59 pages • 1 hour read
Bhagavad Gita
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Summary and Study Guide
Overview
The Bhagavad Gita is a religious text written by an unknown author in the 1st or 2nd century BCE. The title translates as The Song of God, and the text contains 700 verses that explore the nature of the Hindu religion. The Gita comprises part of the Mahabharata, one of two ancient Indian epics, but it is often regarded and studied as an independent work. The narrative portrays a conversation between a prince named Arjuna and the god Krishna, who has taken on a human form. This guide uses the translation by Christopher Isherwood and Swami Prabhavananda.
Plot Summary
A blind king named Dhritarashtra relies on his counselor Sanjaya to tell him about a battle that took place nearby. The battle involves two sides of Dhritarashtra’s family. The Kauravas are fighting against their cousins, the Pandavas, for control of a kingdom. Dhritarashtra is not the rightful king but he wishes to keep the kingdom for his son, who is part of the Kauravas. Sanjaya tells Dhritarashtra about Arjuna, the leader of the Pandavas. Arjuna is being advised by the god Krishna, who has taken human form and acts as Arjuna’s charioteer and advisor.
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