View source for Bhagavad-gita cannot be interpreted by foolish commentators. It must be studied through the parampara system, acarya upasanam. One must worship the acarya and learn from him what is Bhagavad-gita. Acaryavan puruso veda

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{{terms|"''Bhagavad-gītā'' cannot be interpreted by foolish commentators. It must be studied through the ''paramparā'' system, ''ācārya upāsanam.'' One must worship the ''ācārya'' and learn from him what is ''Bhagavad-gītā''. ''Ācāryavān puruṣo veda''"}}
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[[Category:Interpreting the Bhagavad-gita]]
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[[Category:Foolishness]]
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[[Category:Studying the Bhagavad-gita]]
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[[Category:Parampara System]]
[[Category:Acarya - Devotees of God]]
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[[Category:Worshiping the Acarya]]
[[Category:Worshiping a Spiritual Master]]
[[Category:Learning from a Spiritual Master]]
[[Category:What is the Bhagavad-gita]]
[[Category:Acaryavan Puruso Veda]]
[[Category:Prabhupada Speaks - Lectures, 1966 - 1977]]
[[Category:Prabhupada Speaks - Lectures, 1973]]
[[Category:Prabhupada Speaks - Lectures, Bhagavad-gita As It Is]]
[[Category:Prabhupada Speaks - in Europe, England - London]]
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<div id="Lectures" class="section" sec_index="4" parent="compilation" text="Lectures"><h2>Lectures</h2>
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<div id="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" class="sub_section" sec_index="0" parent="Lectures" text="Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures"><h3>Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures</h3>
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<div id="LectureonBG23335LondonSeptember31973_0" class="quote" parent="Bhagavad-gita_As_It_Is_Lectures" book="Lec" index="99" link="Lecture on BG 2.33-35 -- London, September 3, 1973" link_text="Lecture on BG 2.33-35 -- London, September 3, 1973">
<div class="heading">Bhagavad-gītā cannot be interpreted by foolish commentators. It must be studied through the paramparā system, ācārya upāsanam. One must worship the ācārya and learn from him what is Bhagavad-gītā. Ācāryavān puruṣo veda. This is the Vedic injunction. Who knows things as they are. Ācāryaṁ māṁ puruṣa, one who is under the guidance of ācārya. So you won't find this foolish nonviolence theory from any ācārya.
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<span class="link">[[Vanisource:Lecture on BG 2.33-35 -- London, September 3, 1973|Lecture on BG 2.33-35 -- London, September 3, 1973]]: </span><div style="display: inline;" class="text"><p style="display: inline;">
So Arjuna was recognized by Lord Śiva, by King Indra and many others also. So Kṛṣṇa says that "You have got recognition from big personalities. So if you don't fight, then not only you should be irreligious, but also you'll lose your reputation." ''Tataḥ sva-dharmaṁ kīrtiṁ ca hitvā pāpam avāpsyasi. Pāpam'' means sin or sinful reaction. So it has to be judged, when . . . sometimes fighting is ''pāpam'', means sinful activity, and sometimes fighting is ''puṇyam'', pious activities. It requires the time, circumstances, on what ground the fighting was going on, on whose order the fighting was going on. These are to be studied.

So violence and nonviolence. Our great leader, Mahatma Gandhi, he wanted to prove from ''Bhagavad-gītā'' nonviolence. He started the nonviolence movement, and he wanted to support . . . everyone takes advantage of ''Bhagavad-gītā'' and tries to support his view on the strength of ''Bhagavad-gītā''. Therefore you will find so many interpretation. Everyone wants to utilize. There are more than six hundred publication, commentaries, on ''Bhagavad-gītā''. One Dr. Rele in Bombay, he has interpreted ''Bhagavad-gītā'' as talks between a physician and a patient.

So these things are going on, but that is not ''Bhagavad-gītā''. That is ''nāmno balād yasya hi pāpa-buddhiḥ'' (''Padma Purāṇa, Brahma-khaṇḍa'' 25.16). ''Nāma-aparādha'', ten kinds of offenses . . . this is offense. Just like ''nāmno balād yasya hi pāpa-buddhiḥ.'' We say, the ''śāstra'' says, that by chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa ''mantra'', you become cleansed of your sinful activities. That's a fact. But if somebody thinks that, "I shall go on committing sinful activities and chant Hare Kṛṣṇa ''mantra'' so it will be adjusted, neutralized," this is the most sinful activity. ''Nāmno balāt'', by the strength of chanting, committing sin. So similarly, on the strength of ''Bhagavad-gītā'' if one wants to prove his foolish philosophy, that is a great offense. That's a great offense.

Therefore ''Bhagavad-gītā'' cannot be interpreted by foolish commentators. It must be studied through the ''paramparā'' system, ''ācārya upāsanam.'' One must worship the ''ācārya'' and learn from him what is ''Bhagavad-gītā''. ''Ācāryavān puruṣo veda'' (''Chāndogya Upaniṣad'' 6.14.2)—this is the Vedic injunction—who knows things as they are. ''Ācāryaṁ māṁ puruṣa'', one who is under the guidance of ''ācārya''. So you won't find this foolish nonviolence theory from any ''ācārya''. Many ''ācāryas'' have commented on ''Bhagavad-gītā''—there is Rāmānujācārya, Madhvācārya, even Śaṅkarācārya—but never said that ''Bhagavad-gītā'' is proof of nonviolence. Nonviolence is good, but when there is ''dharma-yuddha'', righteous fighting, there is no question of nonviolence. Violence is approved.