What is the Bhagavad Gita?

Q: What does Bhagavad Gita mean?

Bhagavad Gita means 'Song of God' in Sanskrit. 'Bhagavan' means 'God' or 'Lord,' and 'Gita' means 'song.' It refers to the divine wisdom Krishna sang to Arjuna on the battlefield.

Q: Who wrote the Bhagavad Gita?

The Bhagavad Gita is traditionally attributed to the sage Vyasa, who also composed the Mahabharata, of which the Gita is a part. The teachings themselves are the words of Lord Krishna.

The Meaning of Bhagavad Gita

भगवद्गीता

Bhagavad Gita is Sanskrit for "The Song of God" or "The Divine Song."

Bhagavan (भगवान्) = God, the Lord, the Blessed One
Gita (गीता) = Song, that which is sung

The text is also called Srimad Bhagavad Gita (श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता), where "Srimad" is an honorific meaning "glorious" or "divine."

In Simple Terms

The Bhagavad Gita is a 700-verse conversation between warrior prince Arjuna and Lord Krishna, taking place on a battlefield just before a great war. Arjuna, facing a moral crisis, refuses to fight. Krishna's response - addressing duty, the nature of existence, and paths to liberation - forms the Gita.

Quick Facts

700

Verses (Shlokas)

18

Chapters

~5000

Years Old

80+

Languages Translated

Where Does the Bhagavad Gita Come From?

The Bhagavad Gita is part of the ancient Indian epic Mahabharata, one of the longest poems ever written. Specifically, it appears in the Bhishma Parva (Book of Bhishma), chapters 25-42.

The Setting

The Mahabharata tells the story of a great war between two families - the Pandavas and Kauravas - fighting for the throne of Hastinapura. The Bhagavad Gita takes place on the first day of this war at Kurukshetra, as the two armies face each other.

The Characters

Arjuna - A skilled warrior and one of the five Pandava brothers. He's conflicted about fighting his own relatives.
Krishna - Arjuna's charioteer and friend, who is actually the Supreme Lord in human form.
Sanjaya - A narrator who has divine vision to see the battlefield and reports the conversation to King Dhritarashtra.

Historical Context

~3000 BCE (Traditional Dating)

The Mahabharata war and Krishna's teaching to Arjuna take place according to Hindu tradition.

~500-200 BCE (Scholarly Dating)

Most scholars date the composition of the Gita in its current form to this period.

8th Century CE

Adi Shankaracharya writes his influential Advaita commentary on the Gita.

1785 CE

Charles Wilkins creates the first English translation, introducing the Gita to the Western world.

20th Century

Mahatma Gandhi calls the Gita his "spiritual dictionary." It gains global recognition.

Why is the Bhagavad Gita Important?

For Spiritual Seekers

The Gita presents multiple paths to liberation - through action (karma yoga), knowledge (jnana yoga), devotion (bhakti yoga), and meditation (dhyana yoga). This makes it accessible to people of different temperaments.

For Everyday Life

Unlike purely mystical texts, the Gita addresses real-world dilemmas: How do I do the right thing when choices are unclear? How do I deal with fear and anxiety? How do I find meaning in my work? Its practical wisdom applies whether you're an executive, student, parent, or retiree.

For Philosophy

The Gita synthesizes multiple streams of Indian philosophy - Samkhya, Yoga, Vedanta - into a coherent whole. It's influenced thinkers from Emerson and Thoreau to Einstein and Oppenheimer.

                Famous Admirers of the Gita
                Mahatma Gandhi - Called it his "eternal mother"
Albert Einstein - "When I read the Bhagavad Gita... I see how God created the world"
Henry David Thoreau - "In the morning I bathe my intellect in the philosophy of the Gita"
Ralph Waldo Emerson - Deeply influenced by its teachings on the soul

            

Core Message of the Gita

If we had to distill the Gita's 700 verses into a few key messages:

You are eternal. The soul doesn't die when the body dies. Understanding this removes the deepest fear.
Do your duty without attachment. Focus on doing your best work, not on outcomes you can't control.
All paths lead to the Divine. Whether through work, love, knowledge, or meditation, sincere seeking leads to truth.
God is present everywhere. The Divine isn't distant but present in all beings and all of creation.
Surrender brings peace. Let go of ego and trust in a wisdom greater than your own.

How to Start Reading the Gita

For beginners, we recommend:

Start with Chapter 2 - It contains the Gita's core teachings in condensed form.
Read verse 2.47 first - The most famous verse, a good entry point.
Don't worry about understanding everything - Let what resonates sink in.
Use the Srimad Gita App - Get verse-by-verse explanations and audio.

See our complete beginner's guide for more detailed recommendations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Bhagavad Gita mean?

Bhagavad Gita means "Song of God" in Sanskrit. "Bhagavan" refers to God or the Lord (Krishna), and "Gita" means song or that which is sung.

Who wrote the Bhagavad Gita?

The Gita is traditionally attributed to the sage Vyasa, who also compiled the Vedas and Mahabharata. The teachings within are the words of Lord Krishna to Arjuna.

Is the Bhagavad Gita a religious text?

Yes and no. While it's sacred in Hinduism, its teachings on duty, the mind, and living well transcend any single religion. Many non-Hindus find value in its philosophy.

How long does it take to read the Gita?

A straight read-through takes 2-3 hours. But the Gita is meant to be studied, contemplated, and revisited over a lifetime. Many people read one verse per day as a daily practice.