Bhagavad Gita
Krishna counsels Arjuna
The Bhagavad Gita is a Hindu scripture comprising a dialogue between the warrior Arjuna and the god Krishna on the eve of battle.
Part of the epic Mahabharata, it addresses duty, action, devotion, and the nature of self.
The text is central to Hindu philosophy and widely read beyond India: She keeps a copy of the Bhagavad Gita on her nightstand.
Cosmic moral order
- karmaSpiritual cause and effect
- mokshaRelease from rebirth cycle
- atmanEternal inner self
- BrahmanSupreme cosmic reality
samsara · reincarnation · Vedanta · duty · righteousness · detachment · renunciation · equanimity
Sanskrit war epic
- KrishnaEighth avatar of Vishnu
- SanskritAncient Indo-Aryan language
- versesLines of poetry
- chaptersMain divisions of text
discourse · dialogue · recitation · chanting · teachings · sacred text · commentary · translation
Eighth avatar of Vishnu
- surrenderCease resistance, yield
- graceEffortless beauty of motion
- loveIntense fond attachment
- faithTrust without proof
worship · Vishnu · avatar · divine · Hare Krishna · ISKCON · puja · refuge
Combat engagement area
- chariotAncient horse-drawn fighter's vehicle
- warriorOne skilled in combat
- conch shellsLarge spiral marine casings
- armiesOrganized military forces
moral dilemma · kinsmen · theophany · counsel · despondency · resolve
Focused attention practice
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
- practiceRepeated work toward mastery
- devotionDeep, loyal commitment
- knowledgeUnderstood facts and skills
wisdom · path · union · concentration · mindfulness · spiritual discipline
dharma
Cosmic moral order
Brahman · samsara · reincarnation · Vedanta · duty · righteousness · detachment · renunciation · equanimity · rajas
Mahabharata
Sanskrit war epic
chapters · discourse · dialogue · recitation · chanting · teachings · sacred text · commentary · translation · memorization
Krishna
Eighth avatar of Vishnu
faith · worship · Vishnu · avatar · divine · Hare Krishna · ISKCON · puja · refuge · remembrance
battlefield
Combat engagement area
- chariotAncient horse-drawn fighter's vehicle
- warriorOne skilled in combat
- conch shellsLarge spiral marine casings
armies · moral dilemma · kinsmen · theophany · counsel · despondency · resolve
meditation
Focused attention practice
- disciplineTrained self-control or specialty
- practiceRepeated work toward mastery
- devotionDeep, loyal commitment
knowledge · wisdom · path · union · concentration · mindfulness · spiritual discipline
- Asian ScripturesVedas, Upanishads, Guru Granth Sahib, Tao Te Ching, Agamas
- Indian ScripturesVedas, Upanishads, Mahabharata, Ramayana, Shruti
- Philosophy ClassicsRepublic, Meditations, Nicomachean Ethics, Metaphysics, Symposium
- South Asian LiteratureMahabharata, Ramayana, Tagore, Salman Rushdie, Rushdie
- Hindu ScripturesVedas, Upanishads, Mahabharata, Ramayana, Shruti
- Hindu textsVedas, Upanishads, Mahabharata, Ramayana, Smritis
Bhagavad GitaSermon on the Mount
Gospel hillside teaching
Tao Te Ching · turn the other cheek · conscientious objection
Bhagavad GitaBible
Christian sacred writings
Quran · Torah · Communist Manifesto · The God Delusion · Book of Mormon