What are the major benefits of studying Bhagavad-gītā?

Bhagavad-gītā is a transcendental literature that one should read very carefully. The Gītā-māhātmya (“The Glories of the Gītā”) lists many benefits derived from reading and following the instructions of the Gītā:

(1) One can be freed from all the miseries and anxieties of life.

(2) One will be freed from all fears in this life, and one’s next life will be spiritual.

(3) The reactions of one’s past misdeeds will not act upon him. The Lord declares in Bhagavad-gītā (18.66), “Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction. Do not fear.” Thus the Lord takes all responsibility for one who surrenders unto Him, and He indemnifies such a person against all reactions of sins.

(4) One may cleanse himself daily by taking a bath in water, but if one takes a bath even once in the sacred Ganges water of Bhagavad-gītā, for him the dirt of material life is altogether vanquished.

(5) Because Bhagavad-gītā is spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one need not read any other Vedic literature. One need only attentively and regularly hear and read Bhagavad-gītā.
In the present age, people are so absorbed in mundane activities that it is not possible for them to read all Vedic literature. But this is not necessary. One book—Bhagavad-gītā—will suffice, because it is the essence of all Vedic literature and especially because it is spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

(6) One who drinks the water of the Ganges attains salvation, so what to speak of one who drinks the nectar of Bhagavad-gītā, which is spoken by Lord Kṛṣṇa Himself, the original Viṣṇu.

Bhagavad-gītā comes from the mouth of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the Ganges is said to emanate from the lotus feet of the Lord. Of course, there is no difference between the mouth and the feet of the Supreme Lord, but from an impartial study we can appreciate that Bhagavad-gītā is even more important than the water of the Ganges.

(7) Daily recitation of Bhagavad-gītā provides nourishment for the soul.

The Gītopaniṣad, Bhagavad-gītā—the essence of all the Upaniṣads—is just like a cow, and Lord Kṛṣṇa, who is famous as a cowherd boy, is milking this cow. Arjuna is just like a calf, and learned scholars and pure devotees drink the nectarean milk of Bhagavad-gītā.