Bhagavad Gita
700 verses of divine wisdom — Lord Krishna's teachings to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. The essence of all Upanishadic knowledge in 18 chapters.
Dharma
Righteous duty appropriate to one's nature and situation
Karma
Action without attachment to results (Nishkama Karma)
Bhakti
Loving devotion to God as the most accessible path
Jnana
Knowledge of the Self and the distinction between body and soul
Yoga
Union with the divine through discipline and meditation
Moksha
Liberation from the cycle of birth and death
Arjuna Vishada Yoga
अर्जुन विषाद योग — Arjuna's Dilemma
The anguish and moral crisis of Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra.
Key Shloka (1.32)
न काङ्क्षे विजयं कृष्ण न च राज्यं सुखानि च
Na kankshe vijayam Krishna na cha rajyam sukhani cha
I desire neither victory, nor kingdom, nor pleasures, O Krishna.
Sankhya Yoga
सांख्य योग — The Yoga of Knowledge
The immortality of the soul, the nature of the Self, and the path of selfless action.
Key Shloka (2.22)
वासांसि जीर्णानि यथा विहाय नवानि गृह्णाति नरोऽपराणि
Vasamsi jirnani yatha vihaya navani grihnati naro'parani
As a person puts on new garments, giving up old ones, the soul accepts new material bodies, giving up the old.
Karma Yoga
कर्म योग — The Yoga of Action
The importance of selfless action without attachment to results.
Key Shloka (2.47)
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन
Karmanye vadhikaraste ma phaleshu kadachana
You have the right to perform your duty, but never to its fruits.
Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga
ज्ञान कर्म संन्यास योग — Knowledge & Renunciation of Action
Divine knowledge, the eternal nature of the teaching, and the various forms of sacrifice.
Key Shloka (4.7)
यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत
Yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati Bharata
Whenever there is a decline in righteousness, O Arjuna, I manifest Myself.
Karma Sanyasa Yoga
कर्म संन्यास योग — Renunciation of Action
Comparing renunciation of action with selfless action — both lead to liberation.
Key Shloka (5.10)
ब्रह्मण्याधाय कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा करोति यः
Brahmany adhaya karmani sangam tyaktva karoti yah
One who acts offering all actions to Brahman, abandoning attachment, is untouched by sin.
Dhyana Yoga
ध्यान योग — The Yoga of Meditation
The practice of meditation, self-control, and the nature of the perfect yogi.
Key Shloka (2.48)
योगस्थः कुरु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा धनञ्जय
Yogasthah kuru karmani sangam tyaktva Dhananjaya
Be steadfast in yoga, O Arjuna. Perform your duty and abandon all attachment to success or failure.
Jnana Vijnana Yoga
ज्ञान विज्ञान योग — Knowledge of the Absolute
The nature of the Supreme, the material and spiritual energies.
Key Shloka (7.19)
बहूनां जन्मनामन्ते ज्ञानवान्मां प्रपद्यते
Bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyate
After many births, the wise one surrenders unto Me, knowing "Vasudeva is all."
Akshara Brahma Yoga
अक्षर ब्रह्म योग — The Imperishable Absolute
The eternal Brahman, the process of leaving the body, and the cosmic cycles.
Key Shloka (8.5)
अन्तकाले च मामेव स्मरन्मुक्त्वा कलेवरम्
Antakale cha mam eva smaran muktva kalevaram
Whoever remembers Me at the time of death attains My nature.
Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga
राज विद्या राज गुह्य योग — The Royal Knowledge
The sovereign knowledge and sovereign secret — devotion as the supreme path.
Key Shloka (9.26)
पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं यो मे भक्त्या प्रयच्छति
Patram pushpam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati
Whoever offers Me with devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or water — I accept it.
Vibhuti Yoga
विभूति योग — Divine Manifestations
The divine manifestations of God in every aspect of creation.
Key Shloka (10.41)
यद्यद्विभूतिमत्सत्त्वं श्रीमदूर्जितमेव वा
Yad yad vibhutimat sattvam srimad urjitam eva va
Whatever is glorious, prosperous, or powerful — know that to be a spark of My splendor.
Vishvarupa Darshana Yoga
विश्वरूप दर्शन योग — The Cosmic Form
Arjuna witnesses Krishna's terrifying universal form — the Vishvarupa.
Key Shloka (11.32)
कालोऽस्मि लोकक्षयकृत्प्रवृद्धो
Kalo'smi lokakshayakrit pravriddho
I am Time, the great destroyer of worlds.
Bhakti Yoga
भक्ति योग — The Yoga of Devotion
The path of devotion as the most accessible and direct path to God.
Key Shloka (12.8)
मय्येव मन आधत्स्व मयि बुद्धिं निवेशय
Mayy eva mana adhatsva mayi buddhim niveshaya
Fix your mind on Me alone, let your intellect dwell in Me.
Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga
क्षेत्र क्षेत्रज्ञ विभाग योग — The Field & the Knower
The distinction between the body (field) and the soul (knower of the field).
Key Shloka (13.3)
क्षेत्रज्ञं चापि मां विद्धि सर्वक्षेत्रेषु भारत
Kshetrajnam chapi mam viddhi sarva-kshetreshu Bharata
Know Me as the Knower of all fields, O Arjuna.
Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga
गुणत्रय विभाग योग — The Three Gunas
The three qualities of nature — Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas — and transcending them.
Key Shloka (14.5)
सत्त्वं रजस्तम इति गुणाः प्रकृतिसम्भवाः
Sattvam rajas tama iti gunah prakriti-sambhavah
Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas — these qualities born of Prakriti bind the soul.
Purushottama Yoga
पुरुषोत्तम योग — The Supreme Person
The cosmic tree (Ashvattha), the perishable and imperishable, and the Supreme Person.
Key Shloka (15.1)
ऊर्ध्वमूलमधःशाखमश्वत्थं प्राहुरव्ययम्
Urdhva-mulam adhah-shakham ashvattham prahur avyayam
The imperishable Ashvattha tree has its roots above and branches below.
Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga
दैवासुर सम्पद् विभाग योग — Divine & Demoniac Natures
Distinguishing between divine (daivi) and demoniac (asuri) qualities in humans.
Key Shloka (16.1)
अभयं सत्त्वसंशुद्धिर्ज्ञानयोगव्यवस्थितिः
Abhayam sattva-samsuddhir jnana-yoga-vyavasthitih
Fearlessness, purity of heart, steadfastness in knowledge and yoga...
Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga
श्रद्धात्रय विभाग योग — Three Divisions of Faith
Three types of faith (sattvic, rajasic, tamasic) and the meaning of "Om Tat Sat."
Key Shloka (17.23)
ॐ तत्सदिति निर्देशो ब्रह्मणस्त्रिविधः स्मृतः
Om tat sad iti nirdesho brahmanas tri-vidhah smritah
Om, Tat, Sat — this triple designation of Brahman is remembered.
Moksha Sanyasa Yoga
मोक्ष संन्यास योग — Liberation through Renunciation
The grand conclusion — surrender, the final teaching, and Krishna's supreme instruction.
Key Shloka (18.66)
सर्वधर्मान्परित्यज्य मामेकं शरणं व्रज
Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam sharanam vraja
Abandon all varieties of dharma and surrender unto Me alone. I shall deliver you from all sins.
सर्वधर्मान्परित्यज्य मामेकं शरणं व्रज ।
अहं त्वां सर्वपापेभ्यो मोक्षयिष्यामि मा शुचः ॥
Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam sharanam vraja
Aham tvam sarva-papebhyo mokshayishyami ma shuchah
"Abandon all varieties of dharma and surrender unto Me alone. I shall deliver you from all sins. Do not fear." — Bhagavad Gita 18.66