Sacred Scripture

The Bhagavad Gita of
Suddha Dharma Mandalam

26 Adhyayas · 745 Slokas · Structured by the 24 Syllables of the Gayatri Mantra

"The Srimad Bhagavad Gita is the one supremely holy book in the proud possession of Aryavarta for millennia — attracting the admiration and adoration of scholars and laymen alike in both the East and the West."

From the Teachings of the Masters

The Suddha Dharma Edition of the Gita

This Supreme Dharma — otherwise known as Pranava Shastra, Gayatri Dharma, or Yoga Brahma Vidya — is the Srimad Bhagavad Gita. The Suddha Dharma Mandalam Edition, with 26 adhyayas and 745 slokas, was first published in 1917 by the late Dr. Sir S. Subramanier and the late Pandit K. T. Sreenivasacharya.

They were enabled to do so by some of the Elders of the Suddha Dharma Mandalam, who graciously secured the Manuscript of this Text — along with those of other philosophic works — from their safe keeping in the archives of Suddha Kosha in the Maha Guha in Northern India, known to a few among the members of Suddha Dharma.

The Bhagavad Gita, as we now have it from Vyasa's pen and as reported by Sanjaya (who witnessed this sacred event through his divine faculty of vision), comprises the expressed Slokas of the Lord and Arjuna. The said dialogue was read by Sanjaya from the high impressions on the etheric (akashic) tablet of their inward interchange of question and response.

The antiquity of this Text is evident from the fact that more than thirty commentators have based their learned commentaries on it, including Hamsa Yogi (fifth century A.D., prior to the three Acharyas of the Vedanta school) who makes elaborate quotations in his own monumental commentary, of which the Upodghata and the first two chapters have been published.

The authority of the Suddha system of Philosophy is amply borne out not only by the united consent of all commentators, but also by the intrinsic excellence of its utter catholicity and singular freedom from sectarian and class bias of any kind whatever.

"An honest study of it will stimulate intensive research in the reader, finally inclining him to take to its practice."

From the Teachings of the Masters

The Nature of Brahm (OM / A.U.M.)

The chapters of the Suddha Dharma Gita represent aspects of Brahm in its two fundamental expressions:

Chapter 1 · Vyasty

A.U.M.

The Manifested Aspect

A — Spirit / Atman
U — Matter / Prakriti
M — Shakti / Divine Power

Chapter 26 · Samasthi

OM

The Unitary Aspect

Brahm in its absolute, undivided expression — the pure, transcendent syllable beyond all manifestation.

Structure of the Suddha Dharma Gita

Sankhya is the oldest system of Hindu philosophy (darshan), dealing with the theory of liberation — often called "the enumerators" because Sankhya means "number" or "enumeration". The 26 chapters are divided into two great Kandams, four groups, and one chapter each for the unmanifested (Ch. 1) and absolute (Ch. 26) aspects of Brahm.

Gnana Bhakti Karma Yoga
Kandam Division Ch. Topic / Swaroopa
Prologue 1 Vyasty — Brahm in its manifested aspect (A.U.M.)
Sankhya Kandam Gnana 2 Nara Narayana
3Avatara
4Adhikara
5Siksha
6Karana
7Kaivalya
Bhakti 8 Swaroopa
9Sadhanatraya
10Maya
11Moksha
12Brahma Swaroopa
13Bhakti
Karma 14 Pranayama
15Paramatma
16Akshara
17Rajavidya
18Paramahamsa
19Samnyasa
Yoga Kandam Yoga 20 Atma
21Prakriti
22Karma
23Bhakti
24Gnana
25Yoga
Epilogue 26 Samasthi — Brahm in its unitary aspect (OM)

Chapters 20–25 form the Yoga Kandam — the synthesis and transcendence of Knowledge, Will, and Action.

Kevala Sankhya vs. Suddha Sankhya

Kevala Sankhya

The Partial Vision

  • Has not yet experienced Unity — neither spiritual nor mental comprehension of the Whole.
  • Goal is a God who is a "donor of blessings and goods" for personal desires.
  • Worship is done through the predominant exercise of one faculty — Gnana, Bhakti, or Karma — without synthesis (yoga).
  • Searches for and experiences the goal as separate entities (Gods, Spirits, etc.).

Suddha Sankhya

The Unitary Vision — Eka Bhāva

  • Has a unitary vision (Eka Bhāva) — everything is and comes from Brahman.
  • Worships the Supreme God; all knowledge, devotion, and acts are directed to Him.
  • Known as a Gnana Yogi, Bhakti Yogi, or Karma Yogi — practising the full synthesis.
  • Practises Bhavana (Concept of Unity) daily. Ref: II-13, XII-7, VII-4, XVIII-9, XX-20.

"I think with love… that all things and beings were born into the Universal spirit… which comprises everything… sustains everything… in a constant (unchanging) order… and in eternal life… therefore, both the inferior and the superior beings… participate of the same life… forming in the infinite space… a unique cosmic body… where everything is GOD (Brahman). Everything has the same nature of GOD, hence everything is necessary."

Daily exercise of the Suddha Sankhya disciple — The Concept of Unity (Bhavana)

Trigunas' Influence on Human Faculties

The concept of Unity is achieved as a result of the efforts to purify our nature through the predominance of Sattwa. This table illustrates the Trigunas' influence over the three human faculties. (References indicate Chapter and verse in the SDM Bhagavad Gita edition.)

Guna Gnana — Knowledge Iccha — Desire / Bhakti Kriya — Activity
Sattwa Goodness / Purity · Ref: X-4, XI-13 Unitary & collective conception. Illumination, Harmony, Rhythm. Happiness, Purity, Subtlety, Austerity. Predominantly mental / internal focus.
Rajas Passion / Activity · Ref: X-5, XI-14 Diverse and separatist conceptions. Restlessness, Passion, Avarice, Uneasiness. Impetus — the impulse of action.
Tamas Inertia / Ignorance · Ref: X-6, XI-15 Ignorance and the consequent fascination. Smallness. Sadness, Fear. Indolence, Inactivity, Laziness.

Video Lecture Series on YouTube

YouTube Playlist

Study of the Srimad Bhagavad Gita of Suddha Dharma

Gnana Dhatha Dr. José Rugê

26 chapters · 190 videos · approx. 1h 30min each

An exhaustive chapter-by-chapter study of all 26 chapters and 745 Slokas of the Suddha Dharma edition of the Bhagavad Gita.

Watch Full Playlist →

🇧🇷 Videos in Portuguese

These lectures are delivered in Brazilian Portuguese. YouTube provides automatic translation: click the ⚙ Settings icon on any video → Subtitles/CCAuto-translate → choose your language. Subtitles can also be toggled with the CC button.