The 5 Main Elements of Sanatana Dharma According to the Bhagavad Gita
Ankit Gupta | Jul 13, 2025, 23:46 IST
( Image credit : Freepik )
Highlight of the story: The five foundational elements of Sanatana Dharma as revealed in the Bhagavad Gita, offering a spiritual roadmap for self-realization and liberation.
“This knowledge is the king of education, the most secret of all secrets. It is the purest knowledge, and because it gives direct perception of the self by realization, it is the perfection of dharma.”
— Bhagavad Gita 9.2
Sanatan Dharma, the eternal order of the universe, finds one of its most profound expressions in the Bhagavad Gita, the spiritual dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna. The Gita offers a complete blueprint for human evolution, revealing the essence of dharma, the nature of the soul, the power of action, the path of devotion, and the final goal of liberation.
At the heart of Sanatan Dharma is the understanding of the Ātman, the eternal soul. The Gita describes the soul as unchanging, indestructible, and ever-existent.
“na jāyate mriyate vā kadācin nāyaṁ bhūtvā bhavitā vā na bhūyaḥ
ajo nityaḥ śāśvato ’yaṁ purāṇo
na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre”
— Gita 2.20
Meaning: The soul is never born, nor does it die. It is not destroyed when the body is destroyed. It is unborn, eternal, ever-existing, and primeval.
Krishna explains to Arjuna that grief over death is misplaced because the self never dies. This understanding forms the core of spiritual life. The one who realizes the self knows that he is neither the body nor the mind, but something much deeper — the witness of all change, the one untouched by time.
The soul is never tainted by actions, nor does it carry the burden of birth and death. Realization of this eternal identity brings fearlessness, clarity, and peace.
Karma, or action, is not just about doing, but about doing rightly — in alignment with dharma (moral and cosmic law). Krishna emphasizes karma yoga, the path of selfless action, as a means to liberation.
“karmany-eva adhikāras te mā phaleṣu kadācana
mā karma-phala-hetur bhūr mā te saṅgo ’stv akarmaṇi”
— Gita 2.47
Meaning: You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions.
This is one of the most quoted verses of the Gita, teaching non-attachment to results. When one acts out of duty, without selfish desire, the action becomes purified. Such action neither binds the soul nor generates new karma.
In Sanatan Dharma, karma is not punishment, but a law of balance. Every thought, word, and deed has consequences — not externally imposed, but internally generated.
Krishna teaches that doing one’s own dharma (even if imperfectly) is better than perfectly doing another’s duty.
“śreyān svadharmo viguṇaḥ para-dharmāt sv-anuṣṭhitāt”
— Gita 3.35
Righteous action, performed in harmony with one's role in society and stage of life, purifies the soul and leads to spiritual progress.
While knowledge and action are essential, the Gita elevates bhakti (devotion) as the most direct and powerful path to the Divine. In its final chapters, Krishna proclaims that those who surrender to Him with undivided love attain the supreme goal.
“man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru
mām evaiṣyasi satyaṁ te pratijāne priyo ’si me”
— Gita 18.65
Meaning: Think of Me, be My devotee, offer worship to Me, and bow down to Me. You will surely come to Me — I promise you this because you are dear to Me.
Unlike mere ritualism or dogma, bhakti arises from the heart — an emotional connection with the Divine. Bhakti is the fire of longing, the song of surrender, and the light of love that burns away ego.
Whether through chanting, prayer, service, or remembrance — devotion transforms the seeker. Krishna reassures even the worst of sinners that if they turn to Him in devotion, they shall be delivered.
“api cet su-durācāro bhajate māṁ ananya-bhāk
sādhur eva sa mantavyaḥ samyag vyavasito hi saḥ”
— Gita 9.30
Bhakti dissolves pride and ego, and leads to the highest bliss — union with the Supreme.
True knowledge (jñāna) in the Gita is not academic but existential — the direct realization of the Self and the Supreme. It is this knowledge that cuts through illusion (maya) and frees the soul.
“tad viddhi praṇipātena paripraśnena sevayā
upadekṣyanti te jñānaṁ jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ”
— Gita 4.34
Meaning: Approach a realized teacher with humility, sincere inquiry, and service. The self-realized can impart knowledge unto you, for they have seen the truth.
In the Gita, Krishna teaches Arjuna the difference between the body (kṣetra) and the knower of the body (kṣetrajña). Knowing the difference between prakriti (nature) and purusha (spirit) is the beginning of true knowledge.
“kṣetra-kṣetrajñayor jñānaṁ yat taj jñānaṁ mataṁ mama”
— Gita 13.3
This knowledge reveals that all beings are expressions of the same divine essence. Ignorance binds, knowledge frees. It dispels fear, removes attachment, and opens the door to liberation.
The culmination of all yogas — karma, bhakti, and jñāna — is moksha, liberation from the cycle of birth and death. It is the freedom from the dualities of pleasure and pain, success and failure, life and death.
“māṁ ca yo ’vyabhicāreṇa bhakti-yogena sevate
sa guṇān samatītyaitān brahma-bhūyāya kalpate”
— Gita 14.26
Meaning: One who engages in unalloyed devotion to Me transcends the three gunas (modes of nature) and attains Brahman.
Moksha is not just escape — it is union. It is the experience of the Self as One with the Infinite. The Gita presents moksha as a state of fearlessness, peace, and divine fulfillment.
The liberated soul:
sees God in all beings,is free from attachments,remains unmoved by pleasure or pain,and abides in the Supreme Self.Krishna promises this ultimate liberation to those who surrender with faith and devotion, regardless of caste, birth, or past sins.
“te ’pi yānti parāṁ gatim”
— Gita 9.32
They too attain the highest goal.
The Bhagavad Gita, in its eighteen luminous chapters, distills the very heart of Sanatan Dharma — the eternal dharma that guides the soul through time and beyond it. It does not preach one rigid path but offers multiple paths harmonized in a single vision.
Ātman reminds us of who we truly are.Karma teaches how to live with integrity.Bhakti shows how to feel God in our heart.Jñāna reveals the cosmic truth behind appearances.Moksha promises the peace beyond all suffering.In a world full of confusion, stress, and spiritual amnesia, the Gita shines as a timeless guide, inviting every soul — regardless of religion or nationality — to realize their true self and walk the eternal path of Sanatan Dharma.
— Bhagavad Gita 9.2
Sanatan Dharma, the eternal order of the universe, finds one of its most profound expressions in the Bhagavad Gita, the spiritual dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna. The Gita offers a complete blueprint for human evolution, revealing the essence of dharma, the nature of the soul, the power of action, the path of devotion, and the final goal of liberation.
1. Ātman
The Eternal Soul
( Image credit : Freepik )
At the heart of Sanatan Dharma is the understanding of the Ātman, the eternal soul. The Gita describes the soul as unchanging, indestructible, and ever-existent.
“na jāyate mriyate vā kadācin nāyaṁ bhūtvā bhavitā vā na bhūyaḥ
ajo nityaḥ śāśvato ’yaṁ purāṇo
na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre”
— Gita 2.20
Meaning: The soul is never born, nor does it die. It is not destroyed when the body is destroyed. It is unborn, eternal, ever-existing, and primeval.
Krishna explains to Arjuna that grief over death is misplaced because the self never dies. This understanding forms the core of spiritual life. The one who realizes the self knows that he is neither the body nor the mind, but something much deeper — the witness of all change, the one untouched by time.
The soul is never tainted by actions, nor does it carry the burden of birth and death. Realization of this eternal identity brings fearlessness, clarity, and peace.
2. Karma
The Path of Righteous Act
( Image credit : Freepik )
Karma, or action, is not just about doing, but about doing rightly — in alignment with dharma (moral and cosmic law). Krishna emphasizes karma yoga, the path of selfless action, as a means to liberation.
“karmany-eva adhikāras te mā phaleṣu kadācana
mā karma-phala-hetur bhūr mā te saṅgo ’stv akarmaṇi”
— Gita 2.47
Meaning: You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions.
This is one of the most quoted verses of the Gita, teaching non-attachment to results. When one acts out of duty, without selfish desire, the action becomes purified. Such action neither binds the soul nor generates new karma.
In Sanatan Dharma, karma is not punishment, but a law of balance. Every thought, word, and deed has consequences — not externally imposed, but internally generated.
Krishna teaches that doing one’s own dharma (even if imperfectly) is better than perfectly doing another’s duty.
“śreyān svadharmo viguṇaḥ para-dharmāt sv-anuṣṭhitāt”
— Gita 3.35
Righteous action, performed in harmony with one's role in society and stage of life, purifies the soul and leads to spiritual progress.
3. Bhakti
The Power of Devotion
( Image credit : Freepik )
While knowledge and action are essential, the Gita elevates bhakti (devotion) as the most direct and powerful path to the Divine. In its final chapters, Krishna proclaims that those who surrender to Him with undivided love attain the supreme goal.
“man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru
mām evaiṣyasi satyaṁ te pratijāne priyo ’si me”
— Gita 18.65
Meaning: Think of Me, be My devotee, offer worship to Me, and bow down to Me. You will surely come to Me — I promise you this because you are dear to Me.
Unlike mere ritualism or dogma, bhakti arises from the heart — an emotional connection with the Divine. Bhakti is the fire of longing, the song of surrender, and the light of love that burns away ego.
Whether through chanting, prayer, service, or remembrance — devotion transforms the seeker. Krishna reassures even the worst of sinners that if they turn to Him in devotion, they shall be delivered.
“api cet su-durācāro bhajate māṁ ananya-bhāk
sādhur eva sa mantavyaḥ samyag vyavasito hi saḥ”
— Gita 9.30
Bhakti dissolves pride and ego, and leads to the highest bliss — union with the Supreme.
4. Jñāna
Knowledge that Liberates
( Image credit : Freepik )
True knowledge (jñāna) in the Gita is not academic but existential — the direct realization of the Self and the Supreme. It is this knowledge that cuts through illusion (maya) and frees the soul.
“tad viddhi praṇipātena paripraśnena sevayā
upadekṣyanti te jñānaṁ jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ”
— Gita 4.34
Meaning: Approach a realized teacher with humility, sincere inquiry, and service. The self-realized can impart knowledge unto you, for they have seen the truth.
In the Gita, Krishna teaches Arjuna the difference between the body (kṣetra) and the knower of the body (kṣetrajña). Knowing the difference between prakriti (nature) and purusha (spirit) is the beginning of true knowledge.
“kṣetra-kṣetrajñayor jñānaṁ yat taj jñānaṁ mataṁ mama”
— Gita 13.3
This knowledge reveals that all beings are expressions of the same divine essence. Ignorance binds, knowledge frees. It dispels fear, removes attachment, and opens the door to liberation.
5. Moksha
The Ultimate Liberation
( Image credit : Freepik )
The culmination of all yogas — karma, bhakti, and jñāna — is moksha, liberation from the cycle of birth and death. It is the freedom from the dualities of pleasure and pain, success and failure, life and death.
“māṁ ca yo ’vyabhicāreṇa bhakti-yogena sevate
sa guṇān samatītyaitān brahma-bhūyāya kalpate”
— Gita 14.26
Meaning: One who engages in unalloyed devotion to Me transcends the three gunas (modes of nature) and attains Brahman.
Moksha is not just escape — it is union. It is the experience of the Self as One with the Infinite. The Gita presents moksha as a state of fearlessness, peace, and divine fulfillment.
The liberated soul:
sees God in all beings,is free from attachments,remains unmoved by pleasure or pain,and abides in the Supreme Self.Krishna promises this ultimate liberation to those who surrender with faith and devotion, regardless of caste, birth, or past sins.
“te ’pi yānti parāṁ gatim”
— Gita 9.32
They too attain the highest goal.
The Timeless Path of Sanatan Dharma
Ātman reminds us of who we truly are.Karma teaches how to live with integrity.Bhakti shows how to feel God in our heart.Jñāna reveals the cosmic truth behind appearances.Moksha promises the peace beyond all suffering.In a world full of confusion, stress, and spiritual amnesia, the Gita shines as a timeless guide, inviting every soul — regardless of religion or nationality — to realize their true self and walk the eternal path of Sanatan Dharma.