Bhagavad-Gita << BUHG uh vuhd GEE tah >> is one of the most widely read and beloved of Hindu scriptures. The title means Song of the Lord in Sanskrit, an ancient Indian language. The Bhagavad-Gita forms only a small portion of a long epic called the Mahabharata, but its importance is enormous, especially in modern Hinduism.
The Bhagavad-Gita sets forth the god Krishna’s teachings to the warrior hero Arjuna. It is presented as a conversation between Arjuna and Krishna, who appears in human form as Arjuna’s friend and chariot driver. The conversation occurs on a battlefield at the beginning of a war between Arjuna and members of his family. Arjuna faces a difficult choice. As a warrior, he must defend his brother, the king. However, he has cousins, other relatives, and teachers on the opposing side. Arjuna wonders how to act in such a dilemma. Krishna teaches him that people can achieve freedom by following their prescribed duty without attachment to the results of their action.
The Bhagavad-Gita also portrays Krishna as a god whose greatness takes in everything in the universe. This concept of Krishna is conveyed in a vision described in the text. Krishna rises above any particular form and yet is present for believers as a close friend with whom they can have a loving relationship.
