Bhagavad Gita
- A 700-verse dialogue within the Mahabharata about duty, action and consequence.
- Arjuna faces a moral crisis on the battlefield and turns to Krishna for counsel.
- Each chapter develops a different path toward steadiness, wisdom and liberation.
Chapters
Chapter 1: Arjuna Vishada Yoga
The Yoga of Arjuna's Dejection (47 verses)
- Arjuna observes the armies on both sides and is overcome with grief at the prospect of killing his relatives.
Read Chapter 1 →
Chapter 2: Sankhya Yoga
The Yoga of Knowledge (72 verses)
- Krishna begins his teachings, explaining the eternal nature of the soul and introducing the paths of knowledge and action.
Read Chapter 2 →
Chapter 3: Karma Yoga
The Yoga of Action (43 verses)
- Krishna explains the importance of performing one's duty without attachment to results.
Read Chapter 3 →
Chapter 4: Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga
The Yoga of Knowledge and Renunciation of Action (42 verses)
- Krishna reveals the history of yoga and explains how knowledge destroys the bonds of karma.
Read Chapter 4 →
Chapter 5: Karma Sanyasa Yoga
The Yoga of Renunciation (29 verses)
- Krishna explains the relationship between renunciation and selfless action.
Read Chapter 5 →
Chapter 6: Dhyana Yoga
The Yoga of Meditation (47 verses)
- Krishna describes the practice of meditation and the characteristics of a true yogi.
Read Chapter 6 →
Chapter 7: Jnana Vijnana Yoga
The Yoga of Knowledge and Wisdom (30 verses)
- Krishna reveals his divine nature and explains the difference between the material and spiritual worlds.
Read Chapter 7 →
Chapter 8: Aksara Brahma Yoga
The Yoga of the Imperishable Brahman (28 verses)
- Krishna explains the nature of the supreme, the importance of remembering God at death, and the path to liberation.
Read Chapter 8 →
Chapter 9: Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga
The Yoga of Royal Knowledge and Royal Secret (34 verses)
- Krishna reveals the most confidential knowledge about devotion and his all-pervading nature.
Read Chapter 9 →
Chapter 10: Vibhuti Yoga
The Yoga of Divine Glories (42 verses)
- Krishna describes his divine manifestations and how he pervades all of creation.
Read Chapter 10 →
Chapter 11: Visvarupa Darsana Yoga
The Yoga of the Vision of the Universal Form (55 verses)
- Arjuna is granted divine vision to see Krishna's cosmic form, revealing his infinite power.
Read Chapter 11 →
Chapter 12: Bhakti Yoga
The Yoga of Devotion (20 verses)
- Krishna explains the path of devotion and the qualities of a true devotee.
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Chapter 13: Ksetra Ksetrajna Vibhaga Yoga
The Yoga of the Field and its Knower (35 verses)
- Krishna explains the difference between the body (field) and the soul (knower of the field).
Read Chapter 13 →
Chapter 14: Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga
The Yoga of the Division of the Three Gunas (27 verses)
- Krishna describes the three qualities of material nature: sattva, rajas, and tamas.
Read Chapter 14 →
Chapter 15: Purusottama Yoga
The Yoga of the Supreme Person (20 verses)
- Krishna uses the metaphor of the eternal banyan tree to explain the material world and the path to liberation.
Read Chapter 15 →
Chapter 16: Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga
The Yoga of the Division between Divine and Demonic (24 verses)
- Krishna distinguishes between divine and demonic qualities in human beings.
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Chapter 17: Sraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga
The Yoga of the Division of Threefold Faith (28 verses)
- Krishna explains how faith is influenced by the three gunas and its effect on worship, food, and austerity.
Read Chapter 17 →
Chapter 18: Moksha Sanyasa Yoga
The Yoga of Liberation through Renunciation (78 verses)
- The concluding chapter summarizes the entire teaching and reveals the ultimate path to liberation.
Read Chapter 18 →
Translation and commentary sourced from public domain texts.
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