A Hindu epic poem, meaning in
Sanskrit "Song of
God" that was written between the 1st and 2nd century. Traditionally attributed to the sage Vyasa, most likely it is a compellation of oral stories written and refined by various writers. The fifth book in the
Mahabharata (meaning “Great
Epic of the
Bharata Dynasty”), consisting of 12 chapters of 700
Sanskrit verses.
The
Bhagavadgita was written as a dialogue between warrior Prince
Arjuna and his friend,
Krishna before an ensuing battle among the
Pandavas and the
Kauravas. Prince
Arjuna questions the rational in fighting a brutal war against many of his
friends and
kinsmen and contemplates allowing himself to be killed in order to avoid bloodletting.
Krishna intervenes by emphasizing his duty as a warrior, fighting without concern of personal triumph or gain, to
God.
Much like in other
religious writings,
fables,
parables, and
allegories, the Bhagavadgita true purpose is to attempt to describe the nature of God by virtue of an allusion; hiding its meaning in an
ethical quandary.