Traditionally, the Gita Mahatmyam is sung at the end of each study of the Srimad Bhagavad Gita. There are several Gitas, such as the Shiva Gita, Ribhu Gita, Asthavakra Gita, Kapila Gita, Uddhava Gita, Gopi Gita, Bhikshu Gita, Guru Gita and Rama Gita. These Gitas are scattered across the Smriti consisting of the Puranas, Ramayana and Mahabharata. Bhagavan Veda Vyasa is the author of all the Puranas (18 in number) except the Vishnu Purana, which was composed by his father, Maharshi Parashara. Bhagavan Veda Vyasa is also the author of the Mahabharata while the Ramayana is credited to Sri Valmiki. Bhagavan Veda Vyasa is so named (splitter) because he divided the Vedas into four and organised them. Hence much of what is today known as 'Hindu' thought is due to the work of Bhagavan Veda Vyasa. He is also known as Krishna Dwaipamayana as he was dark and born on an island.

The Gita Mahatmyam here means the importance or greatness of the Srimad Bhagavad Gita. There are two such descriptions of the greatness of Srimad Bhagavad Gita available. One of them, found in the Padma Purana, is in the form of a conversation of Sri Shiva and Sri Parvati. It describes the greatness of each of the chapters and is therefore, itself 18 chapters long. A lucid translation of the first chapter of Gita Mahatmyam is found in the journal, year 2006, volume 8 at: [ Ссылка ]

This video is about the other version found in the Varaha Purana, with some additional verses popularly ascribed to Bhagavatpada Jagadguru Adya Shankaracharya. The order of the verses is often jumbled in the various recitations, transliterations and translations. Hence, multiple links for the Gita Mahatmyam are now given.

The most complete version, with an English transliteration and translation is found at: [ Ссылка ]
An English translation of a compact version is found at: [ Ссылка ]
Another version is found at: [ Ссылка ]
A sonorous rendition is found in the first half of the video: [ Ссылка ]

Traditionally, at the end of each hymn or scriptural composition, a verse or some verses are recited indicating the greatness of the hymn or text recited or studied. This ending verse/s is called the 'phalastuti' or the fruit of the hymn, as these texts are meant to be heard & studied primarily, not read. This 'phalastuti' gives in precise detail the result/fruit of that particular effort. In addition, it inculcates an attitude of reverence towards the effort made. The Gita Mahatmyam is such a 'phalastuti' but also more and hence is not referred to as 'phalastuti' but 'mahatmyam'.

The Bhagavad Gita is one of the three teachings by Sri Krishna in the Mahabharata: Sri Shiva Sahasranama (thousand names of Shiva), Srimad Bhagavad Gita and Anu Gita (a smaller and simpler version of the Bhagavad Gita). His major teaching in the Srimad Bhagavatam is the Uddhava Gita, found in its eleventh section or skandha.

The audio track is from the same Cd as the Gita chapters are from and sung in the strictly traditional manner. For more details on the audio track, check out any of the Gita videos on this channel, for example: [ Ссылка ]

The images are random downloads from the web, including krishna.com, trekearth.com for Ganga images and hubblesite.org.

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