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A short thread of 18 slokas from The Bhagavad Gita that are close to my heart. It is indeed a difficult task to pick 18 from 700, i believe each reader will have a list based on the chapters that appeal the most to the reader. Again thanks to @bibekdebroy for his translation.
1. सुखदु:खे समे कृत्वा लाभालाभौ जयाजयौ |
ततो युद्धाय युज्यस्व नैवं पापमवाप्स्यसि || 2.38||
Therefore, get ready to fight, treating happiness and unhappiness, gain and loss and victory and defeat equally. And paapa will not touch you ever.
ततो युद्धाय युज्यस्व नैवं पापमवाप्स्यसि || 2.38||
Therefore, get ready to fight, treating happiness and unhappiness, gain and loss and victory and defeat equally. And paapa will not touch you ever.
2. कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन |
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि || 2.47 ||
You have the right to action alone. You never have the right to the fruit. Do not be motivated to act because of the fruit. But don’t be motivated to not acting either.
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि || 2.47 ||
You have the right to action alone. You never have the right to the fruit. Do not be motivated to act because of the fruit. But don’t be motivated to not acting either.
3. यदा संहरते चायं कूर्मोऽङ्गानीव सर्वश: |
इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेभ्यस्तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता || 2.58||
As a tortoise withdraws its limbs, a person of unwavering intellect withdraws his senses, in every way, from sensual objects. In him is wisdom established.
इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेभ्यस्तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता || 2.58||
As a tortoise withdraws its limbs, a person of unwavering intellect withdraws his senses, in every way, from sensual objects. In him is wisdom established.
4. क्रोधाद्भवति सम्मोह: सम्मोहात्स्मृतिविभ्रम: |
स्मृतिभ्रंशाद् बुद्धिनाशो बुद्धिनाशात्प्रणश्यति || 2.63||
Anger leads to delusion, Delusion leads to confusion of memory. From confusion of memory comes loss of intellect and loss of intellect results in destruction.
स्मृतिभ्रंशाद् बुद्धिनाशो बुद्धिनाशात्प्रणश्यति || 2.63||
Anger leads to delusion, Delusion leads to confusion of memory. From confusion of memory comes loss of intellect and loss of intellect results in destruction.
5. तस्मादसक्त: सततं कार्यं कर्म समाचर |
असक्तो ह्याचरन्कर्म परमाप्नोति पूरुष: || 3.19||
Therefore be unattached and always perform the prescribed action. Because a man who performs action when unattached attains the highest liberation.
असक्तो ह्याचरन्कर्म परमाप्नोति पूरुष: || 3.19||
Therefore be unattached and always perform the prescribed action. Because a man who performs action when unattached attains the highest liberation.
6. ये यथा मां प्रपद्यन्ते तांस्तथैव भजाम्यहम् |
मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्या: पार्थ सर्वश: || 4.11||
O Partha! Whoever worships me in whatever way, i entertain them in that way. In every way, men follow along my path
मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्या: पार्थ सर्वश: || 4.11||
O Partha! Whoever worships me in whatever way, i entertain them in that way. In every way, men follow along my path
7. कर्मणो ह्यपि बोद्धव्यं बोद्धव्यं च विकर्मण: |
अकर्मणश्च बोद्धव्यं गहना कर्मणो गति: || 4.17||
Action itself has to be understood, prohibited action must also be understood, inaction must also be understood. Because the path of action is difficult to comprehend.
अकर्मणश्च बोद्धव्यं गहना कर्मणो गति: || 4.17||
Action itself has to be understood, prohibited action must also be understood, inaction must also be understood. Because the path of action is difficult to comprehend.
8. अनाश्रित: कर्मफलं कार्यं कर्म करोति य: |
स संन्यासी च योगी च न निरग्निर्न चाक्रिय: || 6.1||
A yogi is one who performs prescribed action without attachment to the fruits of the action, not someone who gives up action and sacrifices
स संन्यासी च योगी च न निरग्निर्न चाक्रिय: || 6.1||
A yogi is one who performs prescribed action without attachment to the fruits of the action, not someone who gives up action and sacrifices
9. उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत् |
आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मन: || 6.5||
Use one’s own self to elevate the atman. Do not lower the atman. The self is the true friend of atman and the self is also the atman’s enemy.
आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मन: || 6.5||
Use one’s own self to elevate the atman. Do not lower the atman. The self is the true friend of atman and the self is also the atman’s enemy.
10. सर्वभूतस्थमात्मानं सर्वभूतानि चात्मनि |
ईक्षते योगयुक्तात्मा सर्वत्र समदर्शन: || 6.29||
The person immersed in Karma yoga, looks on everything equally and sees the atman in all beings and all beings in the atman.
ईक्षते योगयुक्तात्मा सर्वत्र समदर्शन: || 6.29||
The person immersed in Karma yoga, looks on everything equally and sees the atman in all beings and all beings in the atman.
11. असंशयं महाबाहो मनो दुर्निग्रहं चलम् |
अभ्यासेन तु कौन्तेय वैराग्येण च गृह्यते || 6.35||
O might armed! There is no doubt that is mind is restless and difficult to control. But O son of Kunti! through practice and detachment, it can be restrained.
अभ्यासेन तु कौन्तेय वैराग्येण च गृह्यते || 6.35||
O might armed! There is no doubt that is mind is restless and difficult to control. But O son of Kunti! through practice and detachment, it can be restrained.
12. अन्तकाले च मामेव स्मरन्मुक्त्वा कलेवरम् |
य: प्रयाति स मद्भावं याति नास्त्यत्र संशय: || 8.5||
At the time of death, he who remembers me, gives up his body and attains me. There is no doubt about this.
य: प्रयाति स मद्भावं याति नास्त्यत्र संशय: || 8.5||
At the time of death, he who remembers me, gives up his body and attains me. There is no doubt about this.
13. अनन्यचेता: सततं यो मां स्मरति नित्यश: |
तस्याहं सुलभ: पार्थ नित्ययुक्तस्य योगिन: || 8.14||
O son of Pritha! He who doesn’t think of other things and remembers me every day and all the time, i am easily attainable to that yogi who is always focused.
तस्याहं सुलभ: पार्थ नित्ययुक्तस्य योगिन: || 8.14||
O son of Pritha! He who doesn’t think of other things and remembers me every day and all the time, i am easily attainable to that yogi who is always focused.
14. पिताहमस्य जगतो माता धाता पितामह: |
वेद्यं पवित्रमोङ्कार ऋक्साम यजुरेव च || 9.17||
I am the Father, mother, grandfather and sustainer of this universe. I am all that is pure and is to be known. I am the Om syllable. I am also the hymns that constitute Rig, Sama and Yajur Vedas
वेद्यं पवित्रमोङ्कार ऋक्साम यजुरेव च || 9.17||
I am the Father, mother, grandfather and sustainer of this universe. I am all that is pure and is to be known. I am the Om syllable. I am also the hymns that constitute Rig, Sama and Yajur Vedas
15. यत्करोषि यदश्नासि यज्जुहोषि ददासि यत् |
यत्तपस्यसि कौन्तेय तत्कुरुष्व मदर्पणम् || 9.27||
O son of Kunti! Whatever you do, whatever you partake of, whatever you offer, whatever you donate, whatever you meditate, do them as an offering to me.
यत्तपस्यसि कौन्तेय तत्कुरुष्व मदर्पणम् || 9.27||
O son of Kunti! Whatever you do, whatever you partake of, whatever you offer, whatever you donate, whatever you meditate, do them as an offering to me.
16.
तस्मात्त्वमुत्तिष्ठ यशो लभस्व
जित्वा शत्रून्भुङ् क्ष्व राज्यं समृद्धम् |
मयैवैते निहता: पूर्वमेव
निमित्तमात्रं भव सव्यसाचिन् || 11.33||
O Savyasachi ! Therefore Arise, Attain fame. Triumph over enemies. These have already been slain by me. You will only be the instrument.
तस्मात्त्वमुत्तिष्ठ यशो लभस्व
जित्वा शत्रून्भुङ् क्ष्व राज्यं समृद्धम् |
मयैवैते निहता: पूर्वमेव
निमित्तमात्रं भव सव्यसाचिन् || 11.33||
O Savyasachi ! Therefore Arise, Attain fame. Triumph over enemies. These have already been slain by me. You will only be the instrument.
17. स्वभावजेन कौन्तेय निबद्ध: स्वेन कर्मणा |
कर्तुं नेच्छसि यन्मोहात्करिष्यस्यवशोऽपि तत् || 18.60||
O Son of Kunti! Whatever you don’t wish to do because of delusion, you will have to undertake in spite of that, because you are tied down by your natural duty.
कर्तुं नेच्छसि यन्मोहात्करिष्यस्यवशोऽपि तत् || 18.60||
O Son of Kunti! Whatever you don’t wish to do because of delusion, you will have to undertake in spite of that, because you are tied down by your natural duty.
18.
सर्वधर्मान्परित्यज्य मामेकं शरणं व्रज |
अहं त्वां सर्वपापेभ्यो मोक्षयिष्यामि मा शुच: || 18.66||
Discard all dharmas and seek refuge only in me. I will free you from all paapas. Do not sorrow.
सर्वधर्मान्परित्यज्य मामेकं शरणं व्रज |
अहं त्वां सर्वपापेभ्यो मोक्षयिष्यामि मा शुच: || 18.66||
Discard all dharmas and seek refuge only in me. I will free you from all paapas. Do not sorrow.
