The Bhagavad Gita is an ancient Hindu scripture part of the epic poem, the Mahabharata. The Gita is set in a narrative framework of a dialogue between Pandava prince Arjuna and his guide and charioteer Krishna. At the start of the Dharma Yudhha (“righteous war”) between Pandavas and Kauravas, Arjuna is filled with moral dilemma and despair about the violence and death from fighting his cousins. In response, Krishna encourages Arjuna to see the war as his dharma (“duty, justice”), teaching him that it is his duty to fight for what is right, even if it means killing others.
Krishna also explains the nature of the soul, the Self, and reality to Arjuna.
The Gita stresses that it is better to live a life of dharma than to live without it. Dharma includes living following one’s caste and station in life, performing one’s duties without attachment to the results, and acting selflessly for the benefit of others. The Gita also teaches that it is possible to attain liberation from the cycle of rebirth through knowledge of Krishna as the supreme Lord and perfect meditating on him.
