View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. According to Krishna, how may one be released from Karma?

2. Where do the birth and dissolution of the cosmos take place according to Krishna?

3. Who does Krishna say is the purifier?

4. What does Sri Krishna counsel Arjuna to do?

5. How does Krishna say a sinner becomes holy?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Krishna say would happen if he ever refrained from continuous work?

2. Who does Arjuna see lined up to fight? What is his reaction?

3. What does Krishna say is the difference between those whose desires are fragmented and those whose consciousness is unified?

4. What is Arjuna's first command to Sri Krishna?

5. How does Krishna say ignorance is destroyed?

6. What does Krishna say that the wise see about action?

7. What does Krishna say about those who abstain from action to enjoy sensual pleasures?

8. What is the first thing Sri Krishna says to Arjuna?

9. Of those who seek the spiritual life, who are the most blessed according to Krishna?

10. What does Krishna say about those who follow the path of service?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Krishna speaks to Arjuna at length about dying and one's conduct at the time of death. How does one's conduct at the time of death influence the destiny of one's soul? How does Krishna say Arjuna's soul may be united with him when Arjuna dies, and what are Krishna's instructions for this? Use specific examples from the text.

Essay Topic 2

Upon hearing the reason for Arjuna's despair, Krishna tells him he sees the prince's sincerity, but his sorrow is without cause. Arjuna fears to kill his kin, but Krishna says the wise grieve for neither the living nor the dead because they see that what is impermanent has no reality.

What does Krishna mean by this? Where does reality lie? How does Krishna endeavor to expand Arjuna's perspective? What kind of salvation is Krishna offering? Discuss citing specific examples.

Essay Topic 3

"Awakened sages call a person wise when all his undertakings are free from anxiety about results; all selfish desires are consumed in the fire of knowledge." What does this statement of Krishna's mean? Why should one not care about the outcome of his actions? What is the "fire of knowledge?" Is this theme central to Krishna's teaching? Why or why not? Use specific examples from the text.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 844 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample