Chapters

The Yoga of Arjuna's Dejection

Arjuna's moral crisis reveals the human condition of doubt when duty conflicts with attachment.

Sets the stage for Krishna's teachings

The Yoga of Knowledge

The Self is eternal, indestructible; perform duty without attachment to results.

Foundation of Gita philosophy - Self and Karma Yoga

The Yoga of Action

Action is superior to inaction; perform prescribed duties as sacrifice without selfish motive.

Establishes Karma Yoga as the path of selfless action

The Yoga of Knowledge and Renunciation of Action

Divine knowledge descends through disciplic succession; the wise see inaction in action.

Reveals the transcendent nature of divine knowledge

The Yoga of Renunciation of Action

Renunciation and selfless action lead to the same goal; the wise see them as one.

Reconciles renunciation with active engagement

The Yoga of Meditation

The mind is restless but can be controlled through practice and detachment in meditation.

Details the practice of Dhyana Yoga (meditation)

The Yoga of Knowledge and Wisdom

Krishna is the supreme truth; all creation rests on Him like pearls on a thread.

Introduces knowledge of God's lower and higher nature

The Yoga of the Imperishable Brahman

Those who remember Me at death attain Me; the imperishable Brahman is the supreme goal.

Explains the science of attaining the Supreme at death

The Yoga of Royal Knowledge and Royal Secret

This is the most secret knowledge; I pervade the universe yet remain transcendent.

The most confidential knowledge of devotion

The Yoga of Divine Manifestations

Krishna's divine glories manifest as the best among all categories of existence.

Reveals divine manifestations to inspire devotion

The Yoga of the Vision of the Universal Form

Arjuna beholds the terrifying and wondrous universal form containing all existence.

The climactic vision of God's infinite cosmic form

The Yoga of Devotion

Devotees who worship with faith and love are dearest to Me; devotion surpasses abstract meditation.

Establishes Bhakti as the supreme path

The Yoga of the Field and the Knower of the Field

Know the field (body) and the knower of the field (Self); liberation comes through this discrimination.

Analytical knowledge of matter and spirit

The Yoga of the Division of the Three Gunas

The three gunas bind the soul; transcending them through devotion leads to liberation.

Understanding the three modes of material nature

The Yoga of the Supreme Person

The Supreme Person transcends both the perishable and imperishable; know Me as Purushottama.

The yoga of the Supreme Person beyond all

The Yoga of the Division between the Divine and Demoniac Natures

Divine qualities lead to liberation, demoniac qualities to bondage; cultivate the divine.

Distinguishes divine and demoniac natures

The Yoga of the Division of Threefold Faith

Faith manifests in three modes affecting worship, food, austerity, and charity.

The three divisions of faith and practice

The Yoga of Liberation through Renunciation

Surrender all dharmas to Me alone; I shall liberate you from all sins, do not grieve.

The grand conclusion synthesizing all teachings