Bhagavad Gita

The Bhagavad Gita ('Song of God') is a 700-verse Hindu scripture that forms part of the Indian epic Mahabharata (chapters 23-40 of the Bhishma Parva). It presents a dialogue between Prince Arjuna and Lord Krishna, who serves as his charioteer, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. Faced with the moral dilemma of fighting his own relatives and teachers, Arjuna turns to Krishna for guidance. Krishna's response encompasses the major philosophical themes of Hinduism — karma yoga (path of action), bhakti yoga (path of devotion), jnana yoga (path of knowledge), and the nature of the Self, the Supreme, and the cosmos. The Gita synthesizes these diverse paths into a unified vision of spiritual liberation.

The Bhagavad Gita is the most widely read and influential Hindu scripture worldwide. It has been commented upon by virtually every major Hindu philosopher including Shankaracharya, Ramanujacharya, and Madhvacharya. Mahatma Gandhi called it his 'spiritual dictionary.' Its teachings on duty, detachment, and devotion transcend religious boundaries and continue to inspire millions globally.

Eighteen chapters cover Arjuna's despair, Sankhya yoga and the immortality of the soul, karma yoga and selfless action, jnana yoga and divine knowledge, renunciation, dhyana yoga and meditation, the nature of God, the imperishable Brahman, the most confidential knowledge, divine manifestations, the cosmic form (Vishvarupa), devotion, the field and its knower, the three gunas, the supreme person, divine and demonic natures, three kinds of faith, and the final teaching on liberation through surrender.