Bhagavad Gita

Popular Shlokas from the Bhagavad Gita Gita Shlokas 1. Gita Dhyana - Meditation on the Gita vasudeva sutam devam kamsa chaanuura mardanam | devakii paramaa nandam krishnam vande jagat gurum || I salute Lord Krishna, the son of Vasudeva, the one who gives great delight to Devaki, the destroyer of Kamsa and Chaanuura and the teacher of the world. 1. Chapter 1, Verse 40 kulakshaye praNashyanti kuladharmaah sanaatanaah | dharme nashhte kulam kritsnamh adharmo abhibhavatyuta || In the decline of a clan, its ancient traditions perish. When traditions perish, the entire family is indeed overcome by lawlessness.

2. Chapter 2, Verse 27 jaatasya hi dhruvo mrityuh dhruvam janma mritasya cha | tasmaadaparihaarye arthe na tvam shochitumarhasi || Death is certain of that which is born. Birth is certain of that which is dead. Therefore, you should not lament over the inevitable. 3. Chapter 2, Verse 67 indriyaanaam hi charataam yanmano anuvidhiiyate | tadasya harati pragyaam vaayarnaavamivaambhasi || The mind, which follows in the wake of the wandering senses, carries away a man's discrimination just as a gale tosses a ship on the high seas. 4. Chapter 2, Verse 62 dhyaayato vishayaanh pumsah sangasteshhupajaayate | sangaath samjaayate kaamah kaamaath krodho abhijaayate || When a person dwells longingly on sense objects, an inclination towards them is generated. This inclination develops into desire and desire gives rise to anger. 5. Chapter 2, Verse 63 krodhaadbhavati sammohah sammohaatsmritivibhramah | smritibhramshaadbuddhinaasho buddhinaashaatpranashyati || From anger comes delusion; from delusion, confused memory; from confused memory the ruin of reason; from ruin of reason, man finally perishes. 6. Chapter 2, Verse 47 karmanyevaadhikaaraste maa phaleshu kadaachana | maa karmaphalaheturbhuu maatesangotsvakarmani || A person has the right towards action alone and not towards the fruit of action. Let not the fruit of action be the motive for acting. Also, Let there not be any attachment to inaction.

7. Chapter 2, Verse 22 vaasaamsi jiirnaani yathaa vihaaya, navaani grihnaati naro aparaani | tathaa shariiraani vihaaya jiirnaanyanyaani samyaati navaani dehii || Just as a person casts off worn out garments and puts on others that are new, even so, the embodies soul casts off worn out bodies and takes on others that are new. 8. Chapter 3, Verse 9 yagyaarthaatkarmano anyatra loko ayam karmabandhanah | tadartham karma kaunteya muktasangah samaachara || Arjuna, In this world all actions become causes of bondage, unless they are performed as an offering to God. Therefore, work for the sake of God, without personal attachments. 9. Chapter 3, Verse 19 tasmaadasaktah satatam kaaryam karma samachara | asakto hyaacharankarma paramaapnoti puurushah || (Therefore) You must always fulfill all your obligatory duties without attachment. By performing actions without attachment, one attains the Highest. 10. Chapter 3, Verse 37 kaama eshha krodha eshha rajogunasamudbhavah | mahaashano mahaapaapma viddhyenamiha vairinamh || Desire and anger which are born out of passion are insatiable and prompt man to great sin and should be recognized as enemies. 11. Chapter 4, Verse 7 yadaa yadaa hi dharmasya glaanirbhavati bhaarata | abhyuktaanamadarmasya tadaatmaanam srijaamyahamh ||

When there is decay of dharma (righteousness) and rise of adharma (unrighteousness), then I (the Lord) am born in this world. 12. Chapter 4, Verse 8 paritraanaaya sadhuunaam vinaashaaya chadushkritaam | dharma samsthaapanaarthaaya sambhavaami yuge yuge || For the protection of the good, for the destruction of the evil and for the establishment of dharma (righteousness), I (the Lord) am born from age to age. 13. Chapter 4, Verse 9 janma karma cha me divyamevam yo vetti tattvatah | tyaktvaa deham punarjanma naiti maameti so arjuna || Arjuna, My birth and activities are divine. He who knows this in reality is not reborn on leaving his body, but comes to Me. 14. Chapter 5, Verse 10 brahmanyaadhaaya karmaani sangam tyaktvaa karoti yah | lipyate na sa paapena padmapatramivaambhasaa || He who offers all actions to God, without attachment, remains untouched by sin, just as a lotus leaf by water. 15. Chapter 6, Verse 5 uddharedaatmanaatmaanam naatmaanamavasaadayeth | aatmaiva hyaatmano bandhuraatmaiva ripuraatmanah || Let a man raise himself by his own efforts. Let him not degrade himself. Because a person's best friend or his worst enemy is none other than his own self. 16. Chapter 6, Verse 6 bandhuraatmaatmanastasya yenaatmaivaatmanaa jitah | anaatmanastu shatrutve vartetaatmaiva shatruvath ||

For a person who has conquered his lower self by the divine self, his own self acts as his best friend. But for that person who has not conquered his lower self, his own self acts as his worst enemy. 17. Chapter 6, Verse 26 yato yato nishcharati manashcha.nchalamasthiramh | tatastato niyamyaitadaatmanyeva vasham nayeth || By whatever cause the mind, which is restless and fidgeting, wanders away, the yogi should bring it back from that and concentrate only on the Self. 18. Chapter 6, Verse 40 paartha naiveha naamutra vinaashastasya vidhyate | na hi kalyaanakritkashchidh durgatim taata gachchati || Oh Arjuna, there is no destruction either in this world or the next, for a spiritually fallen yogi. No man who does good can ever come to ruin. 19. Chapter 7, Verse 3 manushhyaanaam sahasreshhu kashchidyatati siddhaye | yatataamapi siddhaanaam kashchinmaam vetti tatvatah || Hardly one among thousands of men strives to realize Me; Of those who strive, again, only a very rare one (devoting himself exclusively to Me) knows Me in reality. 20. Chapter 8, Verse 5 antakaale cha maameva smaranmuktvaa kalevaramh | yah prayaati sa madbhaavam yaati naastyatra samshayah || He who departs from the body, thinking of Me alone, even at the time of death, will definitely reach Me. 21. Chapter 9, Verse 27 yatkaroshhi yadashnaasi yajjuhoshhi dadaasi yath | yattapasyasi kaunteya tatkurushhva madarpanamh ||

Arjuna, whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer (in sacrifice), whatever you give away, whatever you do by way of penance, offer it all to me. 22. Chapter 9, Verse 26 patram pushhpam phalam toyam yo me bhaktyaa prayachchati | tadaham bhaktyupahritamashnaami prayataatmanah || I accept the offering of even a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, when it is offered with loving devotion. 23. Chapter 9, Verse 14 satatam kiirtayanto maam yatantashcha dridhavrataah | namasyantashcha maam bhaktyaa nityayuktaa upaasate || My determined devotees constantly chant My name and glories, strive for realizing Me and worship Me with single minded devotion. 24. Chapter 9, Verse 30 api chetsuduraachaaro bhajate maamananyabhaakh | saadhureva sa mantavyah samyagvyavasito hi sah || Even a confirmed sinner, if he worships Me with unwavering faith and devotion, must be considered righteous, because, he has decided to reform himself. 25. Chapter 10, Verse 41 yadyadvibhuutimatsatvam shriimadurjitameva vaa | tattadevaavagachcha tvam mama tejo nashasambhavamh || (Arjuna,) Know that every being that is glorious, brilliant and powerful is nothing but a manifestation of a small part of my glory. 26. Chapter 11, Verse 12 divi suuryasahasrasya bhavedyugapadutthitaa | yadi bhaah sadrishii saa syaad hbhaasastasya mahaatmanah ||

Even If the radiance of a thousand Suns, bursts forth all at once in the heavens, it would still hardly approach the splendor of the mighty Lord. 27. Chapter 12, Verse 15 yasmaannodvijate loko lokaannodvijate cha yah | harshhamarshhabhayodvegairmukto yah sa cha me priyah || He, by whom the world is not agitated and whom the world cannot agitate, he who remains calm in times of joy, anger, fear and anxiety, is dear to me. 28. Chapter 18, Verse 65 manmanaa bhava madbhakto madyaajii maam namaskuru | maamevaishhyasi satyam te pratijaane priyo asi me || Give your mind to Me, be devoted to Me, worship Me and bow to Me. Doing so, you will come to Me alone, I truly promise you, for you are so exceptionally dear to Me. 29. Chapter 18, Verse 66 sarvadharmaanparityajya maamekam sharanam vraja | aham tvaa sarvapaapebhyo mokshayishhyaami maa shuchah || Abandoning all paths, come to Me as the only refuge. Grieve not, for I will liberate you from all sins. 30. Chapter 18, Verse 78 yatra yogeshvarah krishhno yatra paartho dhanurdharah | tatra shriirvijayo bhuutirdhruvaa niitir matirmama || Wherever there is Krishna, the Lord of Yoga and the bow wielding Arjuna, there reign good fortune, victory, prosperity and justice. Such is my conviction.

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The Four Core Concepts from the Bhagavad Gita Concept one: Look to your Dharma Dharma can mean “law of the universe,” “social and religious rules,” and/or one’s own individual mission or purpose. On the individual level, it can also mean a number of things. For example, in the Gita, Krishna points out to Arjuna that his Dharma is to be a warrior whether he likes it or not. He cannot escape his Dharma and he must fulfill it. Arjuna is a warrior for what is right and just. He is not just a warrior for fighting’s sake. His Dharma must be grounded in a proper purpose. Whatever role we are fulfilling at the moment is our Dharma at that moment. Applying this on a personal level, I followed my Dharma as a Finance and Accounting professional for the last 30 years. Recently, coinciding with my new practice of Yoga Asana and study of Hindu or Yoga scriptures, I began to find less and less meaning in my profession. I am now in a period of transition, seeking to find a new and more meaningful personal Dharma. I am a “householder” (someone who lives among and provides for his or her family), and as much as I would love to throw caution to the wind and become a Sadhu, I need to be mindful of the effect of my actions on those around me. Therefore, following the counsel of the spirits, I am proceeding on a step by step basis, finding my way with the Lord’s merciful guidance. Concept two: Do it full out Both Hinduism and Buddhism extoll this virtue of absolute commitment. In fact, many books have been written about the power of focus and single-mindedness, including the Gita. I first learned about this concept when I began practicing Buddhism in 1977 and I poured myself wholeheartedly into my career development. As a result, I was very successful from a materialistic standpoint. Success in life is no accident and it is a result of pursuing one’s Dharma full out, no holding back. Upon looking back, I see that I did not always carry out my Dharma as a husband and father and I have made mistakes that have impacted others’ lives unfavorably. Had I had the vision to take the longer and broader view on things, I may not have made these mistakes. I feel that I was more concerned with material success at any cost, even if others had to pay a price. I now see that I was not acting properly in these and probably many other cases. In this last chapter of my life, I would like to pursue my new Dharma with more mindfulness and focus on proper context and big picture focus. Concept three: Let go of the fruits of your labor

When we invest our efforts or resources, it tends to take on our self-identity in our minds. Subconsciously, we associate this identity with life/death. This mistaken association leads us to regard all critics or those who appear to get in our way as mortal threats to be neutralized, lest we “die.” The Gita exhorts us to release this incorrect view and to realize that our self and the phenomenal world at large are not real. What is real is “Self,” the divine within all life, sentient and insentient. Even the air we breathe has the divine nestled in every particle. Therefore, instead of jealously guarding our self-worth, we are much better letting all that go and acting out of gratitude for the opportunity to work on our Dharma. Krishna says we our entitled to work, but not to any of the fruits of our work. When we adopt this attitude, all we can feel is gratitude, no matter what happens. I have found that as I endeavor to embrace this concept, I am shown which areas need work and I am grateful to be shown these things and grateful to be able to improve so I can one day serve others with gratitude and without attachment to the fruits. Concept four: Offer it all up to the divine I feel this concept is closely related to its predecessor. How much easier it becomes to let go of the fruits when one is offering every moment up to the divine. The ultimate form of this is when one feels that God is acting through him/her. In truth, this is what is happening all the time, we just fail to see it and that failure results in suffering and angst. Sri Dharma Mittra has a saying on his website and in his teachings. He says, “Reduce your wants and lead a happy and contented life. Never hurt the feelings of others and be kind to all. Think of God as soon as you get up and when you go to bed.” I believe this last sentence resonates with this fourth core concept from the Gita upon which this post is focused. It provides a very practical way to begin to incorporate this concept in one’s life. Begin the day focused on God and end the day focused on God. What a beautiful way to live! Om Namah Shivaya. Om Sai Sri Sai Jai Jai Sai Om Sai Sri Sai Jai Jai Sai Om Sai Sri Sai Jai Jai Sai

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