The Bhagavad Gita
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On the field of Kurukshetra, Dhritarâshtra asks Sañgaya to relate what the armies did; Sañgaya recounts Duryodhana's survey of the Pândava forces, the sounding of conchs, and Arguna's request that his chariot be stationed between the armies, whereupon, overcome with pity at the sight of kinsmen, Arguna casts aside his bow (Chapter I). Declaring himself a disciple, Arguna asks to be instructed, and the remaining dialogue unfolds between him and the Deity—addressed as Krishna, Kesava, Govinda, Hrishîkesa, and Vâsudeva. The Deity teaches the eternal indestructible self and action without attachment to fruit (II), the twofold path of Sânkhyas and Yogins and the sin born of desire and wrath (III), the succession by which the teaching descended and the sacrifice of knowledge (IV), renunciation compared with pursuit of action (V), and the practice of abstraction and the fate of one who fails (VI). He expounds his eightfold lower and higher natures and classes of worshippers (VII), the terms Brahman, Adhyâtma, and others and the two paths at death (VIII), and a mysterious knowledge whereby even lowly-born devotees attain him (IX). He names his chief emanations (X) and, granting Arguna a divine eye, shows his universal form devouring the warriors, declaring himself death (XI). Arguna asks which worshippers best know devotion (XII). The Deity distinguishes Kshetra and Kshetra gña (XIII), the three qualities (XIV), the Asvattha tree and himself as best of beings (XV), godlike and demoniac endowments (XVI), and threefold faith, food, penance, and gift (XVII). Explaining renunciation, abandonment, and the duties of the four castes, he urges Arguna to fight; Arguna's delusion is destroyed. Sañgaya, recounting the dialogue through Vyâsa's favour, affirms victory where Krishna and Arguna are (XVIII).
Sañgaya describes Argjuna overcome with pity, and the destroyer of Madhu speaks. The Deity asks why this delusion has overtaken Argjuna, tells him not to be effeminate, and to cast off weakness and arise. Argjuna asks how he can fight Bhîshma and Droña, whom he reveres, saying he would rather live on alms than kill his preceptors; confused about his duty, he declares himself a disciple and asks to be instructed. Sañgaya reports that Guḍâkeśa tells Govinda he will not fight, then falls silent. Hṛishîkeśa, with a slight smile, replies that Argjuna grieves for those deserving no grief. He teaches that the embodied self is eternal, indestructible, unborn, and undying; it casts off old bodies as a man puts on new clothes; weapons, fire, water, and wind cannot harm it. He urges Argjuna to fight, citing a Kshatriya's duty, the infamy of refusal, and heaven or earth as outcomes. He then expounds Sâñkhya and Yoga, action performed without attachment to its fruit, and devotion. Argjuna asks the characteristics of one of steady mind. The Deity describes such a person as free from desires, pleased in the self, withdrawing the senses like a tortoise, and warns how attachment breeds desire, anger, and ruin. The self-restrained man attains tranquillity and the Brahmic state.
Chapter II, Section 1aChapter II, Section 1bChapter II, Section 1cChapter II, Section 1d