1
Ishvara – The Supreme Lord
The Bhagavad-gita introduces us to the concept of Ishvara, the Supreme Lord, who is the ultimate source and controller of the entire creation.
In the Gita, Lord Krishna is identified as Bhagavan, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who creates, maintains, and annihilates the cosmos. He is the ultimate source of all existence.
2
Jiva – The Living Entity
Jiva refers to the individual living beings, including humans, who are considered the marginal energy of the Supreme Lord.
When the living entity is entrapped by material energy, they are conditioned, but when it becomes Krishna-conscious, they return to their natural state of spiritual awareness.
3
Prakruti – The Material Nature
Prakruti, or material nature, is the separated energy of the Supreme Lord and is not independent.
It operates under the direction of the Supreme Lord and is considered subordinate to Him. Material nature is composed of three qualities: goodness, passion, and ignorance.
4
Kala – Eternal Time
Kala, or time, is a powerful force that influences all aspects of the material world.
Time has the ability to create, sustain, and destroy everything. It is predestined by eternal time, and all living beings experience happiness and misery based on their past actions.
5
Karma – Activities
Karma refers to the actions and reactions of living entities in the material world.
The Gita emphasizes the importance of understanding the nature of karma and striving for non-reactive action (akarma) to attain liberation from the cycle of birth and death.