All Gītārtha Saṃgraha Quotes Śloka by Śloka

Śrī Yāmuna was the grandson of the 9th century sage
Śrī Nāthamuni and a forebear of T Krishnamacharya.  
His 32 verse commentary on the Bhagavad Gītā
is called the Gītārtha Saṃgraha.
It is seen as one of the most elegant and succinct available.

This text, as with many texts in the Indian Tradition of Transmission, 
was originally learnt through chanting as well as study and as such can
also be downloaded in both visual and oral form to aid heart level learning.

“The message of the Bhagavad Gītā is:
The vision of the lord is certain through
singular devotion developed by honouring ones Dharma
in a spirit that leads to clarity and detachment.”
– TKV Desikachar on Gītārtha Saṃgraha of Śrī Yāmunācārya Śloka One
(Yāmunācārya introduction to the Bhagavad Gītā)

“The first six chapters of the Gītā
deal with Karma and Jñāna that
reveal the true nature of oneself.”
– TKV Desikachar on Gītārtha Saṃgraha of Śrī Yāmunācārya Śloka Two
(Yāmunācārya overview of the Bhagavad Gītā Chapters One to Six)

“The journey with and through the Bhagavad Gītā
is one of a Vinyāsa Krama with three distinct stages.
Firstly, the Pūrva Aṅga aspect of our journey in the ascension
from confusion to clarity, as epitomised in the first hexad.
Here we start from being disturbingly yoked to Viṣāda
as in the first Chapter, and through a chapter by chapter
process, we deepen our self-inquiry into the nature of who.
In other words, this hexad is an exploration of our relationship
with what we perceive and identify with as if our perennial self.
Through chapters two to five, we learn how to approach and
refine the practice of Dhyāna as in Chapter six, through which
clarity arises in our efforts to cultivate a sense of an inner guide.”
Paul Harvey on Gītārtha Saṃgraha of Śrī Yāmunācārya Śloka Two
(Yāmunācārya overview of the Bhagavad Gītā Chapters One to Six)

“The next six chapters emphasise that
devotion is the basis for seeing the truth.
This truth is, the Lord.
But devotion must grow from following ones duty
in a spirit of selflessness and search.”
– TKV Desikachar on Gītārtha Saṃgraha of Śrī Yāmunācārya Śloka Three
(Yāmunācārya overview of the Bhagavad Gītā Chapters Seven to Twelve)

“The last six chapters present the
three fundamental entities:
Prakṛti, Puruṣa and Īśvara.
What is most vital to a person
for everlasting happiness is to
understand the nature of consciousness
and the Lord and his creation.”
– TKV Desikachar on Gītārtha Saṃgraha of Śrī Yāmunācārya Śloka Four
(Yāmunācārya overview of the Bhagavad Gītā Chapters Thirteen to Eighteen)

“The Bhagavad Gītā is addressed to those seekers
who are suffering because of lack of clarity with
regard to friendship, compassion and Dharma.”
– TKV Desikachar on Gītārtha Saṃgraha of Śrī Yāmunācārya Śloka Five
(Yāmunācārya commentary on Bhagavad Gītā Chapter One)

“Then what is required is
the clarity that is stable in
the midst of provocation and
the ability to do ones duty
with complete dedication,
without insisting on results.”
– TKV Desikachar on Gītārtha Saṃgraha of Śrī Yāmunācārya Śloka Six
(Yāmunācārya commentary on Bhagavad Gītā Chapter Two)

“Action is best performed when
it is for the good of the society,
with the spirit of dedication to the lord
and with freedom from the attitude of
being the doer and the beneficiary.”
– TKV Desikachar on Gītārtha Saṃgraha of Śrī Yāmunācārya Śloka Seven
(Yāmunācārya commentary on Bhagavad Gītā Chapter Three)

TKV Desikachar Gītārtha Saṃgraha Quotes as Individual Posts
All Bhagavad Gītā Quotes Collected & Collated

– Last Updated 30th August 2023