Exploring the Treasures of Mahabharat: Astras, Shankhas, Granths, Puranas, Places, and the Bhagavad Gita
Mahabharat is an epic of Indian Sanatan text, that is revered by millions of people across the world.
This ancient scripture is not just a story, but a treasure of History and a trove of wisdom and knowledge. The Mahabharat contains the history of the Kuru dynasty, and its various events,
which culminate in the epic war of Kurukshetra.
The Mahabharat is a vast repository of knowledge, which includes details about various weapons, astras, shankhas, granths, Puranas, and places that are used or mentioned in the text.
One of the most important aspects of the Mahabharat, is its spiritual dimension. The Bhagavad Gita, which is a part of the Mahabharat, is a treatise on life, death,
and the nature of the Aatma(soul). It is one of the most important spiritual texts in the world, and its teachings are still relevant today.
In this article, we will explore the various astras, shankhas, granths, Puranas, and places that are mentioned in Mahabharat.
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- Brahmastra
- Varunastra
- Agniastra
- Anjalika astra
- Bramhashira astra
- Vasvi Shakti
- Prashwapastra
- Garudastra
- Nagastra
- Vayuvyastra
- Adityastra
- Sammohanastra
- Saranga - (Dhanush Or Bow)
- Pinaak - (Dhanush Or Bow)
- Vijai - (Dhanush Or Bow)
- Gandiva - (Dhanush Or Bow)
- Bramhadanda
- Vajra
- Narayanastra
- Pashupatastra
- Sudarshana Chakra
- Vaishnavastra
- Devadatta
- Pachjanya
- Paundra
- Anantavijaya
- Sughosha
- Manipushpaka
The Mahabharat also contains references to various granths and Puranas, which are considered to be sacred texts. These include:
- Vishnu Purana
- Shiva Purana
- Garuda Purana
- Matsya Purana
- Agni Purana
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Places:
The Mahabharat contains references to various places that are considered to be holy, and significant.
Here are some of the most important places, mentioned in the Mahabharat :
- Kurukshetra
- Dwarka
- Mathura
- Kashi
- Prayag, etc.
The Bhagavad Gita, which is a part of the Mahabharat, contains the teachings of Lord Krishna to Arjuna. It is one of the most important spiritual texts in the world, and its teachings are still relevant today.
Here are some relevant shlokas from each chapter of the Bhagavad Gita:
Chapter 1:
Arjuna Vishada Yoga
Shloka 1: Dhritarashtra said: O Sanjay, what did my sons and the sons of Pandu do when they assembled together, eager to fight?
Shloka 2: Sanjaya said: O King, after looking over the army arranged in military formation by the sons of Pandu, King Duryodhana went to his teacher and spoke the following words.
Chapter 2: Sankhya Yoga
Shloka 13: As the embodied Aatma(soul) continuously passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age,
the Aatma(soul) similarly passes into another body at death. A sober person is not bewildered
Chapter 3:
Karma Yoga
Shloka 7: You have the right to work, but never to the fruit of work. You should never engage in action for the sake of reward, nor should you long for inaction.
Chapter 4:
Jnana Yoga
Shloka 8: To deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of religion, I appear, millennium after millennium.
Chapter 5:
Karma Sannyasa Yoga
Shloka 10: One who performs his duty without attachment, surrendering the results unto the Supreme Lord, is unaffected by sinful action, as the lotus leaf is untouched by water.
Chapter 6:
Dhyana Yoga
Shloka 5: One must elevate, not degrade oneself with one's mind. The mind is the friend of the conditioned Aatma(soul), and his enemy as well.
Chapter 7: Jnana-Vijnana Yoga
Shloka 19: After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great Aatma(soul) is very rare.
Chapter 8: Akshara Brahma Yoga
Shloka 3: The supreme personality of Godhead said: The indestructible, transcendental living entity is called Brahman,
and his eternal nature is called the self. Action about the development of these material bodies is called karma.
Chapter 9:
Raja-Vidya-Guhya Yoga
Shloka 22: But those who always worship Me with exclusive devotion, meditating on My transcendental form-to them I carry what they lack, and I preserve what they have.
Chapter 10: Vibhuti-Vistara Yoga
Shloka 41: Know that all opulent, beautiful, and glorious creations spring from but a spark of My splendor.
Chapter 11: Visvarupa-Darsana Yoga
Shloka 32: O great one, who stands beyond the universe, seeing You with Your many radiant colors touching the sky, Your gaping mouths, and Your great glowing eyes, my mind is frightened by fear.
I can no longer maintain my steadiness or equilibrium of mind.
Chapter 12:
Bhakti Yoga
Shloka 7: Therefore, Arjuna, you should always think of Me in the form of Krishna and simultaneously carry out your prescribed duty of fighting.
With your activities dedicated to Me and your mind and intelligence fixed on Me, you will attain Me without a doubt.
Chapter 13:
Ksetra-Ksetrajna Vibhaga Yoga
Shloka 34: O son of Bharata, as the sun alone illuminates all this universe, so does the living entity, one within the body, illuminate the entire body by consciousness.
Chapter 14: Gunatraya-Vibhaga Yoga
Shloka 27: For one who has taken his birth, death is certain; and for one who is dead, birth is certain. Therefore, in the unavoidable discharge of your duty, you should not lament
Chapter 15: Purushottama Yoga
Shloka 15: I am seated in everyone's heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge, and forgetfulness.
By all the Vedas am I to be known; indeed, I am the compiler of Vedanta, and I am the knower of the Vedas.
Chapter 16:
Daivasura-Sampad-Vibhaga Yoga
Shloka 3: The transcendental nature of My eternal being is known to Me alone, O Arjuna, by My innermost consciousness, which is a divine element. It is not known by the ordinary senses, by the mind, or by intelligence.
Chapter 17: Sraddhatraya-Vibhaga Yoga
Shloka 20: That gift which is given out of duty, at the proper time and place, to a worthy person
, and without expectation of return, is considered to be charity in the mode of goodness.
Shloka 66: Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.
The Mahabharata is also known for its spiritual dimension, especially the Bhagavad Gita, which is a part of it.
The Bhagavad Gita is considered one of the most important spiritual texts in the world and contains teachings on life, death, and the nature of the Atma(Soul).
The Mahabharata also contains descriptions of various weapons or astras, that were used during the war. These astras were divine and capable of causing great destruction. Some of the most critical astras mentioned in the Mahabharata, include the Brahmastra, Narayanastra, Pashupatastra, Sudarshana Chakra, and Vaishnavastra.
Shankhas or conches, were used as war instruments during ancient Indian times, and the Mahabharata, mentions several important shankhas such as Devadatta, Paundra, Anantavijaya, Sughosha, and Manipushpaka.
The Mahabharata, also contains references to various granths and Puranas, which are sacred texts. These include the Vishnu Purana, Shiva Purana, Garuda Purana, Matsya Purana, and Agni Purana.
The Mahabharata mentions several important places that are considered to be holy and significant, including :
Kurukshetra, Hastinapur, Varnavat, Panchal, Gandhar, Takshashila, Ujjanak, shivi Desh, Indraprastha, Vrindavan, Gokul, Barsana, Mathura, Kashi
, Ekachakranagari, Magadh, Pundru Desh, Pragjyotishpur, Sindhu Desh, Matsya Desh, Madra.
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Conclusion
In conclusion, the Mahabharat is an ancient Indian scripture that contains a wealth of knowledge and wisdom.
It not only tells the story of the Kuru dynasty, and the epic war of Kurukshetra but also includes details about various weapons, war instruments, sacred texts, holy places, and the spiritual teachings of the Bhagavad Gita.
The Mahabharat, is a testament to the rich cultural and spiritual heritage of India and is still revered, by millions of people worldwide.
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Source of Reference
Exploring the Treasures of Mahabharat: Astras, Shankhas, Granths, Puranas, Places,
Bhagavad Gita. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.indiadivine.org/exploring-the-treasures-of-mahabharat-astras-shankhas-granthas-puranas-places-and-the-bhagavad-gita/.
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