WHAT is the significance of the Gita? Nangta used to teach me thus: What you get by repeating the word ‘Gita’ ten times is the essence of the book. It is then reversed into ‘tagi’, which means a person who has renounced everything for God.
The essence of the Gita is: ‘O man, renounce everything and practice spiritual discipline for the realisation of God.’
Whether a man is a monk or a householder, he has to shake off all attachments from his mind. He alone has understood the secret of the Gita who has renounced his attachment to ‘woman and gold’ and has directed his entire love to God.
You see, there is no need to read too much of the scriptures. If you read too much you will be inclined to reason and argue. It isn’t necessary to read the whole of the Gita. The purpose of reading the book is served if one practices renunciation.
The Gita is the essence of all scriptures. A Sannyasi may or may not keep with him another book, but he always carries a pocket Gita.
(Culled from The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna)