The Bhagavad Gita and Two Upanishads

The Bhagavad Gita is an 18-chapter poem that makes up Book VI of the Mahabharata, one of the two ancient Hindu epics (the other being the Ramayana) . In the poem, Prince Arjuna and his charioteer, Krishna, carry on a dialogue jus before the battle of Kurukshetra. Seeing friends, kinsmen, and former teachers ranked with the opposing forces, Arjuna has doubts about the justness of his cause. Krishna instructs him on the proper role of a warrior, emphasizing the need to perform one's duty dispassionately. The conversation then ranges widely, taking in the nature of G-d, the role of insight and devotion, the way to break free of the cycle of reincarnation.Upanishad literally means "sit down near", and the 108 Hindu teachings collected as the Upanishads were originally intended for disciples sitting at the feet of a master. Among the myriad topics discussed in them are the unity of the individual with the atman (the oversoul) , and the nature of the holy syllable "OM". Two of the best-known Upanishads are presented here.