Bhagavad Gītā

The Mahābhārata

The Gītā is part of the Mahābhārata, the longest epic in world literature (100,000 verses, ten times the Iliad and Odyssey combined). It narrates the conflict between cousins — the Pāṇḍavas and the Kauravas — for the throne of Hastināpura.

Although war is the framework, the Mahābhārata is encyclopedic: it contains philosophy, mythology, ethics, politics. The Bhagavad Gītā (chapters 25-42 of book VI) is its philosophical jewel, so revered that it is studied independently.

Why we include it

Although not a Haṭha Yoga text, the Gītā establishes the philosophical framework where later practices find meaning. Concepts like sthira (stability), sama (equanimity), yoga as union and skill in action — resonate throughout the tradition.

Chapter 6 (Dhyāna Yoga) describes meditation with practical detail: posture, place, mental attitude. It is a bridge between the philosophy of Rāja Yoga and the practices that later texts would develop.

Dating and authorship

The Gītā was probably composed between the 5th century BCE and the 2nd century CE, reaching its current form around the Gupta period. Tradition attributes the Mahābhārata to Vyāsa, a mythical figure whose name means "compiler."

Recommended readings

• The Bhagavad Gita — Eknath Easwaran (accessible translation)
• The Bhagavad Gita — S. Radhakrishnan (bilingual academic edition)
• God Talks with Arjuna — Paramahansa Yogananda (extensive commentary)
• The Bhagavad Gita — Swami Sivananda (with traditional commentary)