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

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the destiny of those who are selfish and malicious?

2. Among mountains what is Krishna?

3. What kind of food do sattvic people prefer?

4. Among the luminaries what is Krishna?

5. What is Krishna among bodies of water?

Short Essay Questions

1. What exists without Krishna?

2. What instructions does Krishna give Arjuna at the beginning of this chapter?

3. How does Arjuna begin this chapter?

4. What does Krishna say are the two orders of being in the world? Is there anything beyond?

5. What are some of the most glorious of Krishna's divine powers?

6. What is the relationship between Purusha and prakriti?

7. Who does Krishna say sees truly?

8. What happens to souls who die in each of these states?

9. What does Krishna explain to Arjuna in this chapter?

10. What kind of food do those ruled by each of the gunas eat?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In chapter twelve, Krishna describes at length the one with whom he is in love. What are the characteristics of this "one?" How do the characteristics of this one fit into Krishna's previous teachings? Discuss citing specific examples.

Essay Topic 2

Krishna tells Arjuna that the gunas come from him, and although he is not in them, he enjoys their play. Write an essay discussing the following:

Part 1) What is the guna sattva? What are some examples of a sattvic attitude? What are some examples of sattvic action? What do souls possessing a primarily sattvic nature worship?

Part 2) What is the guna rajas? What are some examples of a rajastic attitude? What are some examples of rajastic action? What do souls possessing a primarily rajastic nature worship?

Part 3) What is the guna tamas? What are some examples of a tamasic attitude? What are some examples of tamasic action? What do souls possessing a primarily tamasic nature worship?

Part 4) What is the destiny of souls which are guided by sattva, rajas, and tamas respectively?

Part 5) Can the gunas be transcended?

Use specific examples from the text for all of the above.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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