Structure of the Bhagavad Gita: Karma Bhakti Jnana

Karma, Bhakti and Jnana Yoga (Structure of the Bhagavad Gita) hands (action), heart (Devotion), head (Knowledge)

Training: Bhagavad Gita Course - Karma Yoga Course - Master in Bhagavad Gita

1. Introduction to the Structure of the Bhagavad Gita: the Path of Wisdom
2. Structure according to Swami Vivekananda
   1. Chapters 1-6: Karmashtakam (Karma Marga) - Karma Yoga
   2. Chapters 7-12: Bhaktishtakam (Bhakti Marga) - Bhakti Yoga
   3. Chapters 13-18: Jnanashatakam (Jnana Marga) - Jnana Yoga
3. Castes and the Structure of the Bhagavad Gita
4. Matrix of the structure of the Bhagavad Gita: hands-heart-head
5. Main themes of each chapter

Throughout the training of the Bhagavad Gita Institute we follow the structure of the Bhagavad Gita proposed by Swami Vivekananda based on three parts:

1. Chapters 1-6: Karma Yoga
2. Chapters 7-12: Bhakti Yoga
3. Chapters 13-18: Jnana Yoga

Estructura del Bhagavad Gita: Karma, Bhakti y Jnana Yoga Estrutura Bhagavad-Gita: Carma Bhakti Jnana.

We could also consider that the Bhagavad Gita is divided into three parts. The first chapter is introductory but at the same time fundamental, the next five chapters focus on the analysis of the individual spirit, the following chapters expose the nature of the universal spirit. The final chapters analyze the relationship between the two, arriving at their uniqueness. The Bhagavad Gita Institute & Pedro Nonell will follow the definition of Swami Vivekananda.

In general, Chapter I- The Yoga of Arjuna’s Despondency is like an introduction to the rest of the chapters, Chapter 2 is a synthesis of the topics to be discussed and the last is a complete summary of the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita and the philosophy of Yoga.

Swami Sarvapriyananda (Vedanta Society of NY) believes that:

1. Chapter 1 is introductory
2. Chapter 2 contains the essence of the Bhagavad Gita, particularly verse 16
3. From Chapter 3 to 17 basically Krishna answers Arjuna's doubts, and/or clarifies the issues raised
4. Chapter 18 contains a summary of the Bhagavad Gita

Chapters of the Bhagavad Gita:

Chapters 1-6: Karmashtakam (Karma Marga) - Karma Yoga

1. 1- The Yoga of Arjuna’s Despondency
2. 2- The Yoga of Knowledge (Sankhya)
3. 3- The Yoga of Action (Karma)
4. 4- The Yoga of Knowledge and Renunciation of Action
5. 5- The Yoga of Renunciation of Action (Karma Sannyasa)
6. 6- The Yoga of Meditation

Chapters 7-12: Bhaktishtakam (Bhakti Marga) - Bhakti Yoga

1. 7- The Yoga of Knowledge of Brahman
2. 8- The Yoga of the Imperishable Parabrahman
3. 9- The Yoga of Royal Knowledge
4. 10- The Yoga of Divine Glories
5. 11- The Yoga of the Universal Form
6. 12- The Yoga of Devotion

Chapters 13-18: Jnanashatakam (Jnana Marga) - Jnana Yoga

1. 13- The Yoga of the Field
2. 14- The Yoga of the Differentiation of the Three Gunas
3. 15- The Yoga of the Supreme Person
4. 16- The Yoga of Divine Inheritance
5. 17- The Yoga of the Threefold Faith
6. 18- The Yoga of Liberation through Renunciation

Paths of Yoga in the Bhagavad Gita

Bhagavad Gita Statistics

Number of verses (shlokas) recited by the different protagonists of the Bhagavad Gita:

1. Sri Krishna: 574 (82%)
2. Arjuna: 84 (12%)
3. Sanjaya: 41 (6%)
4. Dhritarashtra: 1

Distribution of the 18 chapters of the Bhagavad Gita by verses and protagonists:

As we can see, Sri Krishna is the great protagonist of the Bhagavad Gita; It is important to note that in the first chapter he does not appear.

Video ( subtitles): Structure of the Bhagavad Gita

Free e-book: Life of Swami Vivekananda (summary)

Which version of the Bhagavad Gita to choose?

The rest of this summary on “Structure of the Bhagavad Gita” is available exclusively to students of the Bhagavad Gita Institute

(c) Gita Institute & Pedro Nonell