Preface

The Bhagavad Gita is part of the Mahabharata, which was written in ancient India by the sage Vyasa. The broader epic chronicles the dynastic struggle and devastating Kurukshetra War between the Pandavas and the Kauravas, exploring complex themes such as dharma (duty), morality, and cosmic order. The Mahabharata, however, is not merely a historical text, but a profound allegory that distinctly reveals how we 'fell from heaven' and how we can get back to our blissful origin.

Embedded within this epic is the Bhagavad Gita, a 700-verse philosophical dialogue that takes place on the eve of the battle. When the warrior prince Arjuna suffers a moral crisis at the prospect of fighting his own kin, his charioteer, Lord Krishna, counsels him. He instructs Arjuna on the eternal nature of the soul, the importance of fulfilling one's righteous duty without attachment to the results, and the ultimate path to liberation.

The importance of the Bhagavad Gita can hardly be overstated; these 700 verses stand as the quintessential expression of Eastern philosophy, offering wisdom that can be applied to all facets of existence. Because its deeper meaning is not always easily accessible, everyone interested is highly advised to make use of commentaries to these 700 verses by enlightened masters, such as Paramahansa Yogananda's 'God Talks with Arjuna: The Bhagavad Gita'.