Introduction to the Bhagavad-gita and Summary of Chapter One

This chapter is titled Setting the Scene, and provides the context for the remainder of the book. The scene is a the prelude to a great battle at Kurukshetra, a place that can still be found in India. The battle is between the forces of Dharma and Adharma - or between good and evil.
The entire saga leading up to this war is presented in the great classic tale "The Mahabharata". Although said to be fiction, it is accepted by many as the actual history of ancient India, and the events took place some 5,000 years ago.
The protagonist is Arjuna, one of the main figures in the battle. He becomes dispirited by the fact that many family members and friends oppose him on the other side, and he does not want to kill them. This sets the scene for Krishna, who we accept as the Supreme Lord descended to this earth, to explain all of the spiritual principles to Arjuna.
I strongly recommend reading *only* the "Bhagavad-gita As It Is" by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. This book is available for free download from here: http://prabhupadabooks.com/pdf/Bhagavad_gita-As_It_Is-Original_authorized_Macmillan_edition.pdf