32, at which point Arjuna interrupted Him with his queries. 

S10-s17 deal with aspects of ascetic practice and do seem to be interpolations, even going by what is stated in the very opening verse, besides breaking the continuity in the proposition.

1  
Thus spoke the Lord:
Forego none if forsake chores 
Eye not gain ’n thou be freed.

2  
If thou let go its godly
Makes that hard thy self-interest.  

3 
Uphill though the way forsake
As ’n when thou make it there
Stay thus put with no more strain.

4  
Reining senses sans motive  
Wise on selfless deeds focus.

5  
Noble or naughty it’s thy make
Self thus thine but shapes thyself.

6 
Mind if reined, it’s thy friend 
Foe it turns, let when loose.

7  
Overcome if vicissitudes  
Vibe thee well with Me Supreme.

8  
Valuable or be otherwise
Treat all alike self-realized 
Thus they remain ever even.

9  
Wise is one, folks who treats  
None the fear ’n sans favour.

18  
With no longing freed of want 
It’s then thou reach yogic state.

19  
Rooted in self yogi true 
Lamp he likens in still air.  

20  
Restrain mind in self-focus   
Beatitude of life that makes.

21  
Transcends senses if thy mind
It’s then thou reach state of bliss.

22  
Rooted so on peak of bliss  
Wise not bother lows of life. 

23  
So to live in yogic state
Untie wise from life's bothers. 

24    
Wise keep tabs on self-impulse
Affects to without are they immune.

25         
Wed wise focus with calm mind 
Makes that life of theirs tranquil.

26 
Pulled by wants as trips the mind   
Gain ground wise by self-leverage.

27  
Passions languid, mind tranquil 
Keep man ever on blissful course.

28 
Mind that's pure with self-control 
Leads that man to State Brahman.

29 
Espy wise in right outlook  
Others in self ’n vice versa.

30  
Discern Me in what they see
Ever they find Me nearby them.

31  
Me who sees in all beings 
He’s the one that dwells in Me.

32  
He’s the yogi self-feels who 
Joys of others ’n grief as well.

33  
Thus spoke Arjuna:
Frail being man, fail I see
Yoga Thou espouse, lasting in practice.

34  
Can one ever tame his mind 
Like the wind that yields to none?

35  
Thus spoke the Lord:
Calm ’n custom bring in ropes
Tough ask though to subdue mind. 

36     
Fail keep going unruly  
Persevere self-willed all the way.

37 
Thus spoke Arjuna:

What if one 
Throws up all 
Lacks who zeal
Hath though faith?

38  
Resolve if dissolves in mid-course
Won’t that be like scattered clouds?

39  
Kindly dispel all my doubts  
Think I none of else for that.

40  
Thus spoke the Lord:
Strives if one to enrich self 
Ends not in grief here or there.

43  
Harnessed habit, of births past 
Helps man strive to self-realize.

44 
With the reason thus imbibed 
Realized outwit scholars there.

45  
Awareness of births of yore 
Helps the striving gain moksha.

46  
Ahead in protocol comes yogi  
Learned, ascetics, as all sticklers for rituals.

47  
He’s the yogi of yogis
Self-inner who fills with Me.

Ends thus:
Practice of Restraint,
The Sixth Chapter  
Of Bhagavad-Gita,
Treatise of self-help.

Chapter 7

Know the Spirit

This chapter of 30 slokas, known as gjnãna vigjnãna yoga, Spiritual knowledge and Secular intelligence, is about understanding the nature of the Supreme through knowing and meditation.

However, s20-s23 besides breaking the continuity in the character of the discourse, would advocate worship of gods for boon seeking that Krishna chastises is s42-s44, ch.2. And thus these slokas undoubtedly are interpolations.  

1  
Thus spoke the Lord:
How to retain Me in mind
He in yoga comes to know.

2  
Make thee privy that knowledge  
Leaves that no scope for some more.

3  
Rarely beings seek their self 
Of them but a few Me grasp.

4
Earth ’n ether, fire ’n air 
Water, mind, sense ’n self 
Elements are of My Nature.

5  
It’s this Nature holds all worlds
But above ’n apart is My Nature. 

6  
While My Higher Nature brings 
Ends all that Low Nature Mine.

7  
Better than Me none exists 
On Me hinges whatever exists.

8  
I’m that what is sapid in water  
I’m the glow of sun and moon 
I’m the thunder above in skies 
Verily I’m the virility of males.

9  
Odour of this earth is Me 
Heat of fire ’n life in being  
As well wisdom in forsake.

10
I’m the seed of all beings 
Intellect as well man’s valour. 

11  
It’s Me strength of even life
As well ardour of sex in order.

12 
Virtue, passion so too delusion  
Send I forth though all of them 
Come to dwell in none of them.

13  
Spellbound by My these natures  
Knows not man My true nature. 

14 
If thee forsake well and true
To Me then thou come ’n grasp
Natures these Mine illusions. 

15  
Who in Supreme hath no faith
Gripped are by these illusions  
And thus go on path wayward.

16 
Distressed, desirous ’n knowing 
Such pious are those Me worship.

17  
Of these but the steadfast man 
With pure intent gets My nod.

18  
Noble as all worship Me   
The knower true is selfsame Me.

19  
Once in a while
Births after many, 
Born who knows 
I pervade worlds.

24   
Unmanifest Am State Supreme 
But saddle Me with form uncouth.

25  
Dull in delusion won’t perceive 
Me that’s unborn veiled from them.

26  
Am privy to what goes on 
But man hath no grasp of Me. 

27 
Illusions dual, want and wrath 
Ever in delusion keep they man. 

28  
Pure minded sans illusions
On Me such of virtue lean.

29  
Seek all those who My refuge  
See they Brahman ever in self.

30  
Me Be-All ’n End -All grasps 
Me he ponders on deathbed.  

Ends thus: 
Know the Spirit,
The Seventh Chapter 
Of Bhagavad-Gita 
Treatise of self-help.

Chapter 8

Cycle of Creation

This chapter of 28 slokas, known as akshara parabrahma yoga - The Indestructible Brahman - emphasizes the need of un-wavered devotion to the Supreme so as to attain Him. It also describes the science of meditation to reach the Supreme by understanding the nature of the Brahman. And s 22 is a seemingly concluding statement of the Lord that only through un-swerved devotion the Supreme could be reached from which there is no return (s 21).

Then appear s23 to s28 which if literally taken would imply that if one dies when the moon is on the ascent he would go to heaven and, to hell if it’s other way round. Needless to say, these slokas spelling superstition in an otherwise thought-elevating treatise are but interpolations.

It is worth noting that Sir Edwin Arnold dismissed these as the work of some vedãnti and thought it fit, justifiably at that, not to include them in his ‘Song Celestial’. In this connection it may be noted that the relationship between the state in which a person dies and his imminent rebirth is covered in s 14 and s15 of c14, which seem to be authentic. 

It can be seen that s5, places the cart before the horse. Besides, s9-s14 too, are interpolations going by their content that’s out of context. It is worth noting that s1-s4, s6-s8 and s15-s22, if read together would bear an unmistakable continuity of argument that the interpolations deprive.

1  
Thus spoke Arjuna:
O Lord appraise what’s Brahman  
Lies what within ’n backs action  
Nature of deities besides the beings.

2  
What is that guides bodily acts,
What makes yogis realize Thee?  

3
Thus spoke the Lord:
Self-Imperishable is Brahman 
But dwells it yet there in beings   
Brings that forth is Act Supreme.  

4  
Perish as beings all in time
Spirit that lasts of them is Me.

6  
In the end the way one tends
Charts that future course he takes.

7  
If thou act with this in mind
In the end thou gain Me true,
By My word now opt for war
With thy strength ’n skill I gave. 

8  
Me they reach whoso keep
On Me focus as they work.

15  
Having come to stay with Me
Get they rid of births and deaths.

16  
Journey to Brahman holds return ticket 
Journeys back none abode from Mine. 

17  
Wise all realize days Brahman 
Ages thousands make with nights.

18  
By day as He brings beings
Un-manifests He all by night.

19  
It’s all rebirths through His day
But with nightfall cease they all 
As He wakes up puts He back.

20  
My State Supreme that never ends 
Un-manifested it’s above Brahman.   

21  
It’s My Abode that Supreme
For man to reach not to leave.

22  
It’s through devotion that thee gain
State Supreme that pervades worlds.

Ends thus: 
Cycle of Creation,
The Eighth Chapter  
Of Bhagavad-Gita,
Treatise of self-help.

Chapter 9

The Sacred Secret

This chapter of 34 slokas, known as rãja-vidyã rãja-guhya yoga, Supreme Knowledge and Supreme Secret, describes various ways of attaining the Supreme that lends itself readily for interpolations.  

In s13, it is stated that the realized man constantly and single-mindedly remains devoted to the Supreme and in s14 it is averred that such ever remain united with Him in meditation. But it is only in s22 that the protection of the Supreme to those engaged in His service in true devotion is assured.

While s23 states that those who worship other gods with faith, worship Him only, albeit defectively, s25 pictures varied outcome of worshipping other gods,  a contradiction of s3,ch.12. And in s24, He is the Enjoyer and the Lord of all Sacrifice, an anathema to the philosophy of the Gita.

Also s15 is but a digression to facilitate s16-s21 and s23-s25. What is more, there could be some omissions from the original, given the seemingly incomplete exposition of the promised dharma in s2.  

Further, in s 30 and s 31, it is said that even a reformed sinner is dear and valuable to Him. Then in s 32 it is stated that women, Vaisyãs and Sudrãs could win His favor through devotion, sounding as if they are all in an inferior league. Leave aside