Meera was given a Gita as a gift. One evening she opened it at the first page and found the names of warriors, conch shells blowing and armies standing in rows. After two pages she closed it. She thought the book must be meant for other people.

There was nothing wrong with Meera. The first chapter is the scene, not the teaching. The book is for her as much as for anyone. The way in is a question of your own and one verse, and chapter 2 is a better door than page one.

Where does the teaching begin?

The first chapter shows Arjuna on the field of Kurukshetra, in the grip of despair. Nobody has taught him anything yet. What comes next is the verse where he does the one thing that starts the whole Gita:

Arjuna says he is confused, asks to be told what is truly good for him, and calls himself a disciple. He begins with a plain question. Lord Krishna starts to answer in the verses just after (Gita 2.11).

So you can begin where Arjuna did: with your own confusion and an honest question. If you want to see the whole book before you start, read What Is the Gita? and The Eighteen Chapters at a Glance, or follow the path Begin the Gita.

What do you need before you start?

Nothing. You do not need Sanskrit: the site gives the meaning of every verse in plain language, and the Sanskrit can wait. Pick one plain translation in the language you think in. Find ten quiet minutes. Leave the heavy commentaries for later.

How do you read one verse?

1. Read the meaning once, slowly, aloud.
2. Ask who is speaking, to whom, and in what trouble.
3. Say it back in one sentence of your own, as you would to a friend.

If you cannot, read it once more and move on. It will come. Stop after one verse. The Gita is made to be taken slowly and again.

How long and when should you read each day?

Ten minutes is enough. Read at the same time each day, after a meal or before sleep, so the habit has a place to stand. Read aloud if you can: the sound slows you down, and a verse that is heard is often understood better than one that is skimmed. If your eyes are tired, use the Listen player on the site and let the page be read to you. Listening counts as reading.

Stop while you still want a little more. A reader who closes the book wanting the next verse comes back; one who is worn out by a long session does not.

What if you miss a day?

Pick up the next verse. The Gita is not a streak to be kept. It speaks of a mind that is restless and hard to hold, and says that practice and a loosened grip steady it (Gita 6.35). A missed day is part of the practice. The only mistake is to decide that you have failed and stay away.

An example

Take Meera some weeks later. She is tired after a hard week and asks herself why she works so hard and feels so empty. She opens chapter 2 and reads Lord Krishna's first answer, one verse a night, for three nights, and writes one line after each. On the third night she sees her own worry in Arjuna's. She has not understood everything. But the book now feels like it is speaking to her.

Questions readers ask

Must I read the Gita from chapter 1 to 18 in order?

Not at first. Chapter 1 sets the scene, so you may begin at chapter 2 and return to chapter 1 later. The Gita itself ends by asking Arjuna to think it over fully and then choose (Gita 18.63). It invites your thinking, not your speed.

Do I need to know Sanskrit?

No. Every verse comes with its meaning in plain language on the site. The Sanskrit is there for when you want to listen to it later.

What if I do not understand a verse?

That is normal. Even Arjuna said that Lord Krishna's words seemed mixed (Gita 3.2). Move on and come back. A question of your own will guide you, and the detailed reading shows how.

Can I read only the chapter that fits my problem?

Yes, as a start. Find something to read and Not sure where to start? will point you to it. Later, read the verses around it so that no verse stands alone.

Where can you go after the first week?

Let what you feel point the way.

• If your trouble is about duty and what comes of your effort, go to Chapter 3: The Yoga of Selfless Action, an Overview.
• If you wish to feel nearer to God, go to Chapter 12: The Yoga of Devotion, an Overview.
• If you want the whole book in view first, go to The Eighteen Chapters at a Glance.

You can also let the library choose for you with Not sure where to start?.

Going deeper

For a full method (order, translation, commentary and your own question) read the detailed reading. Closer still is the deeper reading, one verse at five distances. The path continues with The Eighteen Chapters at a Glance.