Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Bhagavad Gita?
The Bhagavad Gita ("Song of the Lord") is a 700-verse Hindu scripture set within the epic Mahabharata. It records the dialogue between Lord Krishna and the warrior Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, in which Krishna imparts timeless teachings on duty (dharma), the immortal soul, selfless action (karma yoga), devotion (bhakti) and liberation (moksha).
How many chapters and verses are in the Bhagavad Gita?
The Bhagavad Gita has 18 chapters (adhyayas) and 700 verses (shlokas). Each chapter is itself called a "yoga" — a distinct path or teaching, from Arjuna Vishada Yoga (Chapter 1) to Moksha Sannyasa Yoga (Chapter 18).
Who spoke the Bhagavad Gita and to whom?
The Bhagavad Gita was spoken by Lord Krishna to Arjuna just before the Kurukshetra war. It was witnessed and later narrated by Sanjaya to the blind king Dhritarashtra. The sage Veda Vyasa composed it as part of the Mahabharata.
What is the core teaching of the Bhagavad Gita?
At its heart, the Gita teaches selfless action — to do one's duty with full effort while surrendering attachment to the results ("karmanye vadhikaraste"). It harmonises the paths of action (karma), knowledge (jnana) and devotion (bhakti), all leading to inner peace and liberation.
How should a beginner start reading the Bhagavad Gita?
Begin with Chapter 2 (Sankhya Yoga), which contains the essence of the entire Gita, then Chapter 12 (Bhakti Yoga) for the path of devotion. Read a few verses daily with their meaning, reflect on them, and return to the harder chapters later. On VedKosh every shloka has Sanskrit, transliteration, and meaning in Hindi and English.
