The structure of the Bhagavad-gītā

Part 1 · Karma-yoga

1. 1 Observing the Armies on the Battlefield of Kurukṣetra 46 verses

   Chapter summary

   Arjuna observes the armies and becomes overwhelmed by compassion for relatives. Foreseeing no enjoyment in victory, fearful of sinful reactions and concerned about the harmful effects of destroying families, Arjuna decides not to fight.

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   From chapter 1 to chapter 2: Dhṛtarāṣṭra becomes hopeful of not losing the kingdom for his sons, but Sañjaya describes how Kṛṣṇa inspires Arjuna to fight.

2. 2 Contents of the Gītā Summarized 72 verses

   Chapter summary

   Summary of the Gita: Arjuna accepts Kṛṣṇa as guru and Kṛṣṇa describes – Jñāna (knowledge of body and soul), sakāma-karma (doing duty and attaining enjoyment), Buddhi-yoga – Niṣkāma-karma-yoga (working with detachment and knowledge) and the qualities of a sthita-prajña.

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   From chapter 2 to chapter 3: In 2.49, Kṛṣṇa told Arjuna to keep all abominable actions far away by buddhi-yoga. So, Arjuna asks which of the two - renunciation and action - is better (3.1).

3. 3 Karma-yoga 43 verses

   Chapter summary

   Karma-yoga: Kṛṣṇa prescribes action based on niṣkāma-karma-yoga rather than premature renunciation based on jñāna-yoga. Even if Arjuna is qualified for renunciation, he should still do niṣkāma-karma-yoga to set the right example. Lust is a formidable enemy on the path of yoga and one has to conquer it by deliberate spiritual intelligence.

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   From chapter 3 to chapter 4: Kṛṣṇa presents transcendental knowledge by which one can be protected from the bondage of lust.

4. 4 Transcendental Knowledge 42 verses

   Chapter summary

   Transcendental knowledge descends from Kṛṣṇa in disciplic succession. Knowing the divine nature of Lord Kṛṣṇa's appearance gives liberation. Karma can be understood on the platform of jñāna and one can attain jñāna through yajña (sacrifice), and from a bona fide guru.

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   From chapter 4 to chapter 5: Kṛṣṇa spoke of attaining peace by jñāna (4.39) and renouncing karma by jñāna (in 4.41), but again asked Arjuna to take up karma-yoga (in 4.42). So, Arjuna again asks about renunciation (sannyāsa) and action (karma-yoga) (5.1).

5. 5 Karma-yoga — Action in Kṛṣṇa Consciousness 29 verses

   Chapter summary

   Karma-yoga – Action in Kṛṣṇa Consciousness: Kṛṣṇa says they both are equal but karma-yoga is easier. Niṣkāma-karma-yoga frees one from bondage. One can attain liberation by focusing on the Supreme. Aṣṭāṅga-yoga and bhakti-yoga give liberation.

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   From chapter 5 to chapter 6: Having mentioned about aṣṭāṅga-yoga in brief, Kṛṣṇa now describes it in greater detail.

6. 6 Sāṅkhya-yoga 47 verses

   Chapter summary

   Dhyāna Yoga or Aṣṭāṅga-yoga has two stages – yogārurukṣa (beginning) to yogārūḍha (advanced). Aṣṭāṅga-yoga has various practices and its perfection is to realizing the Supersoul. In yoga it is necessary to control the mind by practice and detachment. Even an unsuccessful yogī is given another opportunity to attain perfection. Bhakti-yogī is the topmost yogī.

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   From chapter 6 to chapter 7: In 6.47, Kṛṣṇa says that bhakti is the highest form of yoga. From Chapter 7, He describes bhakti-yoga elaborately.

Part 2 · Bhakti-yoga

1. 7 Knowledge of the Absolute 30 verses

   Chapter summary

   Knowledge of the Absolute: Hearing reveals knowledge about Kṛṣṇa's material and spiritual energies. Four types of pious people worship Kṛṣṇa and four types of impious people don't. Some worship demigods and some become impersonalists. One who is free from sins can do determined bhakti.

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   From chapter 7 to chapter 8: In 7.29-30, Kṛṣṇa mentions several items starting from Brahman. He elaborates them in Chapter 8.

2. 8 Attaining the Supreme 28 verses

   Chapter summary

   Attaining the Supreme: Whoever remembers Kṛṣṇa at the time of death attains Him. Jñānīs and yogīs attain liberation by path of light and karmī comes back to this world. But a bhakta quits this material world full of miseries and attain Kṛṣṇa's spiritual abode by pure bhakti.

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   From chapter 8 to chapter 9: Having described the glory of an ananya-bhakta, Kṛṣṇa describes how to become such an ananya-bhakta.

3. 9 The Most Confidential Knowledge 34 verses

   Chapter summary

   Most confidential knowledge is the knowledge of pure bhakti. Kṛṣṇa creates, maintains and destroys this world by His majestic powers. Fools and jñānīs approach Kṛṣṇa in different ways. But direct bhakti to Kṛṣṇa is the best. Kṛṣṇa is specially inclined to a devotee and forgives him for accidental mistakes.

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   From chapter 9 to chapter 10: In 9.34, Kṛṣṇa instructed to fix one's mind in Him. In Chapter 10, Kṛṣṇa describes His opulences on which one can fix his mind and remember Him.

4. 10 The Opulence of the Absolute 42 verses

   Chapter summary

   The opulences of Kṛṣṇa are unlimited. He is the origin of everything and is especially merciful to His devotees. Arjuna accepts Kṛṣṇa's supreme position and at his request Kṛṣṇa describes all His opulences (vibhūtis) which are just a spark of His splendor. He is the all-pervading Supersoul of everything in the cosmos.

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   From chapter 10 to chapter 11: In 10.42, Kṛṣṇa said that He pervades and supports the entire universe. In 11.1-4, Arjuna desires to see that all-pervasive universal form.

5. 11 The Universal Form 55 verses

   Chapter summary

   The Universal form (viśva-rūpa) of Kṛṣṇa consists of everything within the universe. Frightened upon seeing the form of time (kāla-rūpa) that devoured everything, Arjuna offered prayers and requested Kṛṣṇa to manifest His pleasing two-handed form.

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   From chapter 11 to chapter 12: In 11.55, Kṛṣṇa established the supremacy of bhakti-yoga unto His personal form. So, in 12.1 Arjuna inquires about personalists and impersonalists.

6. 12 Devotional Service 20 verses

   Chapter summary

   Devotional service is the highest of all spiritual paths. Kṛṣṇa differentiates between the personalists and impersonalists and gives the progressive levels of bhakti that enable people at various stages to connect with the Supreme. A devotee possesses several glorious qualities that ender him to Kṛṣṇa.

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   From chapter 12 to chapter 13: Having describes bhakti-yoga in six chapters, Kṛṣṇa describes jñāna-yoga in the last six chapters.

Part 3 · Jñāna-yoga

1. 13 Nature, the Enjoyer, and Consciousness 35 verses

   Chapter summary

   Nature, the enjoyer and consciousness: Upon Arjuna's inquiry Kṛṣṇa explains six topics: (i) kṣetra – field of activities or body; (ii) kṣetra-jñam – knowers of body, the soul and Kṛṣṇa; (iii) jñānaṁ – 20 elements of knowledge; (iv) jñeyaṁ – objects of knowledge, soul and Supersoul; (v) prakṛti – material nature; (vi) puruṣa – jīva and Lord. A true seer has the right vision of jīva, prakṛti and Paramātmā.

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   From chapter 13 to chapter 14: In 13.22, Kṛṣṇa said that the jīva takes up repeated birth and death due to association with the material modes. In Chapter 14, Kṛṣṇa explains how those modes bind the jīva and the way out.

2. 14 The Three Modes of Material Nature 27 verses

   Chapter summary

   Modes of material nature: The Supreme Lord impregnates the jīvas into the womb of prakṛti that consists of the three material modes. There is competition amongst the modes and one of them becomes prominent and influences the jīva's actions and destinations. By pure bhakti one can transcend the modes (guṇātīta).

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   From chapter 14 to chapter 15: In 14.26, Kṛṣṇa said that one can transcend modes by bhakti. But attachment to Kṛṣṇa, needs developing detachment to this world. In Chapter 15, Kṛṣṇa describes the process of detachment.

3. 15 The Yoga of the Supreme Person 20 verses

   Chapter summary

   The yoga of the Supreme Person: The material world is like an upside down banyan tree. One should cut it with the axe of detachment and surrender to Kṛṣṇa. Due to material mind and senses, the jīva, although a fragmental part of Kṛṣṇa, transmigrates. Kṛṣṇa is the maintainer of all and is above the fallible (kṣara) and infallible (akṣara) living entities and is the Supersoul.

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   From chapter 15 to chapter 16: In Chapter 15, Kṛṣṇa described the Banyan tree of material world, but its fruits are not described. In Chapter 16, Kṛṣṇa describes the good fruits (divine qualities) and bad fruits (demoniac qualities).

4. 16 The Divine and Demoniac Natures 24 verses

   Chapter summary

   The divine and demoniac natures: Godly men are endowed with 26 divine qualities (daivī sampada). Demoniac people have degraded qualities (asura sampada) and their activities make them enter hell and lower species. Following the scriptures causes elevation and disregarding them causes degradation.

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   From chapter 16 to chapter 17: In 16.23, Kṛṣṇa said that those who disregard scriptures and behave whimsically do not attain happiness in this life or the next. In 17.1, Arjuna asks Kṛṣṇa about the unauthorized worship of those who have some faith not based on scriptures.

5. 17 The Divisions of Faith 28 verses

   Chapter summary

   The divisions of faith: Kṛṣṇa explains that the three modes determine people's faith which can be know by the nature of their foods, sacrifices, austerities and charity. Oṁ tat sat indicates Supreme Absolute Truth Viṣṇu.

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   From chapter 17 to chapter 18: In the previous chapters, various systems of yoga and the supremacy of bhakti-yoga have been explained. In the last chapter, Kṛṣṇa gives an overview of Bhagavad-gita, and stresses that surrender unto Kṛṣṇa in bhakti is the ultimate goal of life.

6. 18 Conclusion — The Perfection of Renunciation 78 verses

   Chapter summary

   Conclusion, the perfection of renunciation: Kṛṣṇa explains – tyāga in three modes; five factors of action; knowledge, work, worker, intelligence, determination and happiness in three modes; and purification through prescribed duties of varṇāśrama. Then Kṛṣṇa describes Brahman platform, surrender to Supersoul and to Kṛṣṇa.