Hinduism

Chapter4— The Yoga of Knowledge

◆ About this chapter

Chapter Four of the Bhagavad Gita, titled the Yoga of Knowledge, serves as a pivotal theological pivot within the larger Mahabharata epic. In this section, the divine speaker elucidates the eternal nature of the soul and the cyclical mechanics of reincarnation, thereby reframing the immediate ethical dilemma of the battlefield as a manifestation of cosmic law. By establishing the doctrine of divine descent, the text bridges the gap between human action and metaphysical order, inviting the reader to consider the spiritual dimensions of duty without prescribing a specific path of devotion.

Translation:

About this translation

King James Version (1611)

1611 · Public domain

The most influential English translation ever made. Sometimes archaic, but the standard PD English text.

Translators commissioned by King James I of England, 1604–1611

Whenever there is a decay of righteousness, O Bharata, and an uprising of unrighteousness, then I send forth Myself.The Descent of the D…The Anointed One ⁸For the protection of the good, for the destruction of evil-doers, for the sake of firmly establishing righteousness, I am born from age to age.

This chapter appears in 2 cross-tradition parallels

Comparative studies that quote one or more verses from this chapter alongside passages from other traditions.

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Chapter Discussion

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— 4 —sacredatlas.org