Learn the Bhagavad Gita in 30 Days

A structured day-by-day curriculum to transform your understanding of this sacred text. Daily readings, reflections, and practical wisdom for modern life.

30 Days
700 Verses Covered
25 Minutes Daily
Start the Program View Full Curriculum

Program Overview

This 30-day curriculum takes you through all 18 chapters and 700 verses of the Bhagavad Gita. Each day includes specific verses, key themes, reflection questions, and a practical exercise.

What You Will Achieve

  • Complete reading of all 700 verses with understanding
  • Deep familiarity with the Gita's five core teachings
  • Practical tools for handling life's challenges
  • Foundation for lifelong Gita study
  • Daily contemplative practice established

Daily Structure (25-40 minutes)

  • Preparation (2 min): Center yourself with breath
  • Reading (15-20 min): Day's assigned verses
  • Reflection (5-10 min): Journal response to question
  • Practice (5-10 min): Apply teaching to life

What You Need

  • Bhagavad Gita translation (Srimad Gita App or print)
  • Journal and pen for reflections
  • Quiet space for daily reading
  • 25-40 minutes daily at consistent time

Progress Tracker Checklist

Use this checklist to track your journey. Each day you complete builds toward mastery:

  • Day 0: Preparation and intention setting
  • Week 1 (Days 1-7): Foundation - Chapters 1-3
  • Week 2 (Days 8-14): Knowledge and Renunciation - Chapters 4-6
  • Week 3 (Days 15-21): Divine Nature and Devotion - Chapters 7-11
  • Week 4 (Days 22-28): Advanced Wisdom - Chapters 12-17
  • Days 29-30: Completion and Integration - Chapter 18

Tip: Print this page or bookmark it to track your progress throughout the month.

Day 0: Preparation and Intention

Before beginning the curriculum, take one day to prepare your space, materials, and mindset.

Tasks for Day 0

  1. Choose your translation: Download the Srimad Gita App or acquire a printed translation (Eknath Easwaran recommended for beginners)
  2. Set up your space: Find a quiet corner where you'll read each day. Keep your Gita and journal there.
  3. Choose your time: Morning is ideal (4-7 AM traditional) but any consistent time works. Block it on your calendar.
  4. Get a journal: You'll write reflections daily. A simple notebook works fine.
  5. Read background: Review our Beginner's Guide to understand the story context.
  6. Set an intention: Write in your journal: "Why am I studying the Bhagavad Gita? What do I hope to learn?"

Opening Invocation (Optional)

Many traditions begin Gita study with a prayer. You may use this or simply sit in silence:

"Om Parthaya pratibodhitam bhagavata narayanena svayam..."

"I bow to Lord Krishna, who instructed Arjuna, and to Vyasa who compiled this wisdom for humanity."

Tomorrow, your journey begins with Chapter 1.

Week 1: The Crisis and Foundation (Days 1-7)

This week establishes the dramatic context and introduces the Gita's core philosophy: the nature of the soul and selfless action.

Day 1: The Battlefield of Life

Read: Chapter 1, Verses 1-23 (Arjuna surveys the armies)

Key Themes

  • Kurukshetra as "dharma-kshetra" - the field of righteousness
  • The gathering of great warriors on both sides
  • Duryodhana's anxiety about the battle

Reflection Question: What "battlefields" exist in your life right now where you face difficult choices?

Practice: List three current life challenges where competing duties create tension.

Day 2: Arjuna's Despair

Read: Chapter 1, Verses 24-47 (Arjuna's breakdown)

Key Themes

  • Arjuna sees relatives and teachers on both sides
  • Physical symptoms of overwhelming emotion
  • Arguments against fighting - destroying family, creating sin
  • Arjuna casts aside his bow in grief

Reflection Question: When have you felt paralyzed by conflicting duties or overwhelming emotion?

Practice: Recall a moment of confusion or crisis. What was your body's response? What did you do?

Day 3: The Eternal Self

Read: Chapter 2, Verses 1-30 (Krishna begins teaching - the immortal soul)

Key Themes

  • Krishna's initial rebuke of Arjuna's weakness
  • Introduction to the atman (eternal self)
  • "Never was there a time when I did not exist" - Verse 2.12
  • The soul cannot be killed - Verse 2.19-20
  • Changing bodies like changing clothes - Verse 2.22

Reflection Question: How would your daily decisions change if you truly believed you are eternal?

Practice: Spend 5 minutes in stillness. Notice the witness behind your thoughts - the unchanging awareness that observes.

Day 4: Karma Yoga Introduced

Read: Chapter 2, Verses 31-53 (Duty and action without attachment)

Key Themes

  • Arjuna's duty as a warrior
  • The famous verse 2.47 - right to action, not to fruits
  • Yoga as equanimity - sama in success and failure
  • Buddhi yoga - yoga of the intellect

Reflection Question: Identify one action you'll do today without concern for the outcome.

Practice: Choose one task today. Complete it with full attention, releasing all anxiety about results.

Day 5: The Steady-Minded One

Read: Chapter 2, Verses 54-72 (Characteristics of the wise - sthita-prajna)

Key Themes

  • Arjuna asks: what are the signs of enlightenment?
  • The sthita-prajna - one of steady wisdom
  • Sense control and mental peace
  • The famous "tortoise withdrawing limbs" analogy - Verse 2.58

Reflection Question: Which quality of the sthita-prajna do you most want to develop?

Practice: When disturbances arise today, imagine being a tortoise - withdrawing your senses, remaining centered.

Day 6: The Path of Action

Read: Chapter 3, Verses 1-24 (Why action is necessary)

Key Themes

  • Arjuna's confusion: if knowledge is superior, why fight?
  • No one can remain without action - Verse 3.5
  • Yajna (sacrifice) - action performed as offering
  • Krishna sets the example: even He continues to act

Reflection Question: What work feels most natural and aligned with your nature (svadharma)?

Practice: Perform one duty today as an offering, not for personal gain but as service to the whole.

Day 7: Action Without Attachment

Read: Chapter 3, Verses 25-43 (Desire, anger, and wisdom)

Key Themes

  • The wise act without attachment; the ignorant act with attachment
  • Desire and anger as the great enemies
  • The senses, mind, and intellect as seats of desire
  • Controlling the senses through higher wisdom

Reflection Question: Review your week - where did attachment cause suffering?

Practice: Weekly review. Journal about what you've learned. Note challenges and insights.

Week 2: Knowledge and Renunciation (Days 8-14)

This week deepens the philosophy of karma, introduces transcendent knowledge, and explores meditation. The foundation of spiritual discipline is laid.

Day 8: Divine Knowledge

Read: Chapter 4, Verses 1-22 (Jnana Yoga begins)

Key Themes

  • Krishna reveals He taught this yoga in ancient times
  • Divine incarnation (avatar) - why God descends
  • The four types of devotees who approach Krishna
  • Knowledge that liberates from karma

Reflection Question: What wisdom traditions have shaped your understanding?

Practice: Acknowledge with gratitude the teachers who have guided you.

Day 9: Sacrifice and Liberation

Read: Chapter 4, Verses 23-42 (Types of sacrifice, knowledge as supreme)

Key Themes

  • Various forms of yajna (sacrifice)
  • "Knowledge is the supreme purifier" - Verse 4.38
  • Approaching a teacher with humility - Verse 4.34
  • Knowledge burns karma like fire burns wood

Reflection Question: What are you willing to sacrifice for spiritual growth?

Practice: Identify something you could release today - a habit, attachment, or resentment.

Day 10: True Renunciation

Read: Chapter 5, Verses 1-15 (Sannyasa vs. Karma Yoga)

Key Themes

  • Arjuna's confusion: renunciation or action?
  • Both paths lead to the same goal
  • Karma yoga is easier and more practical for most
  • Inner renunciation while acting externally

Reflection Question: Can you work actively while remaining inwardly detached?

Practice: During work today, practice being a witness - engaged but not entangled.

Day 11: The Liberated One

Read: Chapter 5, Verses 16-29 (Vision of unity, peace within)

Key Themes

  • The wise see equally in all beings
  • Happiness comes from within, not from sense pleasures
  • The state of Brahman-nirvana
  • Krishna as the friend of all beings - Verse 5.29

Reflection Question: What would it mean to see the same Self in everyone you meet?

Practice: Today, look at each person you encounter as a unique expression of the same consciousness.

Day 12: Introduction to Meditation

Read: Chapter 6, Verses 1-19 (Dhyana Yoga - practical instructions)

Key Themes

  • Who is a true yogi and true sannyasi
  • The mind as friend or enemy
  • Practical meditation posture and technique
  • Moderation in all things - eating, sleeping, recreation

Reflection Question: What prevents you from establishing a regular meditation practice?

Practice: Meditate for 10 minutes using the instructions in verses 6.10-14. Sit straight, gaze softly, mind focused.

Day 13: Mastering the Mind

Read: Chapter 6, Verses 20-36 (Controlling the restless mind)

Key Themes

  • The state of samadhi - complete absorption
  • Supreme happiness from yoga
  • Arjuna's famous complaint: "The mind is as hard to control as the wind!"
  • Krishna's reassurance: possible through practice and detachment

Reflection Question: What techniques help you calm your restless mind?

Practice: When your mind wanders today, gently bring it back without frustration. Practice abhyasa (constant practice).

Day 14: The Unsuccessful Yogi

Read: Chapter 6, Verses 37-47 (No spiritual effort is lost)

Key Themes

  • Arjuna asks: what happens to those who fail on the path?
  • Krishna's compassionate answer: no effort is ever wasted
  • The yogi is reborn in favorable circumstances
  • The yogi is superior to ascetics, scholars, and ritualists - Verse 6.46

Reflection Question: How does knowing "no spiritual effort is wasted" encourage you?

Practice: Weekly review. Journal about Week 2 insights. Note your evolving understanding.

Week 3: Divine Nature and Devotion (Days 15-21)

This week, Krishna reveals His divine nature, the path of devotion (bhakti), and grants Arjuna the cosmic vision. The most devotional chapters of the Gita.

Day 15: Supreme Knowledge

Read: Chapter 7, Verses 1-19 (Jnana-Vijnana Yoga)

Key Themes

  • Krishna reveals His higher and lower nature (para and apara prakriti)
  • The four types who approach Krishna and four who don't
  • The divine illusion (maya) and how to cross it

Reflection Question: Which type of devotee are you currently? Which do you aspire to become?

Practice: Notice where you see the Divine manifesting in the world today.

Day 16: The Deluded and The Wise

Read: Chapter 7, Verses 20-30 and Chapter 8, Verses 1-8

Key Themes

  • Those deluded by maya worship other forms
  • The wise see Krishna in everything
  • Seven key questions Arjuna asks at the start of Chapter 8
  • The importance of remembering the Divine at death

Reflection Question: If you were to leave your body now, what would be your last thought?

Practice: Practice remembering the Divine throughout the day - at transitions, in difficulties, in beauty.

Day 17: The Imperishable Brahman

Read: Chapter 8, Verses 9-28 (Cosmic cycles, paths of light and darkness)

Key Themes

  • Meditating on Krishna at death leads to liberation
  • The cosmic cycles - Brahma's day and night
  • The path of light (no return) and path of darkness (return)

Reflection Question: How does the cosmic perspective change your daily concerns?

Practice: Contemplate the vastness of cosmic time. Let it put current worries in perspective.

Day 18: The Royal Secret

Read: Chapter 9, Verses 1-18 (Raja-Vidya Raja-Guhya Yoga)

Key Themes

  • "The most confidential knowledge" - the royal secret
  • Krishna pervades all yet remains transcendent
  • The entire universe rests in Krishna
  • Easy to practice, eternal results

Reflection Question: How can you offer your daily activities to the Divine?

Practice: Today, mentally offer each action - eating, working, walking - to the Divine.

Day 19: Devotion's Power

Read: Chapter 9, Verses 19-34 (Anyone can approach through devotion)

Key Themes

  • Krishna accepts simple offerings made with love - Verse 9.26
  • All - including women, merchants, laborers - can attain the supreme
  • Whatever you do, offer it to Krishna
  • "Even a wicked person becomes righteous through devotion"

Reflection Question: What simple offering can you make to the Divine today?

Practice: Offer something simple with genuine love - a flower, a song, a moment of gratitude.

Day 20: Divine Manifestations

Read: Chapter 10, Verses 1-42 (Vibhuti Yoga - Krishna's glories)

Key Themes

  • Krishna lists His divine manifestations - the best of everything
  • "Among rivers, I am the Ganga. Among mountains, the Himalayas..."
  • See Krishna in the excellent of everything
  • "I support this entire cosmos with a mere fragment of Myself" - Verse 10.42

Reflection Question: Make a list of where you see divine excellence in your world.

Practice: Throughout the day, when you encounter excellence, remember it as a divine manifestation.

Day 21: The Universal Form

Read: Chapter 11, Verses 1-55 (Vishvarupa - the cosmic vision)

Key Themes

  • Arjuna requests to see Krishna's cosmic form
  • Divine eyes are granted to perceive the infinite
  • The terrifying and beautiful vision of all beings, all time
  • Arjuna begs Krishna to return to His gentle form
  • "Only through devotion can I be known" - Verse 11.54

Reflection Question: Which form of the Divine feels most accessible to you - formless or with form?

Practice: Weekly review. This week's readings have been intense. Journal about what moved you most.

Week 4: Advanced Wisdom and Integration (Days 22-28)

This week covers devotion, the field and knower, the three gunas, and the cosmic tree. Advanced philosophy preparing for the final teaching.

Day 22: The Path of Devotion

Read: Chapter 12, Verses 1-20 (Bhakti Yoga - the ideal devotee)

Key Themes

  • Arjuna asks: worship of form or formless?
  • Both paths work; form worship is easier for embodied beings
  • The beautiful description of the ideal devotee - Verses 12.13-20
  • "Very dear to Me" - qualities Krishna loves

Reflection Question: Which quality of the ideal devotee do you most want to embody?

Practice: Choose one quality from verses 12-20. Practice it consciously today.

Day 23: The Field and Knower

Read: Chapter 13, Verses 1-19 (Kshetra-Kshetrajna Yoga)

Key Themes

  • The body is the "field" (kshetra); the soul is the "knower" (kshetrajna)
  • Twenty qualities of knowledge listed
  • Distinguishing between the field and the knower leads to liberation

Reflection Question: Can you witness your body and mind as separate from your true Self?

Practice: Practice witnessing: "I have a body, but I am not my body. I have thoughts, but I am not my thoughts."

Day 24: Spirit and Matter

Read: Chapter 13, Verses 20-35 and Chapter 14, Verses 1-13

Key Themes

  • Purusha (spirit) and Prakriti (matter) - their relationship
  • Liberation comes from knowing the distinction
  • Introduction to the three gunas: sattva, rajas, tamas
  • How each guna binds the soul differently

Reflection Question: Which guna predominantly influences your life right now?

Practice: Observe your food, activities, and thoughts today. Categorize them by guna.

Day 25: Transcending the Gunas

Read: Chapter 14, Verses 14-27 and Chapter 15, Verses 1-10

Key Themes

  • Signs of one who has transcended the gunas - Verses 14.22-26
  • The cosmic ashvattha (banyan) tree - Verse 15.1
  • Cutting the tree with the axe of detachment
  • The jiva (individual soul) carries the mind and senses from body to body

Reflection Question: How attached are you to the "tree" of material existence?

Practice: Contemplate what you would need to release to feel truly free.

Day 26: The Supreme Person

Read: Chapter 15, Verses 11-20 and Chapter 16, Verses 1-6

Key Themes

  • Krishna as the supreme Purusha (Purushottama)
  • "I am seated in everyone's heart" - Verse 15.15
  • Divine and demonic natures introduced (daivi and asuri sampat)
  • 26 divine qualities listed

Reflection Question: Which divine qualities do you already possess? Which need development?

Practice: Choose one divine quality to consciously cultivate this week.

Day 27: Divine and Demonic Natures

Read: Chapter 16, Verses 7-24 and Chapter 17, Verses 1-13

Key Themes

  • The demonic mindset: arrogance, desire, anger
  • "Three gates to hell: lust, anger, greed" - Verse 16.21
  • Three types of faith based on the gunas
  • Three types of food, sacrifice, austerity

Reflection Question: Honestly assess your divine and demonic tendencies. What needs work?

Practice: Today, when lust, anger, or greed arise, pause and choose differently.

Day 28: Faith, Charity, Austerity

Read: Chapter 17, Verses 14-28 (Three types of austerity, charity; Om Tat Sat)

Key Themes

  • Austerity of body, speech, and mind
  • Sattvic, rajasic, tamasic charity
  • Om Tat Sat - the three-word representation of Brahman
  • Action without faith is "asat" - unreal, unbeneficial

Reflection Question: What kind of faith motivates your actions - sattvic, rajasic, or tamasic?

Practice: Weekly review. Journal about Week 4. You're approaching the conclusion!

Days 29-30: The Grand Conclusion

Chapter 18 is the longest chapter, synthesizing all teachings. Take two days to absorb this crowning summary.

Day 29: Renunciation and the Gunas Applied

Read: Chapter 18, Verses 1-40 (Types of renunciation, action, knowledge, and doers)

Key Themes

  • Sannyasa vs. tyaga (renunciation of action vs. renunciation of fruits)
  • Five factors that accomplish all action
  • Three types of knowledge, action, doer, intellect, and firmness
  • Sattvic, rajasic, tamasic varieties of everything

Reflection Question: Which category do most of your daily actions fall into?

Practice: Review your major activities. Aim to move them toward sattvic quality.

Day 30: The Final Teaching and Arjuna's Choice

Read: Chapter 18, Verses 41-78 (Svadharma, final instruction, Arjuna's resolution)

Key Themes

  • The four varnas and their duties (don't confuse with caste)
  • "It is better to do one's own dharma imperfectly than another's perfectly" - Verse 18.47
  • The supreme secret: "Surrender to Me alone" - Verse 18.66
  • Arjuna's doubt is destroyed; he will fight
  • Sanjaya's closing: "Where there is Krishna and Arjuna, there is victory"

Reflection Question: Having completed the Gita, what is your choice? How will you live?

Practice: Write a letter to yourself: What have you learned? What will you do differently? What's your svadharma?

Completion Ceremony

Congratulations on completing the 30-day curriculum! Here's how to mark this achievement:

  1. Reflect: Review your journal from Day 1 to Day 30. Notice your growth.
  2. Summarize: Write down the three most important things you learned.
  3. Commit: Choose one teaching you'll consciously practice going forward.
  4. Plan: The Gita rewards repeated reading. When will you read it again?
  5. Share: Consider sharing the Gita with someone who might benefit.

What's Next After 30 Days?

Deepen Your Study

You've completed one reading - now go deeper. Try a different translation, study with commentary, or focus on specific chapters that resonated with you.

See our complete reading guide

Join a Study Group

Learning with others enriches understanding. Find a local Gita study group or join online discussions about the teachings.

Live the Teachings

The Gita's value is in application, not just understanding. Choose one teaching to practice deeply for the next 30 days.

Continue Learning

Practical Application

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I learn the Bhagavad Gita in 30 days?

Yes, 30 days is an ideal timeframe for a first comprehensive reading of the Bhagavad Gita. This pace allows you to cover all 700 verses while giving time for reflection and practical application. Many spiritual traditions recommend this duration as it balances thoroughness with maintaining momentum.

How much time do I need each day for this program?

Plan for 25-40 minutes daily: 15-20 minutes for reading (approximately 20-25 verses), 5-10 minutes for reflection and journaling, and 5-10 minutes for the daily practice exercise. Morning is ideal, but any consistent time works.

What if I miss a day in the 30-day program?

Simply resume where you left off. The Gita teaches non-attachment to outcomes - including your study schedule! It's better to complete in 35 or 40 days than to abandon the practice. The goal is completion with understanding, not rigid adherence to schedule.

Do I need any special materials for this course?

You need: (1) A Bhagavad Gita translation - the Srimad Gita App (free) or a printed translation like Eknath Easwaran's, (2) A journal for reflections, (3) A quiet space for daily reading. Optional but helpful: a timer for meditation exercises.

Is this program suitable for complete beginners?

Absolutely. This program is designed with beginners in mind. Each day includes context, key concepts explained, and reflection questions that don't require prior knowledge. Start with Day 0 preparation, and you'll have everything you need. See also our Beginner's Guide.

Ready to Begin Your 30-Day Journey?

Download the Srimad Gita App for the best reading experience. Follow along with multiple translations, audio recitation, and daily reminders to keep you on track.

Daily Reminders

Set personalized reminders to maintain your 30-day practice without missing a day.

Multiple Translations

Compare different commentaries for deeper understanding of each day's verses.

Progress Tracking

Track your journey through all 18 chapters and 700 verses.

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