What is the Bhagavad Gita?

Bhagavad Gita is considered
one of the most important and influential works
from the world’s spiritual and philosophical literature.
It was commented and performed
by numerous yogis, philosophers, theologians, and spiritual leaders over the centuries.
The text influenced not only the Hindu religion,
but also philosophical and spiritual movements outside India.

This work is a comprehensive guide to life,
that address essential problems of human existence,
of ethics and spirituality,
Providing valuable lessons
About how to live
a meaningful and virtuous life.

The Bhagavad Gita is a part of the Mahabharata epic.
It is composed in the form of a dialogue between Prince Arjuna and the god Krishna, who serves as his visitor. The dialogue takes place on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, before a great battle, and focuses on the moral and philosophical dilemmas that Arjuna has regarding struggle and duty.

Structure and content

The Bhagavad Gita is divided into 18 chapters, each called “yoga”, a term that means “path” or “discipline”.

Each chapter addresses a different aspect of spiritual life and ethics. The main themes of the text include:

Dharma (duty): Krishna explains to Arjuna the importance of fulfilling his duty as a kshatriya (warrior) without attachment to results.
Karma Yoga: The practice of selfless action as a form of devotion.
Bhakti Yoga (yoga of devotion): The importance of devotion to God.
Jnana Yoga (yoga of knowledge): The path of knowing and understanding the true nature of the soul and reality.

Here’s how it gets started
and how the Bhagavad Gita ends:

“Dhritarashtra1%N1 said:
1. What have my men and Pandu’s sons done, Sanjaya,
gathered ready for battle, in the Field of Law%N2,
in Kurukshetra?”

“Dhritarashtra” is the father of Kauravas, the king of Hastinapura,
who reoccupied the throne following the death of his brother Pandu,
throne that he had previously ceded because he had blinded.
His question betrays the hope that, eventually, the fight that was about to begin
could have been prevented by the fact that it was going to take place
precisely in Kurukshetra (“Plain of the Kauraves”),
one of the religious centers of India,
also known as the “Field of the Law”.

“Sanjaya said:
74. Thus we listen to the astonishing dialogue,
that raises your hair,
[dialogul] to Vasudeva with the son of Pritha,
the one with a big heart.

75. By the mercy of Vyasa,
this supreme mystery, yoga,
I heard it really from Krishna,
The Divine Lord over yoga,
who said it himself.

76. Thinking and thinking again, O king, of this astonishing and sacred dialogue of Keshava with Arjuna, I rejoice and rejoice again.
77. Thinking and thinking again of the form of Hari that surpasses amazement, I am amazed, I rejoice and I rejoice again.

78. Wherever Krishna, the Divine Lord over yoga, wherever the son of Pritha is carrying the bow,

there is also greatness and victory and full life and well-established government. This is my faith! ”

Sanjaya is an important character in the Hindu epic Mahabharata.
He is mainly known for his role
storyteller and royal advisor.

The son of Pritha (also known as Kunti) is Arjuna, one of the five Pandava brothers in the epic Mahabharata. Pritha is another name for Kunti, who was the mother of Arjuna and three other Pandavas: Yudhishthira, Bhima and the youngest, twins Nakula and Sahadeva. Arjuna is one of the most important and revered heroes of the epic, known for his exceptional skills in the art of war and for his central role in the Bhagavad Gita.

Vasudeva is mainly known as the father of Krishna, one of the most revered deities in Hinduism.

He was the husband of Devaki and the elder brother of King Kamsa.

Vasudeva and Devaki had several children, but Kamsa,

fearing a prophecy that he would be killed by one of Devaki’s children,

He killed all the newborns up to Krishna.

Vyasa, also known as Veda Vyasa or Krishna Dvaipayana Vyasa,
It is one of the most important and revered
sages (rishis) from the Hindu tradition.
He is credited with compiling and organizing the Vedas
and is the author of several fundamental sacred and philosophical texts.

Keshava is another name for Krishna.
Krishna is one of the most important and revered deities in the Hindu tradition.
He is considered to be the eighth incarnation (avatar) of the god Vishnu,
the protector of the universe.
Krishna plays a central role
in numerous religious and mythological texts,
including Mahabharata, Bhagavad Gita, and Bhagavata Purana.

Acharya Leo Radutz