The Bhagavad Gita
భగవద్గీత — Krishna's 700-verse teaching to Arjuna
18 chapters · 700 verses · spoken on the Kurukshetra battlefield (Bhishma Parva of Mahabharata)
The Bhagavad Gita ("Song of the Lord") is Lord Krishna's 700-verse teaching delivered to Arjuna on the Kurukshetra battlefield, immediately before the Mahabharata war. It is the most-translated Hindu scripture — over 300 commentaries by acharyas from Adi Shankaracharya (8th century) to modern teachers. Encompasses three principal spiritual paths: Karma Yoga (selfless action — chapters 2-6), Bhakti Yoga (devotion — chapters 7-12), and Jnana Yoga (knowledge — chapters 13-18). The Charama Shloka (Chapter 18, verse 66 — "Abandon all dharmas and take refuge in Me") is considered the supreme distillation.
All 18 Chapters
Three Principal Yoga Paths
Karma Yoga (Chapters 2-6): The path of selfless action. Performing one's duties without attachment to results. The famous "Karmaṇy-evādhikāras te" verse (2.47) is from this section.
Bhakti Yoga (Chapters 7-12): The path of devotion. Surrender to the Divine through love and worship. Chapter 12 describes the 39 qualities of the ideal devotee.
Jnana Yoga (Chapters 13-18): The path of knowledge. Discrimination between the body (kshetra) and the Self (kshetrajna). Chapter 15 (Purushottama Yoga) is the metaphysical centerpiece.
Daily Reading Practice
- Before evening meal: Chapter 15 (Purushottama Yoga) — Vaishnava tradition
- On Ekadashi: Chapter 12 (Bhakti Yoga) — surrender meditation
- On Gita Jayanti (Margashirsha Shukla Ekadashi): All 18 chapters in one sitting
- During grief or crisis: Chapter 2 (Sankhya — soul immortality)
- Before major decision: Chapter 3 (Karma Yoga — duty)
- For peace of mind: Chapter 6 (Dhyana — meditation)