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).
Arguna asks Hrishîkesa, destroyer of Kesin, to explain renunciation and abandonment distinctly. The Deity replies that renunciation is rejecting actions done with desires, and abandonment is giving up the fruit of all actions. He notes differing views on abandoning action, then declares abandonment threefold, stating sacrifice, gift, and penance should be performed without attachment or fruit. He describes dark, passionate, and good abandonment. He names five causes of action from the Sânkhya system: substratum, agent, organs, movements, and deities. He explains that one without egoism, though he kills, kills not. He classifies knowledge, action, agent, intelligence, courage, and happiness each into good, passionate, and dark kinds. He describes the natural duties of Brâhmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas, and Sûdras, and states one's own defective duty is better than another's. He explains how one attains the Brahman and highest devotion to him. He tells Arguna that nature will constrain him to fight, and urges him to seek shelter in the lord seated in all hearts. He instructs Arguna to forsake all duties and come to him, promising release from sins, and specifies who may not hear this. Arguna says his delusion is destroyed and he will obey. Sañgaya recounts hearing this dialogue between Vâsudeva and Prithâ's son through Vyâsa's favour, rejoicing, and affirms fortune and victory where Krishna and Arguna are.
Chapter XVIII, Section 1aChapter XVIII, Section 1bChapter XVIII, Section 1cChapter XVIII, Section 1d