On the eve of battle, Arjuna refuses to fight. His charioteer — who is also the god Krishna — delivers a teaching that synthesizes much of Hindu spiritual philosophy. Its core move is the reconciliation of action and liberation: one can act fully in the world without being bound by the results of action.
The Gita presents three principal paths — Karma Yoga (selfless action), Jnana Yoga (knowledge), and Bhakti Yoga (devotion) — as complementary rather than competitive. Its influence has been continuous: it shaped gandhi, was thoreau‘s favorite book, and remains among the most commented-upon texts in human history.