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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 are those who "know" truly free from according to Krishna?

2. If Arjuna is unable to still his mind, what does Krishna recommend?

3. How does Arjuna say the gods behave toward Krishna?

4. Why do neither gods nor sages know Krishna's origins?

5. What do those who strive resolutely on the path to yoga see?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the difference between the two kinds of renunciation?

2. What is the relationship between Purusha and prakriti?

3. Who does Krishna say are the most established in yoga?

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

5. How does Arjuna begin this chapter?

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

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

8. What kind of knowledge belongs to each of the gunas?

9. What does Sanjaya say that Krishna showed Arjuna?

10. How do those ruled by each of the gunas worship?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Krishna tells Arjuna that the will is the Self's only friend as well as the Self's only enemy. What does this mean? For whom is the Self a friend? For whom is the Self an enemy? What does Krishna say an aspirant should do with respect to her will? Use specific examples from the text.

Essay Topic 2

Krishna says that "the wise see that there is action in the midst of inaction and inaction in the midst of action." What is the meaning of this cryptic statement? Discuss its significance in the Bhagavad Gita citing specific examples.

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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