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Vedavyasa Reveals the Vedic Chronology

of
Srimad Bhagavad-Gita

Showing great compassion for all living entities Lord Krishna’s lila avatar and literary incarnation
Krishna Dvaipayana Vedavyasa composed the authentic historical treatise known throughout
creation as the Mahabharata. The eighteen chapters of the Bhagavad-Gita are found in the Bhisma-
parva, chapters 25 to 42 of the Mahabharata and they are the exact words that Lord Krishna spoke
in Sanskrit on the battlefield of Kuruksetra, India over five thousand years ago in 3137 B.C. The
proof that the Mahabharata is definitely an authentic historical treatise and not allegorical or
mythological is verified in the Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 1, chapter 4, verse 25 as follows.

stri-sudra-dvijabandhunam trayi na sruti-gocara

karma-sreyasi mudhanam sreya evam bhaved iha

iti bharatan akhyanam krpaya munina krtam

Translation

Out of compassion the great sage Vedavyasa thought it wise that all mankind achieve the ultimate
goal of life. Thus he compiled the historical treatise known as the Mahabharata for the women,
laborers and friends of the brahmanas.

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The external reason chosen by Vedavyasa was to make easily available for all humanity through
dramatic narration a simple but sublime way to understand the path of righteousness. This is
corroborated in Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 1, chapter 4, verse 29:

bharata-vyapadesena hy amnayarthas ca pradarsitah

drsyate yatra dharmadi stri-sudradibhir apy uta

Translation

Vedavyasa compiled the Mahabharata under the auspices of disciplic succession, properly
explaining what is essential so that even women, laborers and those not qualified to read the Vedas
can envision the path of righteousness.

Although Vedavyasa was an incarnation of Lord Krishna Himself he was also within the purview of
disciplic succession having been initiated by Narada Muni who was initiated by Brahma who was
initiated by Vishnu. After writing the four Vedas, the 108 Puranas and the Brahma Sutras,
Vedavyasa composed the Mahabharata for the benefit of the common man. But the internal purpose
and ultimate reason for doing so was to guide the attention to Lord Krishna. In Srimad
Bhagavatam, Canto 3, chapter 5, verse 12 this is fully substantiated:

munir vivaksur bhagavad-gunanam sakhapi te bharatam aha krsnah

yasmin nrnam gramya-sukhanuvadir matir grhita nu hareh kathayam

Translation

Your friend Vedavyasa has already described the sublime transcendental qualities of the Supreme
Lord Krishna in his epic narrative Mahabharata. But the real purpose was to draw the attention of
worldly people away from mundane topics and direct it towards the divine revelation of
Bhagavad-Gita spoken by Lord Krishna.

The Bhagavad-Gita chronology is given in Mahabharata, Santi-parva, CCCXLVIII.

treta-yugadau ca tato vivasvan manave dadau

manus ca loka-bhrty-artham sutayeksvakave dadau

iksvakuna ca kathito vyapya lokam avasthitah

Translation

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In the beginning of Treta yuga the supreme science of Bhagavad-Gita was delivered by the sun-god
Vivasvan to Vaivasvata Manu the father of mankind who gave it to his son King Iksvaku the ruler of
the planet Earth.

Lord Krishna Himself also confirms this exact same disciplic succession in the transferal of the
supreme science in the Bhagavad-Gita, chapter 4, verse 1:

sri bhagavan uvaca

iman vivasvate yogam proktavam aham avyayam

vivasvan manave praha manur iksvakave'bravit

Translation

The Supreme Lord Krishna said: I instructed this supreme imperishable science unto the sun-god
Vivasvan and he instructed it unto Vaivasvata Manu the father of mankind who instructed it to his
son King Iksvaku, ruler of all the Earth.

King Iksvaku was the sovereign ruler of Earth at the time he received the supreme science of the
Bhagavad-Gita. He was the progenitor of the solar Raghu dynasty in which the Lord Krishna's
avatar as Rama appeared in Ayodhya also in Treta yuga. If we calculate we know that the present
age we are in is Kali yuga in which 5000 years have transpired. Before this was Dvapara yuga which
had 800,000 years and before this was Treta-yuga which began 1,200,000 before Dvapara-yuga. So
from this Vedic information it can be determined that King Iksvaku received the Bhagavad-Gita in
this world at the very least 2 million years ago.

Going even further, the lifespan of Vaivasvatu Manu who is the current and seventh Manu in this
kalpa is calculated in the Vedic scriptures as being 308,571,428 solar years of which 120,400,000
have transpired. Since the Bhagavad-Gita was given to the sun-god Visvasvan before the current
Vaisvasvatu Manu was born then it can be understood that the Bhagavad-Gita was spoken to him at
least 120 million 400 thousands years ago.

Going even more further than this we know that one kalpa is calculated in Vedic scriptures as being
4 billion 300 million years. There are 14 Manus is this time period of a kalpa of which our current
Vaivasvatu is the seventh Manu. So there were six previous Manus before him and they also
received the supreme eternal science known as Bhagavad-Gita. So if we multiply 6 times
308,571,428 which is the time of existence for one Manu we arrive at the time span of 1,851,428,568
solar years and if we add the 120,400,000 years from our current Vaisvasvatu the seventh Manu. It
can be determined the Bhagavad-Gita was also spoken 1 billion, 971 million, 828 thousand 568 years
ago.

This supreme science of the Bhagavad-Gita which the Supreme Lord Krishna gave to the sun-god is
in our current time span of the seventh Manu. This is all under the duration of Brahma created

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from a lotus sprung from the navel of Vishnu. That Brahma was created from a lotus is confirmed in
the Brahma Samhita, chapter 5, verse 22:

evam sarvatma-sambandham nabhyam padmam harer abhut

tatra brahmabhavad bhuyas catur-vedi catur-mukhah

Translation

The divine lotus which sprung from the navel of Vishnu is in every way related to the spiritual
communion of all souls in existence and is the origin of the four-faced Brahma versed in the four
Vedas.

So this is the Vedic information regarding the chronology of the 18 chapters of the supreme science
known as Srimad Bhagavad-Gita that was revealed by Lord Krishna to Arjuna amidst the 7
divisions of the Pandava army and the 11 divisions of the Kaurava army just prior to the 18 day
battle of Kuruksetra in 3137 B.C. This all transpired during the present life of our current Brahma
whose origin was the divine lotus manifested from the navel of Vishnu.

The Vedic scriptures confirm that creation is cyclic and lasts for a lifetime of Brahma. These
calculations are measured by a system known as kalaganana which is determined by the
astronomical calibrations and movements of celestial stars and planetary bodies in interlocking
galaxies and universes. One day and one night of Brahma is 8 billion 640 million Earth years. One
year of Brahma is 360 days of Brahma equaling 3 trillion, 110 billion and 400 million Earth years.
One lifetime of Brahma is 100 of these years of Brahma equating to 311 trillion and 40 billion years.

The supreme science of the Bhagavad-Gita is unable to be understood by unevolved beings of

impure consciousness. This supreme science of the Bhagavad-Gita is periodically given by the
Supreme Lord Krishna or His scriptually revealed incarnations or by his authorised
representatives through the auspices of disciplic succession in one of the four bonafide sampradayas
being the Brahma Vaisnava Sampradaya, the Sri Vaisnava Sampradaya, the Rudra Vaisnava
Sampradaya and the Kumara Vaisnava Sampradaya. Having manifested at the beginning of each
cyclic creation it eternally manifests again and again with the birth of every Brahma.

Further information of the revelation of the existence of Srimad Bhagavad-Gita shall establish the
chronology of six Brahmas previous to our present Brahma’s lotus birth from Vishnu as verified
below in Mahabharata, Santi-parva, CCCXLIX.

In Brahma's birth 311 trillion and 40 billion years previous to the birth of our present day Brahmas
manifestation from the divine lotus from Vishnu, Brahma was manifest from a golden egg from
Vishnu. When the golden egg cracked Brahma emerged and Vishnu communicated the supreme
science of the Bhagavad-Gita to him. Brahma then delivered it to those holy sages known as the
Varhishhadas who in turn gave it to a brahmana named Jeshthya well versed in the Sama Veda. The
brahmana Jeshthya instructed a king named Avikampana. After this knowledge of the supreme

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science of the Bhagavad-Gita disappeared from this world.

In Brahma's birth 622 trillion and 80 billion years previous to the birth of our present day Brahma
and before the Brahma manifesting from the golden egg from Vishnu, Brahma then appeared from
the nostril of Vishnu. At that time Vishnu himself sang the supreme science known as the
Bhagavad-Gita in his presence. Then a fiat of Brahma born from his will named Sanat Kumara
studied it thoroughly and instructed it to Prajapati Virana who after studying it taught it to the
ascetic Raivya who imparted it to his son of pure soul and firm vows and great intelligence. After
this knowledge of the supreme science of the Bhagavad-Gita disappeared from this world.

In Brahma's birth 933 trillion and 120 billion years previous to the birth of our present day Brahma
and before the Brahma manifesting from Vishnu's nostril, Brahma then appeared from the ear of
Vishnu. When Vishnu lying upon Sesha Naga desired to manifest creation he reflected upon a being
who would be puissant enough to accomplish this. At that time a being competent enough to fulfill
this appeared from his ear and Vishnu named him Brahma. Vishnu instructed him to create various
kinds of beings to populate creation. Also Vishnu imparted to Brahma the supreme science of the
Bhagavad-Gita. After this Brahma created the various and diverse universes with their varieagated
mobile and and immobile creatures. In this time the supreme science of the Bhagavad-Gita
pervaded all of creation. With the knowledge of the Bhagavad-Gita which is paramount in
righteousness Brahma who was the creator of all the worlds worshipped Vishnu a purusa
incarnation of the Supreme Lord Krishna for the benefit of everyone in all the worlds. Then
desiring to spread this knowledge Brahma instructed the supreme science of Bhagavad-Gita to the
Manu of that timeframe named Svarochish Manu who carefully imparted that knowledge to his son
Sankhapada who in turn taught this knowledge to his son Suvarnabha. After this knowledge of the
supreme science of the Bhagavad-Gita disappeared from this world.

In Brahma's birth 1044 trillion and 160 billion years previous to the birth of our present day
Brahma and before the Brahma manifesting from Vishnu's ear, Brahma then appeared from the
speech of Vishnu. The supreme science of the Bhagavad-Gita again manifested itself as well. At that
time a rishi named Suparna received it from him. Suparna would recite the supreme science of the
Bhagavad-Gita during the three sandhyas everyday. Knowledge of this supreme science is referred
to in the Rig Veda. From the sage Suparna it was obtained by Vayu the wind god who communicated
it to those rishis who subsist upon what remains from sacrificial yagna after feeding all the guests.
From these rishis the supreme science was obtained by Varuna the god of the ocean. After this
knowledge of the supreme science of the Bhagavad-Gita disappeared from this world.

In Brahma's birth 1355 trillion and 200 billion years previous to the birth of our present day
Brahma and before the Brahma manifesting from Vishnu's speech, Brahma then appeared from the
eyes of Vishnu. At that time Brahma learned the supreme science of the Bhagavad-Gita from Soma
the moon god. Having received it Brahma then imparted this supreme science to Shiva who
subsequently communicated it to all those rishis who are known by the name of Valikhilyas. After
this knowledge of the supreme science of Bhagavad-Gita disappeared from this world.

In Brahma's birth 1666 trillion and 240 billion years previous to the birth of our present day
Brahma and before the Brahma manifesting from Vishnu's eyes, Brahma then appeared from the
mind of Vishnu. Those rishis that subsist only upon the froth of water obtained the supreme science
of the Bhagavad-Gita from Vishnu. These same rishis then gave it to those rishis who are known as

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Vaikanasas and from them Soma the moon-god received it. After this knowledge of the supreme
science of the Bhagavad-Gita disappeared from this world.

Madhvacarya the establisher of the Brahma Madhva Vaisnava Sampradaya received instructions
and knowledge of Srimad Bhagavad-Gita directly from Vedavyasa the author of the Mahabharata
who had received the knowledge of Bhagavad-Gita from Narada Muni who had received it from
Brahma who is the root source of the Brahma Vaisnava Sampradaya and its subsequent disciplic
succession. Our present Brahma who was born from the divine lotus received the knowledge of
Bhagavad-Gita directly from Vishnu.

This Vishnu is one of three Vishnus and is known as Garbodaksayi Vishnu who is one of three
Purusa avatars, which are one of the six groups of incarnations of the Supreme Lord Krishna. This
is confirmed in the sublime and authoritative biography Sri Caitanya Caritamrita by Krishna das
Kaviraj in Madhya Lila, chapter 22, verse 38.

The six groups of incarnations of the Supreme Lord Krishna are Purusa avatars, Lila avatars, Guna
avatars, Yuga avatars, Manvantara avatars and Satyavesa avatars.

Lord Krishna again revealed the supreme science of the Bhagavad-Gita which had disappeared
from this world as is confirmed in Bhagavad-Gita, chapter 4, verse 2 below:

evam parampara-praptam imam rajarsayo viduh

sa kaleneha mahata yogo mastah parantapa

Translation

The supreme science of the Bhagavad-Gita was thus received through the auspices of disciplic
succession and the saintly kings received it in this way. But due to the passage of time this
knowledge has been almost lost.

Thus has been given an authorized account of the chronological history of the supreme science
known throughout all of creation as Srimad Bhagavad-Gita, according to Vedic scriptures compiled
by Krishna Dvaipayana Vedavyasa, the son of Parasara from the womb of Satyavati. May all beings
in all the worlds be benefited by this supreme science.

Krishna Dvaipayana Vyasadeva

Lila Avatar and Literary Incarnation

Brahma Madhva Vaisnava Sampradaya

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