Q. His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada says in BG that one has to have faith in Krishna and should understand Krishna as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, then only he can understand BG. But how will a person who is at the very beginning level or not even a devotee and who just starts to read BG will understand it? Will reading BG give more faith and help him to understand it or he has to accept Krishna as the supreme personality of Godhead and then only he has to read BG?
Answer by Romapada Swami: Right from the very beginning of Bhagavad-Gita, it is made clear that this is being spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead — “sri Bhagavan uvaca”. Srila Vyasadeva emphasizes this fact by repeatedly stating, “sri Bhagavan uvaca”, rather than merely “sri Krishna uvaca”. In fact, the very name “Bhagavad-Gita” suggests that these are not the words of an ordinary, fallible being.
Thus, even if one is a completely new beginner with no prior conception of who Sri Krishna is, if they can begin with a simple mind by accepting the Bhagavad-gita at face value as the words of God — just as it is stated within the book itself — they would benefit immensely from such study of the Gita. One may initially not have a full understanding or appreciation of Krishna’s true position, how He is the proprietor and controller of everything, how He is the constant companion and Witness of all our activities, the Cause of all causes, and so on. But as long as they are not envious of the Lord and begin with even just a little drop of faith, then by further study and hearing that faith will grow and mature.
On the other hand, if one thinks of Lord Krishna in a relative way — as an ordinary person or even an extraordinary historical personality or as one among the multitudes of demigods within this created material universe, then for them the Bhagavad-gita loses its position as an authoritative and perfect scripture. Srila Prabhupada comments in BG 2.12 p, “A common man with all the four defects of human frailty is unable to teach that which is worth hearing… When one accepts Krishna as an ordinary man, the Gita loses all importance.” Thus, those who approach the Bhagavad-gita with their own ideas and interpretations that sidestep Krishna’s position as the Supreme personality of Godhead, and those who challenge or relativize the authority of Krishna, their study of Gita will prove to be no more than a futile labor, as far as spiritual realization is concerned, because they are unable to accept its authoritative conclusions.
