The Bhagavad Gita, meaning ‘Song of God,’ is a 700-verse dialogue embedded within the Indian epic, the Mahabharata. It is believed to have been composed between the 5th and 2nd centuries BCE. The Gita presents a conversation between Prince Arjuna and his charioteer Krishna, who is later revealed to be a divine incarnation. The Gita offers a synthesis of various yogic paths—Karma Yoga (action), Bhakti Yoga (devotion), and Jnana Yoga (wisdom)—and explores fundamental concepts such as duty (dharma), the nature of the self (atman), and the impermanence of the material world.

In the context of the Vedic tradition, the Gita emerged during a period of intense philosophical transformation, as Upanishadic thought and Shramana (renunciant) movements began to challenge ritualistic and caste-based norms. Consequently, the Gita reflects a shift toward inner spiritual inquiry, devotion, and direct realization of truth.