Who wrote Gita?
Veda Vyasa wrote Mahabharata and is found within the Bhishma Parva, which is the sixth book of the Mahabharata. Specifically, it occupies chapters 23-40 of the Bhishma Parva
Veda Vyasa:
This name signifies his role in dividing the Vedas into the four main branches: Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda.
Krishna Dvaipayana:
This name combines "Krishna" (meaning dark complexion) and "Dvaipayana" (referring to his birth on an island).
Vaishampayan:
This is another name for Vyasa, often associated with him narrating the Mahabharata.
Dvaipāyana:
This name refers to his birthplace being an island.
Why read Gita?
सर्वोपनिषदो गावो दोग्धा गोपालनन्दनः।
पार्थो वत्सः सुधीर्भोक्ता दुग्धं गीतामृतं महत्॥
All the Upanishads are the cows, the milker is Krishna, the son of the cowherd, Arjuna is the calf, the men of purified intellect are the enjoyers, and the great nectar of the Gita is the milk.
सर्वोपनिषदो गावो दोग्धा गोपालनन्दनः।
— sarva-upaniṣadaḥ (all the Upanishads)
— gāvaḥ (are the cows)
— dogdhā (milker)
— gopāla-nandanaḥ (Krishna, son of the cowherd)
पार्थो वत्सः सुधीर्भोक्ता दुग्धं गीतामृतं महत्॥
— Pārthaḥ (Arjuna)
— vatsaḥ (calf)
— sudhīḥ-bhoktā (wise people, enjoyers)
— dugdham (milk)
— gītāmṛtam (Gita’s nectar)
— mahat (great)
It integrates diverse strands of Indian philosophy — Sankhya analysis of matter and spirit, Vedantic notions of the ultimate Self (Ātman) and Brahman, Yogic paths of discipline and realization, and Bhakti’s surrender to the divine — into a unified vision where the finite and the infinite, the human and the divine, are intertwined.
The Gita does not present simple answers; instead, it challenges the reader to go beyond surface distinctions — between action and inaction, between success and failure, between life and death — and to see into the unchanging essence beneath the flux of experience.
The Bhagavad Gita is not merely a religious scripture or an ancient Indian text — it is one of the most profound philosophical explorations of the human condition ever composed.
At its deepest level, the Gita wrestles with the paradoxes of existence: What is the nature of the self? What is reality? How can one act in a world of impermanence without being bound by action? How does one reconcile the pursuit of worldly duties with the yearning for ultimate liberation?
The Gita does not present simple answers; instead, it challenges the reader to go beyond surface distinctions — between action and inaction, between success and failure, between life and death — and to see into the unchanging essence beneath the flux of experience.
It integrates diverse strands of Indian philosophy — Sankhya analysis of matter and spirit, Vedantic notions of the ultimate Self (Ātman) and Brahman, Yogic paths of discipline and realization, and Bhakti’s surrender to the divine — into a unified vision where the finite and the infinite, the human and the divine, are intertwined.
In its essence, the Bhagavad Gita invites us to confront the deepest tension of human life: how to live fully in the world without becoming enslaved by it; how to engage in necessary action without egoic attachment; how to surrender to the divine will while still honoring one’s unique dharma, or sacred duty. It teaches that true wisdom is not found in withdrawal or negation but in a profound integration — a way of being where one’s actions flow from a center that is untouched, unshaken, and timeless.
Why read Gita?
The Gita emphasizes the importance of understanding one's nature (Svadharma) and acting accordingly, rather than rigidly adhering to rules. It also delves into the concept of Dharma through Samkhya and Yoga, highlighting the importance of knowledge and action in the path to Moksha.