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What Is the Bhagavad Gita and Why Does It Matter to Yogis?

What Is the Bhagavad Gita and Why Does It Matter to Yogis?

Sahil Thakur
3 days ago
5 min read

The Bhagavad Gita is a Sanskrit poem in the form of a conversation between a warrior, Arjuna, and his charioteer, Krishna, on the eve of a great battle. It is part of the epic Mahabharata, and it matters to yogis because it is one of the earliest and most influential texts to describe yoga as a way to live, not only a way to sit. Here is the story and what it offers.

Key takeaways

  • The Gita is a dialogue of 700 verses in 18 chapters, set inside the Mahabharata (Britannica; IEP).

  • Its name means "Song of God" (Britannica). Many Hindus cherish it as sacred scripture.

  • Scholars date it anywhere from about the 5th century BCE to the 2nd century CE; Britannica suggests the 1st or 2nd century CE.

  • It describes yoga as acting with a steady mind, and names three paths: action, devotion and knowledge.

  • It is a deep, sometimes difficult text. Reading it slowly, with a good commentary, helps.

A conversation on a chariot

Imagine a field between two armies. The signal to begin is about to be given. Arjuna, a famous archer, asks his charioteer to drive between the lines so he can see who he must fight. What he sees are teachers, cousins, friends. His hands shake. He puts down his bow.

That is where the Gita begins: not with calm, but with a person stuck. He doesn't know what is right. So he asks Krishna, who is his charioteer and, in the tradition, an avatar of the god Vishnu. The rest of the poem is Krishna's reply.

The Britannica entry describes this setup and notes that the Gita occupies chapters 23 to 40 of Book 6 of the Mahabharata (in the Critical Edition; other editions number them differently). It has 700 verses in 18 chapters. You can read it here: Britannica, Bhagavad Gita.

What does Krishna say?

The answers are layered, and different readers hear different things. Here are the main threads in plain words.

Do your work, but loosen your grip on the result. This is the heart of what the tradition calls karma yoga, the yoga of action. Britannica sums it up as acting without clinging to the "fruits" of one's actions. In practice: care about the effort and the quality, and let go of the need to control what happens next.

Keep the mind steady. Several verses describe yoga as evenness of mind, staying level in success and failure, and as skill in action. Translators word these differently, so it is worth comparing two translations. Verse 2.48 is often translated as defining yoga as evenness of mind (samatva), for example in Franklin Edgerton's translation (Harvard University Press, 1944), and verse 2.50 calls yoga skill in action (IEP discusses 2.50).

There is more than one way in. The Gita is often read as teaching three paths, which are karma (action), bhakti (devotion) and jnana (knowledge). The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy gives a clear scholarly overview of how these fit together. See Bhagavad Gita, Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy. You can explore the differences more in our post on karma, bhakti, jnana and raja yoga.

The deeper self. Krishna also teaches that there is a part of us that does not die with the body, and that a person can learn to see that. Britannica explains that this draws on the Upanishads and on Samkhya philosophy. This is a religious teaching, and you do not need to share it to learn from the rest of the book.

Why it matters to yogis

You might ask: where are the poses? There are almost none. Instead, the Gita shows yoga as a whole life practice. When Patanjali's Yoga Sutras talk about stilling the mind, and the Gita talks about acting with a steady mind, they are describing different parts of the same long conversation. Our post on the history of yoga shows where these texts sit on the timeline.

The Gita also reached far beyond India. Britannica notes it became especially prominent in the 19th century, was read closely by the American writers Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, and was an important text for Mahatma Gandhi, who wrote a commentary on it. The IEP adds that Gandhi saw niṣkāmakarma, acting without desire for the results, as a central idea of the Gita (IEP). Many modern yoga teachers quote it, so knowing the source helps you hear what is being borrowed.

A respectful word about the hard parts

The Gita is set on a battlefield, and Krishna's answer includes the idea that Arjuna should do his duty and fight. Readers have understood this very differently over the centuries. Some read the battle as a real war, others as a picture of the inner struggle. Gandhi, who was committed to non-violence, read it as being mainly about selfless action. We offer no single reading here. If you read it, expect to argue with it a little. That is allowed.

It is also sacred to millions of people. Treat it the way you would treat anyone's holy book: with curiosity and care.

How to start reading it

  1. Pick one translation and one commentary. Ask a teacher or librarian for a trusted edition. Translations vary widely.

  2. Read a little at a time. One chapter, or even a few verses, is enough.

  3. Notice one idea. For example: "Do the work, loosen the grip." Try it for a day.

  4. Keep notes. Write down questions rather than rushing to answers.

  5. Talk about it. Reading groups and teachers help.

Safety: who should be careful

This is a reading practice, not a physical one. But strong themes of duty, war and death can stir up feelings. If anything you read feels heavy, pause, and talk to someone you trust. Reading is no substitute for care from a health professional.

FAQ

Is the Bhagavad Gita a yoga text?

Yes, in the sense that it teaches several kinds of yoga. But it is primarily a religious and philosophical poem, not a manual of postures.

How old is the Gita?

It is debated. Scholars date it anywhere from about the 5th century BCE to the 2nd century CE; Britannica says "perhaps in the 1st or 2nd century CE." Say "roughly two thousand years old" and note that it is debated.

Do I need to be Hindu to read it?

No. Many people from many backgrounds read it. It is sacred to Hindus, so approach it respectfully.

Which translation should I read?

There is no single best one. Try a few pages of two or three and see which speaks clearly to you.

Keep exploring with us

If you'd like to try a gentle practice that brings these ideas into your body, message us at breathe@theyogshala.org or call 514-575-0009. If you want to study yoga philosophy, texts and teaching in depth, our Yogshala 200-hour Hatha Teacher Training runs January 5 to April 18, 2027, in person in Montréal-Ouest and online. Certification is issued by Yogshala. Details are here.

Message us about the January training: the Yogshala 200-hour Hatha Teacher Training starts January 5, 2027.

With warmth,

Sahil

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