The fifth chapter’s topic is ‘Sāṅkhya in the Bhagavad-gītā’, and it focuses on a major and significant contribution of the Gītā to philosophy, which is the detailed articulation of the guṇas; this topic is described extensively in chapters 14, 17 and 18, and mentioned in other chapters as well. As this metaphysical concept is rationally perceived, secular and non-sectarian, it makes a significant contribution to the study of the Gītā and serves as one of its philosophical foundations. The guṇas serve as the foundation of the ethical ladder, as they enable a wide range of phenomenological categorizations, and deepen the understanding of the term prakṛti. Moreover, the underlying logic of their understanding serves as a source of ethical inspiration and upliftment in ascending the karma-yoga ladder. The chapter argues that there is a potential ethical doctrine to be extracted from the guṇa humanistic ethics, which promotes the ideal person as grounded in sattva guṇa, resembling the ideal Confucian gentleman called junzi.