1
Crisis & Despair
The Grief of Arjuna
Arjuna Vishada Yoga
On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, the warrior Arjuna surveys the two armies and is struck by overwh…
2
The Immortal Self
The Yoga of Knowledge
Sankhya Yoga
Krishna begins his teaching. He explains that the soul (Atman) is eternal and cannot be killed — so …
3
Selfless Action
The Yoga of Action
Karma Yoga
Arjuna asks: if knowledge is superior, why fight at all? Krishna explains that no one can remain ina…
4
Divine Wisdom
The Yoga of Knowledge & Action
Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga
Krishna reveals that he has taught this wisdom across many lifetimes, though he appears to forget be…
5
Freedom in Action
The Yoga of Renunciation
Karma Sanyasa Yoga
Arjuna asks whether renunciation of action or the yoga of action is better. Krishna says both lead t…
6
The Disciplined Mind
The Yoga of Meditation
Dhyana Yoga
Krishna gives detailed, practical instructions for meditation. Sit still, eat and sleep moderately, …
7
Knowing the Divine
Knowledge & Wisdom
Jnana Vijnana Yoga
Krishna declares his own nature more directly. He is the essence behind all of existence — the taste…
8
Death & Liberation
The Imperishable Brahman
Akshara Brahma Yoga
Arjuna asks seven deep questions about the nature of Brahman, the Self, action, and what happens at …
9
The Secret of Devotion
The Royal Knowledge
Raja Vidya Yoga
Krishna calls this the 'royal secret' — the most intimate and powerful teaching. All of existence re…
10
The Divine in Everything
Divine Glories
Vibhuti Yoga
Krishna reveals his divine manifestations — wherever one sees excellence, brilliance, or beauty in t…
11
The Overwhelming Divine
The Vision of the Cosmic Form
Vishwarupa Darshana Yoga
The climax of the Gita. Arjuna asks to see Krishna's true form. Krishna grants him divine vision, an…
12
The Path of Love
The Yoga of Devotion
Bhakti Yoga
After the terrifying cosmic vision, Arjuna asks a gentle question: which is better — worshipping the…
13
Body, Soul & Consciousness
The Field & the Knower
Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhaga Yoga
Krishna introduces a key philosophical distinction: the Field (Kshetra) — the body, mind, senses, an…
14
The Forces Shaping Us
The Three Qualities of Nature
Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga
Krishna explains the three Gunas — the three fundamental qualities that make up all of material exis…
15
The Tree of Life
The Supreme Person
Purushottama Yoga
Krishna uses the metaphor of an upside-down tree (the Ashvattha tree, rooted above in Brahman and br…
16
Two Paths of Humanity
Divine & Demonic Natures
Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga
Krishna describes two types of human natures: divine (daivi) and demonic (asuri). Divine qualities i…
17
Faith & Its Varieties
The Three Divisions of Faith
Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga
Krishna explores how the three Gunas shape faith, food, worship, charity, and austerity. Sattvic fai…
18
The Final Teaching
Liberation Through Renunciation
Moksha Sanyasa Yoga
The great concluding chapter. Krishna summarizes the entire teaching. He distinguishes between renun…