Arguing for a Devotional Reading of the Gītā

The Bhagavad Gītā is a highly influential Hindu text. There are two prominent broad interpretations of the Gītā. One interpretation, known as the ladder approach, states that the Gītā privileges one yoga system over others, while also holding that other yoga systems are effective to a certain degree. A second interpretation, known as the wheel approach, states that all the yoga systems of the Gītā are equally effective. In this paper, I defend a particular ladder approach that takes the yoga of devotion (bhakti-yoga) to be the most effective yoga system. Specifically, I argue that this view best aligns with the various verses of the Gītā, specifically verses 6.46–47. I also address the challenges a devotional ladder approach faces. After doing so, I conclude that a devotional ladder approach is the best interpretation of the Gītā.