Many people consider Bhagvad Geeta a religious book, while others view it as a rule book. There are very few people who know that it is a book that provides humans with a clear understanding of Dharm (Righteousness). It means that Bhagvad Geeta is a book that teaches us the way of life or way of living. 

The way of living here doesn’t mean some rituals or lifestyle that has been performed by a group of people over time. It is the actual or universal way of living that should be performed by all human beings because it is for the welfare of all living beings. 

There are a few things that we must remember while reading Bhagvad Geeta. And the first and foremost thing is that we should not just read it but study it thoroughly and independently.

Why is a Thorough and Independent Study Needed?

When we read it just to find the solution to one or the other problem in our lives, we don’t get the solution. It is because Bhagvad Geeta is not a rulebook that has questions and answers like any other constitution, or religious book. It is actually a divine book that boasts information on the universal set of principles for the human body. These principles have been explained in a way that they can be understood very well by people with different types of mental inclinations. Each principle caters to those who believe that there is something like an afterlife, and even to those who don’t believe this fact. The best part is that whichever way you walk in, these principles would take you to the path of Dharm that is for the welfare of everyone and everything. 

However, if you do not self-study Bhagvad Geeta, you are prone to miss the actual essence of Shree Krishna’s (God’s) teachings. It is because if you don’t self-study, you would be taught it by someone else who may not have understood it the way it is.

In that case, you might be provided a wrong interpretation of this ocean of righteous teachings. On the other hand, if you do self-study and self-contemplation along with learning it from others, you are more likely to understand the real meaning of it, even if your preacher taught you a wrong interpretation. Therefore, it is advised that everyone study Bhagvad Geeta by themselves and ask questions to others, the internet, AI, and different scriptures to find out the real essence of Geeta.

Things to remember while studying Bhagvad Geeta?

There are a few things every student of the Bhagvad Geeta should keep in mind while studying it. Here they are: 

• Read Bhagvad Geeta with the faith that Shri Krishna is God and God does not tell wrong things. Having faith in God means that whatever he said can’t be wrong, and if your conscience finds anything written in Bhagvad Geeta wrong, read it multiple times to find the right meaning of it. 
• Bhagvad Geeta is said by Shri Krishna (God), but it has been printed and published as a book by humans. Therefore, if you find anything wrong written in the Geeta, it means it has been tampered. If you happen to study any such tempered version of Geeta, it is the time to find the older, original, and non-tempered version of the Bhagvad Geeta.
• The original non-tempered version can’t be destroyed from all over the world; it must be there in one or the other place. You just need to put in some extra effort.
• Currently, in September 2025, the Geeta Press version seems the most authentic one and my explanation is based on that only. 

• The best way to identify the authenticity of a Geeta version is to understand if it is logical or not. The real Bhagvad Geeta is no illogical rulebook but it is a book on righteousness-teaching.
• Remember that Bhagvad Geeta is a book on Dharm (righteousness) but not on providing bodily Indulgence. Therefore, you have to be selfless but not selfish, to find the real essence of this book that possesses words of God. 
• You may not understand the essence of Bhagvad Geeta at first, therefore you shouldn’t just read it once and leave it. You may need to read it multiple times to learn what Krishna actually wants to teach us. I am an example of it, I also did not understand it when I read it first and therefore, I had left reading it. After a few years, I again started reading it without thinking of attaining anything from this study. I still read it regularly as I learn something new every time I read it.
• It is advisable to read it in Sanskrit as well while reading it in Hindi, English, or any other language because it may help you learn a bit of Sanskrit which would result in finding the translation mistakes if there are any.
• Don’t depend on how an interpreter has interpreted the meaning of Bhagvad Geeta, use your own intellects and logics to understand the real meaning. 

So, these are a few points, which I feel, that every student of Bhagvad Geeta should remember while studying this God-book. Let’s now move towards the discussion between Shree Krishna and Arjun to learn the teachings of God.