Sacred scriptures
Srimad Bhagavad Gita: Timeless Wisdom for Life
Explore the teachings of Lord Krishna to Arjuna on dharma, karma, devotion, self-realisation, and the path to a balanced and meaningful life.
Introduction
The Bhagavad Gita is a dialogue of seven hundred verses found in the Bhishma Parva of the Mahabharata. It is set on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, where Arjuna, overwhelmed by doubt at the prospect of fighting his own kin, turns to Krishna, who serves as his charioteer and guide.
Across eighteen chapters, the conversation moves from Arjuna's personal crisis to wider questions about duty, action, knowledge, devotion and the nature of the self.
Key Themes
Dharma: the Gita discusses acting in accordance with one's responsibilities and right conduct. Karma Yoga: it encourages performing one's duty without attachment to the fruits of action.
Jnana: it reflects on the distinction between the changing body and the enduring self. Bhakti: it presents loving devotion to the Divine as a path of spiritual realisation.
Why the Gita Remains Relevant
Many readers turn to the Gita for guidance on facing difficult decisions, maintaining balance in success and failure, and acting with integrity. Its teachings have been explained by many commentators, including Adi Shankaracharya, Ramanujacharya and Madhvacharya, whose interpretations differ in important ways.
How to Begin Reading
Start with a reliable translation that includes the Sanskrit text and explanatory notes. Read a chapter at a time, reflect on its questions, and compare more than one recognised commentary where possible.
Chapter-wise reading
The 18 Chapters of the Bhagavad Gita
Each chapter is published once its verses have been prepared and reviewed. Chapters not yet available are marked forthcoming.
- Chapter 1अर्जुनविषादयोगArjuna Vishada YogaThe Yoga of Arjuna's Despair
- Chapter 2सांख्ययोगSankhya YogaThe Yoga of Knowledge
- Chapter 3कर्मयोगKarma YogaThe Yoga of Action
- Chapter 4ज्ञानकर्मसंन्यासयोगJnana Karma Sannyasa YogaThe Yoga of Knowledge and Renunciation of Action
- Chapter 5कर्मसंन्यासयोगKarma Sannyasa YogaThe Yoga of Renunciation of Action
- Chapter 6आत्मसंयमयोगAtma Samyama YogaThe Yoga of Meditation
- Chapter 7ज्ञानविज्ञानयोगJnana Vijnana YogaThe Yoga of Knowledge and Realisation
- Chapter 8अक्षरब्रह्मयोगAkshara Brahma YogaThe Yoga of the Imperishable Brahman
- Chapter 9राजविद्याराजगुह्ययोगRaja Vidya Raja Guhya YogaThe Yoga of Royal Knowledge and Royal Secret
- Chapter 10विभूतियोगVibhuti YogaThe Yoga of Divine Manifestations
- Chapter 11विश्वरूपदर्शनयोगVishvarupa Darshana YogaThe Vision of the Universal Form
- Chapter 12भक्तियोगBhakti YogaThe Yoga of Devotion
- Chapter 13क्षेत्रक्षेत्रज्ञविभागयोगKshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga YogaThe Field and the Knower of the Field
- Chapter 14गुणत्रयविभागयोगGunatraya Vibhaga YogaThe Yoga of the Three Gunas
- Chapter 15पुरुषोत्तमयोगPurushottama YogaThe Yoga of the Supreme Person
- Chapter 16दैवासुरसम्पद्विभागयोगDaivasura Sampad Vibhaga YogaThe Divine and the Demonic Qualities
- Chapter 17श्रद्धात्रयविभागयोगShraddhatraya Vibhaga YogaThe Threefold Nature of Faith
- Chapter 18मोक्षसंन्यासयोगMoksha Sannyasa YogaLiberation through Renunciation