Finale
The  Bhagavad Gita is one of the most translated religious classics of the world.  The beauty and the sublimity of the work, its eternal relevance to the problem  of human life and its universal approach that helps us view the whole of  creation as one must have been the inspiration behind the many scholars to  undertake the task of translating and interpreting it as a labor of love.

Though  Gita forms part of the great epic Mahabharata it can as well stand on its own  as an independent work. Notwithstanding the fact that Gita was taught on the  battlefield of Kurukshetra urging Arjuna to fight, it has nothing to do with  war or bloodshed, but only with discharging one's sacred duties of life, however  unpleasant they may be.

Though  given by Sri Krishna to Arjuna several centuries ago its declarations like  `Remember Me and fight' (8.7) can help and inspire anyone of us, torn between  the problems in life, even now. The principle of unity in multiplicity as indicated  by the Cosmic Form (11.9-13) and the underlying Divinity as taught in 7.7 helps  us to cultivate a holistic approach to the whole universe of which the planet  earth is only a small part.

If  the Mahabharata is an encyclopedia of Indian religion and culture, Srimad  Bhagavad Gita is its essence. It is, therefore, no wonder that Hindu tradition  compares the Mahabharata to a lamp and the Gita to the light in it.

Gita Mahatmyam:
  Greatness of the Bhagavad Gita
  (It is customary  to read this at the end of the day’s Gita study)

The  greatness of Gita is described in the Varaha Purana. Bhagavan Vishnu Himself  says therein that if one is devoted to the constant practice of the Gita he  would be happy in this very world in spite of his Prarabdha Karma. No evil,  however great, can affect him who meditates on Gita; he will be like the lotus  leaf untouched by the water.

Where  there is a book of Gita, where it is studied, they are all holy places - in  fact they are Prayaga and similar other places where Devas, Rishis, Yogis, etc.  reside.

Where  Gita is read, help comes forthwith. Where Gita is discussed, recited, taught or  heard, there Sri Bhagavan Vishnu Himself invariably resides without any doubt.  Gita is The Lord's abode standing on whose wisdom He maintains the three  worlds.

The  Gita is His Supreme Knowledge. It is inseparable from Brahman - this Knowledge  is Absolute, Imperishable, Eternal, and the Essence of His Inexpressible State.  It is the Knowledge encompassing the whole of the three Vedas, supremely blissful  and consisting of the realization of the true nature of the Self.,/p>

The  one who recites Gita daily either wholly or partly acquires merit or attains  the highest plane of human evolution. By practicing the Gita, he attains the  supreme Mukti. Even a dying man  uttering the word "Gita" attains the life's goal. Even the one who  hears the meaning of the Gita is freed from sin. He who meditates on the  meaning of Gita is regarded as Jivanmukta and after the destruction of his body he attains the highest plane of  knowledge.

Finishing  the reading of Gita without reading its Mahatmya as declared in the Varaha  Purana is an exercise in futility and a wasted labor. On the other hand he who  studies Gita followed by the reading of its Mahatmya obtains the fruit stated  herein and reaches that goal which is difficult to attain.

Sage  Suta confirms that he who after having finished the reading of Gita studies  this eternal greatness of Gita will obtain the fruit described therein.

Thus  ends in the Varaha Purana the discourse entitled The Greatness of the Gita
   
Note: Leaving aside the poetic liberty, it may be construed from the above that  the one who assimilates the teachings of the Gita as “A User’s Manual for Every  Day Living” in his practical life is an embodiment of the Gita  itself. He would be a true Jnani, a Jivanmukta.

om  poornamadah poonamidam poornaat poornamudachyate
    poornasya  poornamaadaaya poornamevaa vasishyate
    Om Shantih Shantih Shantih ||

That is infinite; this is  infinite; from that infinite this infinite comes.
  From that infinite, this  infinite removed or added, Infinite remains infinite.

Brahman is limitless,  infinite number of universes come out from and go into the
  Infinite Brahman; yet  Brahman remains unchanged.