The Bhagavad Gita is an ancient Hindu scripture about virtue, presented as a dialogue between the warrior Arjuna and Lord Krishna, an incarnation of God, who is serving as his charioteer.

One of the more unusual aspects of the Bhagavad Gita is its battlefield setting, which many commentators regard as a metaphor for "an inner war," alluding to inner struggles for self-mastery in the face of ego, ignorance on the path to ultimate liberation.

The scene opens on the eve of the great battle of Kurukshetra over succession to the throne between Arjuna's family and allies (the Pandavas) and those of the prince Duryodhana and his family (the Kauravas) and their allies.

Prince Arjuna on seeing his relatives, friends and teachers drawn up in battle formation as enemies, is filled with dread. This seeming calm before the storm is reminiscent of many a chess game.