This Bhagavadgita, the summarized essence of the Upanishads, is a thriving philosophical treatise in 700 verses systematically divided into 18 chapters each one expounding one specific philosophical doctrine described as a YOGA. It is an integral part of the great epic Mahabharata and is embedded in chapters 25-42 of Bhishmaparva as a compact, independent text and it is that way it became extremely popular and venerable.