Karma in the Bhagavad-gita

Caitanya Vaisnava Views

Abstract

This paper explores how early Caitanya Vaisnava theologians interpreted the concept of karma (ritual or religious action) in the Bhagavad-Gita. Notably, although the Gita enjoyed widespread reverence across various Hindu traditions, the Caitanya Vaisnava school did not produce a formal commentary on it until the late 17th century. This relative delay—when compared to the tradition's immediate embrace of texts like the Bhagavata Purana—is attributed to perceived ambiguities within the Gita regarding the primacy of bhakti (devotion) over jnana (knowledge) and karma. Furthermore, the absence of references to Krishna’s intimate lilas (divine pastimes), which form the theological core of Caitanya devotion, contributed to this hesitation. The paper focuses on two pivotal figures: Krishnadasa Kaviraja and Visvanatha Cakravartin. It analyzes how their exegetical work in Bengal and Vrindavan recast the Gita through a Caitanya Vaisnava lens, aligning its ethical teachings with the movement’s theological framework. Special attention is given to their reinterpretation of socio-ritual duties in light of the foundational principle of bhakti as the ultimate spiritual path.