CHAPTER 13
Essays on the Bhagwat Gita: Philosophic Defence of Counter- Revolution: Krishna and His Gita
The first page of ‘ Essays on the Bhagvat Gita’ is autographed by Dr. Ambedkar, Next 42 pages consist of analytical notes on Viral Parva and Uddyog Parva including the table of contents on this subject. The table of contents is printed in the schemes. This file contains two typed copies of an essay entitled ‘Philosophic Defence of Counter-Revolution — Krishna and His Gita’. The last sentence of this essay is left incomplete. The total number of typed pages of this essay is 40 only. The notes on Viral Parva & Udyog Parva are printed in the next chapters.—Editors.
What is the place of the Bhagwat Gita in the literature of ancient India? Is it a gospel of the Hindu Religion in the same way as the Bible is of the Christian Religion? The Hindus have come to regard it as their gospel. If it is a gospel, what does it really teach? What is the doctrine it stands for? The variety of answers given to this question by students competent to speak on the subject is really bewildering. Bohtlingk [1] says:
“The Gita contains by the side of many high and beautiful thoughts, not only a few weak points; contradictions (which the commentators have tried to pass over as excusable), repetitions, exaggerations, absurdities and loathsome points.”
“Hopkins [2] speaks of the Bhagvat Gita as a characteristic work of the Hindu Literature in its sublimity as in its puerilities, in its logic as in its want of it; ..... an ill-assorted cabinet of primitive philosophical opinions.”
In his judgment:
1 Quoted by Garbe in his Introduction to the Bhagvat Gita (Indian Antiquary 1918 Supplement).
2 . Religion of India pp. 390-400.