The Bhagavad Gita, often referred to as simply "the Gita," is a 700-verse Hindu scripture that is part of the epic Mahabharata. It is presented as a dialogue between Lord Krishna and the warrior Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, just before the start of the Kurukshetra War.

The conversation begins when Arjuna, seeing his relatives, teachers, and friends on the opposing army, becomes overwhelmed with compassion and refuses to fight. Krishna, serving as Arjuna's charioteer, then instructs him about the nature of the self (soul), the Supreme, and the purpose of human existence.

The Bhagavad Gita presents three principal paths to spiritual realization:

• Karma Yoga - The path of selfless action, performing one's duties without attachment to results
• Jnana Yoga - The path of knowledge and philosophical inquiry into the nature of consciousness
• Bhakti Yoga - The path of loving devotion to God, which Krishna describes as the most direct approach

Throughout the Gita, Krishna reveals profound spiritual truths, including the eternal nature of the soul, the temporary nature of the material body, the law of karma, the purpose of meditation, and the ultimate goal of human life—to develop love for God and return to the spiritual world.

The Bhagavad Gita is revered not only as a religious text but also as a practical guide to living a spiritually meaningful life while fulfilling one's social responsibilities. Its teachings are universal and have inspired people around the world, including prominent figures like Mahatma Gandhi, Albert Einstein, J. Robert Oppenheimer, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry David Thoreau.