Bhagavad Gita ca. 200 BCE–200 CE

The Bhagavad Gita is a small part (eighteen chapters) of an epic Indian poem called the Mahabharata. The epic narrates events surrounding a historic war so ancient that it is difficult to prove it actually happened. The Bhagavad Gita narrates an interlude prior to a great battle in that war, during which the hero-warrior Arjuna questions Lord Krishna about the best path to spiritual enlightenment, the nature of God and reality, and the purpose of life. Although it is located within the sixth book of the Mahabharata, the Bhagavad Gita can stand alone and is often read independently of the larger epic. It provides a guide for those seeking the right way to live and the purpose of life and answers to other fundamental questions. The title Bhagavad Gita means “Song of God.” As the title implies, it consists almost entirely of a message from God, which is conveyed by Lord Krishna, an avatar (incarnation) of Vishnu, the god of preservation. His message speaks of duty, order, enlightenment, the means to enlightenment, and the nature of God, humanity, and the universe.