BG. Karma x rebirth

 Good question 🙏 — you’re asking about which Śākhas (chapters/sections) of the Bhagavad Gītā talk about karma (action) and rebirth (punarjanma).

The Gītā speaks about these themes throughout, but certain chapters emphasize them more strongly:

📖 Bhagavad Gītā: Teachings on 

Karma & Rebirth

1. 

Chapter 2 – Sāṅkhya Yoga (The Yoga of Knowledge)

• Teaches that the ātman (soul) is eternal, unborn, and indestructible.
• Death is not the end — the soul simply changes bodies, like changing clothes.
• Emphasizes karma-yoga — acting without attachment to results.

2. 

Chapter 3 – Karma Yoga (The Yoga of Action)

• Strong focus on selfless action.
• Arjuna is instructed to act according to dharma without clinging to outcomes.
• Karma done with attachment binds one to rebirth; nishkāma karma (desireless action) leads to liberation.

3. 

Chapter 4 – Jñāna-Karma-Sannyāsa Yoga (The Yoga of Knowledge & Renunciation of Action)

• Explains how karma combined with knowledge purifies the doer.
• Introduces the concept of divine descent (avatāra) and cosmic rebirth.
• Teaching: Right action, offered as yajña (sacrifice), does not bind the soul.

4. 

Chapter 5 – Karma-Sannyāsa Yoga (Renunciation & Action)

• Discusses the difference between renunciation of action and selfless action.
• Both lead to liberation if performed with the right attitude.

5. 

Chapter 6 – Dhyāna Yoga (The Yoga of Meditation)

• Mentions rebirth of yogis — those who don’t attain perfection in one life are reborn into favorable conditions to continue their spiritual journey.

6. 

Chapter 8 – Akṣara-Brahma Yoga (The Imperishable Absolute)

• Explains how the soul departs at death and how one’s final thought influences rebirth.
• Describes the cycle of rebirth and paths that lead beyond it.

7. 

Chapter 9 – Rāja-Vidyā Rāja-Guhya Yoga (Yoga of Royal Knowledge & Secret)

• Stresses that those who worship with devotion escape rebirth, while others remain bound by karma.

8. 

Chapter 14 – Guṇa-Traiya-Vibhāga Yoga (Yoga of the Three Guṇas)

• Explains how the three guṇas (sattva, rajas, tamas) bind the soul to rebirth.
• Rising beyond guṇas leads to mokṣa (freedom from rebirth).

9. 

Chapter 18 – Mokṣa-Sannyāsa Yoga (Yoga of Liberation & Renunciation)

• Final synthesis of karma, jñāna, and bhakti.
• Teaches that surrendering all actions to the Divine frees one from karma and rebirth.

🪷 Summary

• Rebirth (punarjanma): Chapters 2, 6, 8, 14
• Karma (action/selfless duty): Chapters 2, 3, 4, 5, 18

👉 Would you like me to pull out the exact verses (Sanskrit + translation) from these chapters that directly discuss karma & rebirth, so you can see the original wording?