Different approaches to Gita study: historical, literary, philosophical, revelational, descriptive, prescriptive

Lecture Highlights:

Each branch of knowledge like a lens to see the Gita  from a particular perspective

Gita synthesizes six systems of philosophy within a devotional worldview – six systems were originally progressive departments within the same university but later became competitive independent bodies of knowledge, so Baladeva Vidyabhushan refutes the other five systems in his Govinda Bhashya

eg. Gita devotionalizes karma-mimasa eg. 2.42-43; 9.20-24

Descriptive approach to Gita study can’t be countered merely by insisting on the correctness of the prescriptive approach, but by changing the mainstream intellectual ethos of Gita study

Prabhhupada’s commentary is not bhakti-fanatic; it is bhakti-focused.