Bhagavad-Gita
Arjuna's battlefield counsel
The Bhagavad-Gita is a sacred Hindu scripture composed in Sanskrit, forming part of the epic Mahabharata.
It presents a dialogue between the warrior prince Arjuna and the god Krishna, who serves as his charioteer, on the eve of a great battle.
The text addresses duty, righteousness, and the nature of existence, offering philosophical guidance on how to live and act in the world.
It remains one of the most influential texts in Hindu thought and has been widely translated and studied globally.
Cosmic moral order
- karmaSpiritual cause and effect
- yogaMind-body exercise discipline
- mokshaRelease from rebirth cycle
- MahabharataSanskrit war epic
Sanskrit · Vedanta · Upanishads · chapter · verse · canto · recitation · chanting
Eighth avatar of Vishnu
- chariotAncient horse-drawn fighter's vehicle
- battlefieldCombat engagement area
- warriorOne skilled in combat
- bowRespectful forward inclination
conch · army · dilemma · kinsmen · duty · reluctance · despair · counsel
Separation or emotional uninvolvement
- self-realizationAchieving personal potential
- atmanEternal inner self
- BrahmanSupreme cosmic reality
- consciousnessState of sentient awareness
illusion · maya · action · renunciation · equanimity · wisdom · knowledge · devotion
Focused attention practice
- mantraRepeated focus phrase
- surrenderCease resistance, yield
- offeringSomething presented or given
- devotionDeep, loyal commitment
discipline · mindfulness · contemplation · study · ashram · guru · disciple · worship
Indian independence leader
- nonviolencePrincipled rejection of force
- Thoreau19th-century American naturalist-essayist
- EmersonAnglo surname, various namesakes
- TranscendentalismIntuition-based American idealist movement
Huxley · Oppenheimer · ISKCON · commentary · translation · interpretation · interfaith · global
dharma
Cosmic moral order
Mahabharata · Sanskrit · Vedanta · Upanishads · chapter · verse · canto · recitation · chanting · sacred
Krishna
Eighth avatar of Vishnu
- chariotAncient horse-drawn fighter's vehicle
- battlefieldCombat engagement area
- warriorOne skilled in combat
bow · conch · army · dilemma · kinsmen · duty · reluctance · despair · counsel · revelation
detachment
Separation or emotional uninvolvement
- self-realizationAchieving personal potential
- atmanEternal inner self
- BrahmanSupreme cosmic reality
consciousness · illusion · maya · action · renunciation · equanimity · wisdom · knowledge · devotion · discipline
meditation
Focused attention practice
devotion · discipline · mindfulness · contemplation · study · ashram · guru · disciple · worship · puja
Gandhi
Indian independence leader
- nonviolencePrincipled rejection of force
- Thoreau19th-century American naturalist-essayist
- EmersonAnglo surname, various namesakes
Transcendentalism · Huxley · Oppenheimer · ISKCON · commentary · translation · interpretation · interfaith · global · timeless
Bhagavad-Gitasecular humanism
Nonreligious ethical philosophy
Bible · Quran · Torah · Book of Mormon · Tao Te Ching