The scriptures
The Bhagavad-gītā
The Bhagavad-gītā, “the song of the Lord”, is the conversation between Krishna and the warrior Arjuna moments before a battle. In seven hundred verses it answers the timeless questions: who am I, what should I do and what comes after.
The scene
Two branches of the same family, the Pāṇḍavas and the Kauravas, are about to clash on the plain of Kurukṣetra over a usurped kingdom. Arjuna, the finest archer of the Pāṇḍavas, asks his charioteer to drive the chariot between the two armies. The charioteer is Krishna, his friend.
From there Arjuna sees on the other side his cousins, his teachers and his grandfather. His bow slips from his hands. He does not want to fight. And then he does what gives meaning to the whole book: he stops arguing and asks for help. Krishna’s answer is the Bhagavad-gītā.
The battle is real in the story, but the book is not about war. It is about what to do when duty and the heart pull in opposite directions, and that is why it is still read five thousand years later.
What it talks about
Vaishnava teachers sum up its content in five subjects:
- God (īśvara): who He is and how He relates to the world.
- The soul (jīva): what we really are.
- Material nature (prakṛti): how the world around us works.
- Time (kāla): why everything here begins and ends.
- Action (karma): how to act without being bound by the consequences.
How it is organised
Traditionally the eighteen chapters are read in three blocks of six:
| Chapters | Subject | The underlying question |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 6 | Action (karma-yoga) | How do I act without getting entangled? |
| 7 to 12 | Devotion (bhakti-yoga) | Who is God and how do I approach Him? |
| 13 to 18 | Knowledge (jñāna-yoga) | How do I tell the soul from matter? |
Devotion sits in the middle, protected by the other two blocks. For Vaishnavas this is no accident: it is the heart of the book.
Five verses to understand it
The translations are free renderings, meant for a first reading.
Just as in this body the soul passes from childhood to youth to old age, at death it passes into another body. The one who understands this is not bewildered by the change.
Bhagavad-gītā 2.13 · We are not the body
You have a right to perform your duty, but not to the fruits of action.
Bhagavad-gītā 2.47 · Acting without attachment to the result
If someone offers Me with love a leaf, a flower, a fruit or a little water, I accept it.
Bhagavad-gītā 9.26 · God cares about love, not quantity
Always think of Me, become My devotee, worship Me and offer Me your respects. In this way you will surely come to Me.
Bhagavad-gītā 18.65 · The path, in one sentence
Set aside all other duties and take refuge in Me alone. I will free you from all evil. Do not fear.
Bhagavad-gītā 18.66 · The conclusion
How to start reading it
- Choose an edition with commentary. The verses are very dense; without explanation it is easy to get lost. Devotees of Krishna read Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, translated and explained by Śrīla Prabhupāda, which includes the Sanskrit, a word-for-word translation and a commentary on every verse. You can read it free at vedabase.io.
- Start with chapter 2. The first presents the characters; in the second Krishna begins to speak and sums up the whole teaching.
- Read a little every day. One or two verses with their commentary give you enough to think about all day.
- Read it with others. Temples hold open classes where it is read and discussed.
Frequently asked questions
Who wrote the Bhagavad-gītā?
It is part of the Mahābhārata, the great epic of India, whose composition the tradition attributes to the sage Vyāsa. But the one who speaks in it is Krishna: Vyāsa set it down in writing.
What is the difference between the Bhagavad-gītā and the Vedas?
The Vedas are a vast body of ancient texts, with hymns, rituals and philosophy. The Bhagavad-gītā is much shorter and is considered the essence of them all, spoken directly by God.
Do you have to be a believer to read it?
No. Philosophers, scientists and writers of every era have read and admired it. But it was written to be lived, and whoever reads it as a devotee finds more than ideas in it.
What is Gītā Jayantī?
It is the day that commemorates the moment Krishna spoke the Bhagavad-gītā. Devotees often recite it in full. In this year’s calendar it falls on 20 December 2026.