Paper Summary:

The paper explores the effects of a religious text, the Bhagavad Gita, on social stratification in India. Observations are made on the way in which the book communicates with its reader and some of the literary techniques used to instill in its readers the religious ideas.

From the Paper:

"The Bhagavad-Gita is widely regarded as one of the most influential and intimate glimpses into the Hindu religion. The Bhagavad-Gita is book six of a grand epic poem called the Mahabharata, which recounts a story of a war between two clans of a royal family. Specifically, the Bhagavad-Gita tells of a great warrior, Arjuna, who is hesitant to go to battle against members of his own family. Arjuna is advised by the Hindu god Krishna to overlook this obvious obstacle and fulfill his duty as a warrior. Indeed, this concentration on duty and moral code is consistent throughout the text. One might then be compelled to ask how the Bhagavad-Gita instills in its followers the moral code and values that it preaches and what sort of effect this text had on the class system in India. Upon a closer examination of the text, it becomes clear that the Bhagavad-Gita is a story meant to justify the rigid class system and maintain social stability in India through its emphasis on duty and moral code."

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