Bhagavad Gita Essay

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In the ancient civilizations of Greece and India, warriors were held high in society. Both cultures were greatly influenced by their culture and polytheistic religion. The Bhagavad Gita is a section of an ancient Indian Epic poem that was originally recited orally, until it was later written down and translated. In The Bhagavad Gita, a battle over the throne is about to happen, and the main character, a warrior named Arjuna, is faced with a difficult decision on whether to fight or not. The Iliad of Homer, also originally an orally spoken epic poem that was later written down and translated, and takes place during the last year of the Trojan War. The main character Achilles also has to face the decision of whether or not to fight in the battle at hand. There were many similarities and differences in the doubts and resolutions Arjuna and Achilles faced before entering battle due to culture, religion, and the time periods in which both these epic poems took place. Arjuna is a great warrior in his culture and the rightful heir to the throne. However, the opposing party, who happens to be relatives of Arjuna, also believe that they are the rightful heir to the throne. In the opening scenes of The Bhagavad Gita, battle preparations are being made and the two armies are beginning to line up. It is then when Arjuna takes his chariot in between the two armies to see the faces of his enemies. When Arjuna see’s the faces of his family on the enemy side, he is extremely saddened and looses the will to fight. He says, “And I see forebodings of evil, Krishna. I cannot foresee any glory if I kill my own kinsmen in the sacrifice of battle” (Juan Mascaró, trans, The Bhagavad Gita (London: Penguin Group 2003), 6). Arjuna does not want to deal with killing his family, and thinks he will not gain honor from doing so. He is saddened by the conflict he is facing. In the

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