भगवद्गीता
Bhagavad Gītā
The Song of the Lord — 700 verses of divine wisdom
The Bhagavad Gītā is a 700-verse dialogue forming part of the Mahābhārata (Book 6, Bhīṣma Parva). Set on the battlefield of Kurukṣetra, it is a conversation between Prince Arjuna and Lord Kṛṣṇa on duty (dharma), action (karma), devotion (bhakti), and the nature of the self (ātman). The text weaves together the three great Vedic yogas — karma-yoga (selfless action), jñāna-yoga (knowledge), and bhakti-yoga (devotion) — into a single philosophical synthesis. It has been translated into over 80 languages and is considered one of the most important scriptures of Hinduism.
Browse by Chapter
Chapter1(47 verses)▼
Chapter2(72 verses)▼
Chapter3(43 verses)▼
Chapter4(42 verses)▼
Chapter5(29 verses)▼
Chapter6(47 verses)▼
Chapter7(30 verses)▼
Chapter8(28 verses)▼
Chapter9(34 verses)▼
Chapter10(42 verses)▼
Chapter11(55 verses)▼
Chapter12(20 verses)▼
Chapter13(35 verses)▼
Chapter14(27 verses)▼
Chapter15(20 verses)▼
Chapter16(24 verses)▼
Chapter17(28 verses)▼
Chapter18(78 verses)▼
About the Bhagavad Gītā
How many verses are in the Bhagavad Gita?
The Bhagavad Gita has 700 verses (shlokas) across 18 chapters. The chapters are grouped into three sections of six (karma-yoga, bhakti-yoga, jnana-yoga) — known as the "triadic structure" identified by Ramanuja.
What is the most famous verse in the Bhagavad Gita?
Bhagavad Gita 2.47 — "karmaṇyevādhikāraste mā phaleṣu kadācana" — "You have a right to action alone, never to its fruits." This verse defines karma-yoga: acting without attachment to outcomes.
When was the Bhagavad Gita composed?
Most scholars date the Bhagavad Gita to c. 400 BCE – 200 CE. It was composed as a section of the Mahabharata epic. Traditionally, it is placed at the dawn of Kali Yuga (3102 BCE) as Krishna's direct teaching to Arjuna.
Who is speaking in the Bhagavad Gita?
The primary speaker is Lord Krishna (the eighth avatar of Vishnu), addressing Prince Arjuna on the battlefield. The narrator is Sanjaya, Dhritarashtra's charioteer, who relays the conversation to the blind king via his divine vision granted by Vyasa.
What are the three yogas of the Gita?
The Bhagavad Gita teaches three paths: Karma Yoga (selfless action — chapters 1-6), Bhakti Yoga (devotion — chapters 7-12), and Jnana Yoga (knowledge — chapters 13-18). All three lead to moksha (liberation).