The Bhagavad Gita is a Hindu holy book that is part of the Mahabharata, an ancient Indian Sanskrit epic poem. It takes the form of a conversation between Prince Arjuna and Krishna, an avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu. The Gita was most likely written in the first or second century CE.
In the Gita, Krishna teaches that the soul is eternal and that only the body can be killed. After death, the soul is reincarnated in another body, or it achieves liberation (moksha) or extinction (nirvana) if it has fully understood the true teachings.
On the eve of a great battle, Arjuna is overcome with apprehension and confides in Krishna, his charioteer. Krishna persuades Arjuna to fulfill his duty as a warrior-born man, which is to battle. Arjuna’s predicament elicits a response from Krishna, which becomes an articulation of the Gita’s core concepts.
The Bhagavad Gita has been traditionally valued by Hindus for its spiritual instruction. Mahatma Gandhi considered it a significant work and made a commentary on it.