Why should we read Bhagavad Gita regularly?

Long ago an old farmer lived in a farm in the mountain with his young grandson. Each morning, grandpa would be up early, and could be found sitting at the kitchen table reading his Bhagavad Gita. His grandson wanted to be just like him, and tried to imitate him every way he could.

One day the grand son asked, "Grandpa, I try to read Bhagavad Gita, just as you do, but I cannot understand it. Moreover, as soon as I close the book, I forget everything that I had read. How will I benefit from reading the Bhagavad Gita?"

The grandfather quietly turned from feeding coal into stove and replied, " Take this basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water."

The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house. The grandfather laughed and said, "You will have to move a little faster next time," and sent him back to the river with the basket to try again. This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, and he went to get a bucket instead. The old man said," I do not want a bucket of water: I want a basket of water. You are just not trying hard enough." He came out of the house watch the boy try again. The boy wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast he could, the water would leak out before he got back to the house."

The boy again dipped the basket into river and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather, the basket was again empty. Out of breath, he said, "See grandpa, it's useless.!"

"So you think it is useless?" The old man said, " Look at the basket." The boy looked at the basket, and for the first time, he realized that the basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket to a clean one, inside and outside.

"Son, this is what happens when you read the Bhagavad Gita. You may not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you will be cleansed from inside and outside. That is the power of Lord Krishna's Divine words."

With a clean mind and heart, we are able to detect the holes (weaknesses and impurities) within us, and we try to close these holes. When the impurities are removed, we can achieve the Supreme goal in life.

Teaching:

Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj points out that, while hearing the Bhagavad Gita is a starting point, make an attempt to understand the Bhagavad Gita from Guru, contemplate on the knowledge it contains, and then strive to implement its teachings in your daily life.

Excerpt from "Inspiring Stories for Children- Vol:3"

Bal Mukund Character Building Series