Selfless Action (Karma Yoga):
Chapter 2, Verse 47:
“कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन | मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि ||”
“Karmandeva dhikarste ma phalesu kadachan | Ma karmphalheturbhu mate sangostvakarmani||”
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- “You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions. Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities, nor be attached to inaction.”
- Explanation: Focus on performing your duties with dedication but without attachment to the outcomes. This principle teaches detachment from the fruits of action and emphasizes the importance of selfless service.
Equanimity (Sankhya Yoga):
Chapter 2, Verse 70:
” आपूर्यमाणमचलप्रतिष्ठं समुद्रमाप: प्रविशन्ति यद्वत् |तद्वत्कामा यं प्रविशन्ति सर्वे
स शान्तिमाप्नोति न कामकामीअपि ||”
“Apuryamanam achal pratishtham samundra mapah pravishanti yadwat| tadvatkama yam pravishanti sharve sa shantimapnoti na kamkamiyapi ||”
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- ” Just like the ocean stays calm even when many rivers flow into it, a wise person stays peaceful even when surrounded by tempting things. They find peace by not being affected by desires, unlike someone who is always trying to satisfy their wants.”
- Explanation: True peace comes from remaining steady and undisturbed by the dualities of life—pleasure and pain, success and failure.
Devotion (Bhakti Yoga):
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” अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जना: पर्युपासते |तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम् || ||”
“Ananyas cintayanto mam ye janaḥ paryupasate | Tesam nityabhyuktanam yog kshemam vahamyaham ||”
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- To those who are always dedicated to Me and worship Me with love, I give the wisdom and understanding they need to reach Me. This means that when people show true devotion and love, I guide them on the right path to connect with Me. “
- Explanation: Devotion and love towards the divine are the means to receive divine guidance and ultimately reach spiritual fulfillment.
Self-Knowledge (Jnana Yoga):
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न हि ज्ञानेन सदृशं पवित्रमिह विद्यते |तत्स्वयं योगसंसिद्ध: कालेनात्मनि विन्दति ||
Na hi gyanena sadṛṣham pavitramhi vidyate | Tat svayam yogasansiddhaḥ kalenatmani vindati ||
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- “There is no purifier in this world like knowledge. One who has attained perfection in Yoga finds the divine within themselves.”
- Explanation: Knowledge of the self and the divine is the highest purifier, leading to spiritual enlightenment and liberation.
The Nature of the Self:
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न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचि नायं भूत्वा भविता वा न भूयः | अजो नित्यः शाश्वतोऽयं पुराणो न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे ||
Na jayate mriyate va kadacin Nayam bhutva bhavita va na bhuyaḥ | Ajo nityaḥ sasvato yam puraṇo Na hanyate hanyamane sharire ||
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- ” The soul is never born and never dies. It has always existed and will continue forever. Unlike the body, the soul is not affected by birth or death; it is eternal and indestructible. No matter what happens to the physical body, the soul remains unchanged, making it a timeless, everlasting part of existence beyond the material world..”
- Explanation: Understanding the eternal nature of the self helps in transcending fear of death and realizing the true self beyond the material body.
Detachment from the Material World:
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उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत् | आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मनः ||
Uddhared atmanatmanam natmanam avasadayet | Atmaiva hy atmano bandhur atmaiva ripur atmanaḥ ||
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- One must uplift, not harm, oneself using their own mind. The mind can be a friend to the soul when controlled but also an enemy when left uncontrolled. How we manage our thoughts determines whether the mind helps us grow or holds us back.
- Explanation: Control and mastery over the mind are essential for spiritual progress. The mind can be a great ally or a powerful adversary depending on how it is guided.
These teachings from the Bhagavad Gita offer a comprehensive guide for living a spiritually fulfilling life, emphasizing selfless action, inner peace, devotion, self-knowledge, and detachment.
15 key teachings from the Bhagavad Gita that offer valuable guidance for life:
1: The Bhagavad Gita discusses the concept of Yoga extensively throughout its verses. One of the most central verses that defines Yoga in the context of self-discipline and spiritual practice is from Chapter 6, Verse 6:
बन्धुरात्मात्मनस्तस्य येनात्मैवात्मना जित: |अनात्मनस्तु शत्रुत्वे वर्ते तात्मैव शत्रुवत् ||
Bandhuratmatmanas tasya yenatmaivatmana jitaḥ | Anatmanas tu shatrutve varte tatmaiva shatru-vat ||
Translation: “For those who have control over their mind, it becomes a helpful friend. But for those who haven’t learned to control it, the mind acts like an enemy, creating problems. Managing your thoughts and emotions can either support you or work against you, depending on how well you handle it.”
The inner peace and self-realization that Yoga brings to a practitioner. It highlights the importance of self-control and internal contentment, which are central to the practice of Yoga.
2: The qualities you’ve described—calmness, gentleness, silence, self-restraint, and purity—align with the teachings on mental discipline found in the Bhagavad Gita. A relevant verse that encapsulates these attributes is found in Chapter 16, Verse 3:
“योगी युञ्जीत सततमात्मानं रहसि स्थितः। एकाकी यतचित्तात्मा निराशीरपरिग्रहः||”
” Yogi yunjeet satatam atmanam rahasi sthitah | ekaaki yat-chittatma niraasheeraparigrahah ||”
Translation: “Those who wish to achieve the state of yoga should live in a quiet place, keep their mind and body under control, and stay focused on thinking about God. They should let go of all desires and avoid gathering material pleasures.”
Though not a direct translation, this verse captures the essence of the qualities you mentioned, emphasizing the importance of mental discipline in spiritual practice.
3:The shloka from the Bhagavad Gita that corresponds to the concept of overcoming the three gates of self-destruction—Lust, Anger, and Greed—is found in Chapter 16, Verses 21. It reads:
त्रिविधं नरकस्येदं द्वारं नाशनमात्मन: |काम: क्रोधस्तथा लोभस्तस्मादेतत्त्रयं त्यजेत् ||
Trividham narakasyedam dvaram nasanam atmanaḥ | kamaḥ krodhas tatha lobhas tasmat etat trayam tyajet ||
Translation: ” There are three paths that lead to self-destruction: Lust, Anger, and Greed. To avoid these dangers, it’s important to let go of these three negative feelings and focus on more positive ways of living.”
How overcoming these negative traits is crucial for spiritual growth and avoiding the path of destruction.
4:The verse you’re referring to is from the Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 2, Verse 47. It addresses the concept of performing one’s duties without attachment to the results:
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन | मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि ||
Karmanye vadhikaraste ma phaleshu kadachana | ma karmaphalahetur bhoor mate sango stvakarmani. ||
Translation: “You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions. Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities, nor be attached to inaction.”
The importance of focusing on one’s duties and responsibilities while remaining detached from the outcomes, which is a core principle of Karma Yoga in the Gita.
5: The sentiment you’re expressing aligns with the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita about equanimity and detachment. While there isn’t a shloka that matches exactly, the essence is captured in Chapter 2, Verse 56:
दुःखेष्वनुर्द्विग्ना सुकहेषु विगतस्पृहः | वीतरागभयक्रोधः स्थितधीर्मुनिरुच्यते ||
“Duhkheṣv anudvirgna sukheṣu vigata-spr̥haḥ | Vitaraga-bhaya-krodhas sthita-dhir munir ucyate ||
Translation: “One who is not disturbed by the incessant flow of desires that enter like rivers into the ocean, which is being filled but is always being still, can alone achieve peace, and not the person who strives to remain in a state of perpetual desire and aversion.”
The idea of maintaining equanimity in the face of pleasure and pain, not being swayed by external circumstances but remaining steady and unaffected by them.
6: The sentiment you are expressing is similar to the idea presented in the Bhagavad Gita about the nature of the truly wise and their transcendence beyond the dualities of life and death. A verse that reflects this concept is found in Chapter 2, Verse 19:
य एनं वेत्ति हन्तारं यश्चैनं मन्यते हतम् | उभौ तौ न विजानीतो नायं हन्ति न हन्यते |
Ya enam vetti hantaram yaśchaenam manyate hatam |Ubhau tau na vijanito naayam hanti na hanyate.||
Translation: “He who thinks that the soul kills, and he who thinks of it as killed, are both ignorant. The soul kills not, nor is it killed.”
The notion that the truly wise understand that the soul is eternal and unaffected by physical life and death. They transcend these dualities and see beyond the transient nature of life.
7: The verse you’re referring to is from the Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 5, Verse 15. This verse speaks about God doesn’t interfere; ignorance covers true knowledge in beings..
नादत्ते कस्यचित्पापं न चैव सुकृतं विभु: |अज्ञानेनावृतं ज्ञानं तेन मुह्यन्ति जन्तव: ||
Naadatte kasyachit paapam na chaiva sukritam vibhuḥ | Ajnanenavṛtam jnanam tena muhyanti jantavaḥ. ||
Translation: ” The all-present God does not interfere in anyone’s good or bad actions. Living beings are confused because their true understanding is hidden by ignorance. This lack of awareness keeps them from realizing their true nature and purpose.
The individual soul has the freedom to perform good or bad actions by the exercise of its own free will. That free will is the basis of the play of creation and it accounts for the varieties of consciousness amongst the souls in existence..
8: The concept that a person is shaped by their own beliefs and actions aligns with the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita about the self and its transformation through one’s mindset and behavior. While there isn’t a specific verse that directly states this idea, the closest relevant verse is from Chapter 5, Verse 23:
शक्नोतीहैव य: सोढुं प्राक्शरीरविमोक्षणात् |कामक्रोधोद्भवं वेगं स युक्त: स सुखी नर: ||
Shaknotihaiva yaḥ sodhum praksariravimokṣaṇat| Kamakrodhodbhavam vegam sa yuktaḥ sa sukhi naraḥ||
Translation: “True yogis are those who can control their desires and anger before leaving their bodies. They manage these strong feelings and find inner peace. Only they experience real happiness, while others remain affected by their uncontrolled emotions and desires..”
The principle that one’s inner state and beliefs shape their experiences and actions. It underscores that through self-discipline and a steady mind, one can achieve true tranquility and not be swayed by external circumstances.
9: The verse you are referring to from the Bhagavad Gita is found in Chapter 3, Verse 19. It precisely captures the idea that A person who performs their duty without attachment attains the Supreme.
तस्मादसक्त: सततं कार्यं कर्म समाचर | असक्तो ह्याचरन्कर्म परमाप्नोति पूरुष: ||
Tasmad asaktaḥ satatam karyam karma samachara| Asakto hy acharan karma param apnoti puruṣaḥ ||
Translation: ” Let go of attachment and do your duties. By working without focusing on the results, you can achieve the highest spiritual goal..”
The importance of performing one’s duties with dedication while remaining detached from the results of those actions. It teaches that true fulfillment and spiritual elevation come from selfless action, free from the desire for personal gain.
10: The idea that death is inevitable for all beings and that one should not grieve over what is unavoidable is expressed in the Bhagavad Gita, specifically in Chapter 2, Verse 23:
नैनं छिन्दन्ति शस्त्राणि नैनं दहति पावक: | न चैनं क्लेदयन्त्यापो न शोषयति मारुत: ||
Nainam chhindanti shastrani nainam dahati pavakah | Na chainam kledayantyapo na shoshayati marutah ||
Translation : The soul cannot be harmed by weapons, burned by fire, wet by water, or dried by wind. It is eternal and untouched by physical elements or forces.”
The eternal and indestructible nature of the soul. It teaches that the soul is beyond physical harm and cannot be affected by the elements or weapons, highlighting its spiritual essence.
11: The verse you’re referring to is from the Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 4, Verse 18. It highlights the wisdom of understanding the true nature of action and inaction. Here is the relevant verse:
कर्मण्यकर्म य: पश्येदकर्मणि च कर्म य: | स बुद्धिमान्मनुष्येषु स युक्त: कृत्स्नकर्मकृत् ||
Karmanye karma yaḥ pasyed akarmaṇi cha karma yaḥ | Sa buddhiman manuṣyeṣu sa yuktah kṛtsna karma-kṛt. ||”
Translation: “Those who see action in inaction and inaction in action are truly wise amongst humans. Although performing all kinds of actions, they are yogis and masters of all their actions.”
A wise person can discern the true nature of actions and inactions, understanding that true action is beyond mere physical activity and inaction is not merely the absence of activity.
12: The idea you’re describing, where the sage perceives what others do not, is articulated in the Bhagavad Gita in Chapter 2, Verse 69:
या निशा सर्वभूतानां तस्यां जागर्ति संयमी | यस्यां जाग्रति भूतानि सा निशा पश्यतो मुने: ||
Ya nisa sarva bhutanam tasyam jagarti samyami | Yasyam jagrati bhutani sa nisa pasyato muneḥ.||
Translation: “What is night for all beings is the time when the self-controlled person is awake; and when all beings are awake, that is night for the wise.”
Explanation: The verse highlights that the wise person remains unaffected by external circumstances and dualities such as gain and loss, success and failure. This inner tranquility allows the sage to see beyond the ordinary perceptions of day and night, light and darkness, and maintain equanimity in all situations.
13: The concept of finding fulfillment through selfless service is a key teaching in the Bhagavad Gita. Although there’s no single verse that states it exactly as you’ve mentioned, a related idea is expressed in Chapter 3, Verse 19:
तस्मादसक्त: सततं कार्यं कर्म समाचर | असक्तो ह्याचरन्कर्म परमाप्नोति पूरुष: ||
Tasmad asaktaḥ satatam karyam karma samachara | Asakto hy acharan karma param apnoti puruṣaḥ ||
Translation: “Therefore, without attachment, one should always perform their duty. A person who performs their duty without attachment attains the Supreme.
Explanation: The importance of performing one’s duties with dedication while remaining detached from the results of those actions. It teaches that true fulfillment and spiritual elevation come from selfless action, free from the desire for personal gain.
14: The sequence of events leading from sensory pleasure to destruction, as described, is covered in detail in Chapter 2, Verses 62-63 of the Bhagavad Gita. Here’s a relevant excerpt that captures the essence of your description:
ध्यायतो विषयान्पुंस: सङ्गस्तेषूपजायते | सङ्गात्सञ्जायते काम: कामात्क्रोधोऽभिजायते ||
Dhyayato viṣayan pumsaḥ sangas teṣupajayate | Sangat sanjayate kamaḥ kamat krodho bhijayate ||
Translation: “When we think about sensory objects, we become attached. This attachment creates desires, and desires can lead to anger.”
when we repeatedly contemplate that there is happiness in some object, the mind becomes attached to it.
15: The verse you’re referring to is from the Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 6, Verse 19. It describes the steadiness of the mind achieved through successful meditation.
यथा दीपो निवातस्थो नेङ्गते सोपमा स्मृता | योगिनो यतचित्तस्य युञ्जतो योगमात्मन: ||”
Yatha dipo nivatastho nangate sopma smita | Yogino yat chintyasya yunjato yogatmanah ||”
Translation: “Like a lamp that stays still in a calm place, a yogi’s disciplined mind stays steady while meditating on the Supreme.”
The metaphor of a steady flame to illustrate the tranquility and focus of the mind achieved through disciplined and successful meditation. It signifies the stability and clarity of thought that comes with advanced meditative practice.
