How Many Chapters Are in the Bhagavad Gita?

Complete List of All 18 Chapters

#	Sanskrit Name	English Name	Verses	Core Theme
1	Arjuna Vishada Yoga	Arjuna's Grief	47	Arjuna's moral crisis on the battlefield
2	Sankhya Yoga	The Yoga of Knowledge	72	Soul's immortality, selfless action, equanimity
3	Karma Yoga	The Yoga of Action	43	Duty, selfless work, svadharma
4	Jnana Karma Sannyasa Yoga	Knowledge and Renunciation	42	Divine incarnation, karma-akarma, wisdom
5	Karma Sannyasa Yoga	Renunciation of Action	29	Karma yoga vs. sannyasa, true renunciation
6	Dhyana Yoga	The Yoga of Meditation	47	Meditation technique, mind control, highest yogi
7	Jnana Vijnana Yoga	Knowledge and Realization	30	God's two natures, four types of devotees
8	Aksara Brahma Yoga	The Imperishable Brahman	28	What happens after death, Om meditation
9	Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga	The Royal Knowledge	34	Supreme devotion, God accepts all offerings
10	Vibhuti Yoga	Divine Manifestations	42	God's glories in the world
11	Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga	The Universal Form	55	Arjuna sees the cosmic form of God
12	Bhakti Yoga	The Yoga of Devotion	20	Devotion as the easiest path, qualities of a devotee
13	Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga	The Field and the Knower	35	Body vs. soul, 20 qualities of wisdom
14	Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga	The Three Gunas	27	Sattva, rajas, tamas — transcending them
15	Purushottama Yoga	The Supreme Person	20	The cosmic tree, ksara-aksara-purushottama
16	Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga	Divine and Demonic Natures	24	Divine vs. demonic qualities, three gates to hell
17	Sraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga	Three Divisions of Faith	28	Three types of faith, food, charity, penance
18	Moksha Sannyasa Yoga	Liberation Through Renunciation	78	Final summary, surrender, Arjuna's resolve

The Three Sections (Shatkas) of the Gita

Section 1: Karma Shatka (Chapters 1-6) — The Path of Action

The first six chapters focus on Karma Yoga — the path of selfless action. They address the fundamental question: "What should I do?" Key teachings include the immortality of the soul (Ch 2), selfless action (Ch 2-3), the nature of karma (Ch 4-5), and meditation (Ch 6). This section establishes the individual's relationship with work and self.

Section 2: Bhakti Shatka (Chapters 7-12) — The Path of Devotion

The middle six chapters focus on Bhakti Yoga — the path of devotion. They address: "Who is God, and how do I connect with Him?" Key teachings include God's nature (Ch 7), what happens after death (Ch 8), the royal secret of devotion (Ch 9), God's manifestations in the world (Ch 10), the cosmic form (Ch 11), and the qualities of a true devotee (Ch 12).

Section 3: Jnana Shatka (Chapters 13-18) — The Path of Knowledge

The final six chapters focus on Jnana Yoga — the path of knowledge. They address: "What is the nature of reality?" Key teachings include body-soul distinction (Ch 13), the three gunas (Ch 14), the supreme person (Ch 15), divine vs. demonic natures (Ch 16), three types of faith (Ch 17), and the final conclusion with surrender (Ch 18).

Why Exactly 18 Chapters?

The number 18 holds deep significance in Indian tradition:

• The Mahabharata war lasted 18 days — the Gita's 18 chapters mirror this.
• The Mahabharata has 18 parvas (books) — the Gita reflects this structure.
• There were 18 armies in the Kurukshetra war (11 on the Kaurava side, 7 on the Pandava side).
• Numerological significance: 18 = 1 + 8 = 9, which in Vedic numerology represents completion, universality, and spiritual wholeness.

This structural symmetry is not coincidental — the Gita was composed with deliberate architectural precision, each chapter building on the previous one to create a complete philosophical system.

Recommended Reading Order for Beginners

While the Gita is best read in sequence, beginners can benefit from a strategic reading order:

1. Start with Chapter 2 (Sankhya Yoga, 72 verses) — Contains the essence of the entire Gita: soul's immortality, selfless action, equanimity, and the ideal of the wise person (sthitaprajna).
2. Read Chapter 3 (Karma Yoga, 43 verses) — Deepens the teaching on selfless action and introduces svadharma (one's own duty).
3. Read Chapter 12 (Bhakti Yoga, 20 verses) — The shortest and sweetest chapter, defining devotion and listing 12 qualities of a devotee.
4. Read Chapter 18 (Moksha Sannyasa Yoga, 78 verses) — The conclusion that ties everything together, including the famous verse 18.66 on surrender.
5. Then read all 18 chapters in order — With this foundation, the remaining chapters will make much more sense.

The Srimad Gita App makes this easy with chapter-by-chapter navigation, audio recitation, and detailed commentaries.

Key Verses to Know from Each Chapter

Here is one landmark verse from each chapter — together they form a summary of the entire Gita:

1. Ch 1: 1.47 — Arjuna drops his bow in despair
2. Ch 2: 2.47 — "You have the right to action, never to its fruits"
3. Ch 3: 3.35 — "Better is one's own dharma, though imperfect"
4. Ch 4: 4.7 — "Whenever dharma declines, I incarnate"
5. Ch 5: 5.18 — The wise see the same soul in all beings
6. Ch 6: 6.35 — "The mind is controlled by practice and detachment"
7. Ch 7: 7.7 — "There is nothing higher than Me"
8. Ch 8: 8.6 — "Whatever you remember at death, that you become"
9. Ch 9: 9.26 — "A leaf, a flower, a fruit, water — offered with devotion"
10. Ch 10: 10.41 — "Whatever is glorious is but a spark of My splendor"
11. Ch 11: 11.32 — "I am Time, the destroyer of worlds"
12. Ch 12: 12.13-14 — Qualities of the ideal devotee
13. Ch 13: 13.25 — "Some perceive the Self through meditation"
14. Ch 14: 14.26 — "One who transcends the three gunas attains Brahman"
15. Ch 15: 15.15 — "I am seated in everyone's heart"
16. Ch 16: 16.21 — "Lust, anger, greed: three gates to hell"
17. Ch 17: 17.23 — "Om Tat Sat: the threefold designation of Brahman"
18. Ch 18: 18.66 — "Surrender unto Me alone; I shall deliver you"