Bhagavad Gita

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For other uses, see Bhagavad Gita (disambiguation).
"Gita" redirects here. For other uses, see Gita (disambiguation).
Bhagavad Gita
an 1820 painting depicting Arjuna, on the chariot, paying obeisance to Shree
Krishna, the charioteer.
Krishna and Arjuna at Kurukshetra, c.1820 painting
Information
Religion Hinduism
Author Vyasa
Language Sanskrit
Verses 700
The Bhagavad Gita (/ˌbʌɡəvəd ˈɡiːtɑː, -tə/; Sanskrit: भगवदद गगतत, IAST: bhagavad-gītā,
lit. "The Song of God"),[1] often referred to as the Gita, is a 700-verse Sanskrit
scripture that is part of the Hindu epic Mahabharata (chapters 23–40 of Bhishma
Parva).

The Gita is set in a narrative framework of a dialogue between Pandava prince

Arjuna and his guide and charioteer Krishna. At the start of the Dharma Yudhha
(righteous war) between Pandavas and Kauravas, Arjuna is filled with moral dilemma
and despair about the violence and death the war will cause. He wonders if he
should renounce and seeks Krishna's counsel, whose answers and discourse constitute
the Bhagavad Gita. Krishna counsels Arjuna to "fulfill his Kshatriya (warrior) duty
to uphold the Dharma" through "selfless action".[web 1][2][note 1] The Krishna–
Arjuna dialogue cover a broad range of spiritual topics, touching upon ethical
dilemmas and philosophical issues that go far beyond the war Arjuna faces.[1][3][4]

The Bhagavad Gita presents a synthesis[5][6] of Hindu ideas about dharma,[5][6][7]

theistic bhakti,[8][7] and the yogic ideals[6] of moksha.[6] The text covers jnana,
bhakti, karma, and Raja Yoga (spoken of in the 6th chapter)[8] incorporating ideas
from the Samkhya-Yoga philosophy.[web 1][note 2]

Numerous commentaries have been written on the Bhagavad Gita with widely differing
views on the essentials. Vedanta commentators read varying relations between Self
and Brahman in the text: Advaita Vedanta sees the non-dualism of Atman (soul) and
Brahman as its essence,[9] whereas Bhedabheda and Vishishtadvaita see Atman and
Brahman as both different and non-different, while Dvaita Vedanta sees dualism of
Atman (soul) and Brahman as its essence. The setting of the Gita in a battlefield
has been interpreted as an allegory for the ethical and moral struggles of the
human life.[4][10][11]

The Bhagavad Gita is the best known and most famous of Hindu texts,[12] with a
unique pan-Hindu influence.[13][14] The Gita's call for selfless action inspired
many leaders of the Indian independence movement including Bal Gangadhar Tilak and
Mahatma Gandhi; the latter referred to it as his "spiritual dictionary".[15]