Shrimad Bhagavad Gita
Bhagavad Gitaश्लोक, अर्थ सहित
The song of the Lord, in short. The best loved verses of the Gita, each with its Sanskrit, a simple meaning, and one line to carry into your day. Start with the Shlok of the day, or wander by theme.
Shlok of the day
ॐ
गतासूनगतासूंश्च नानुशोचन्ति पण्डिताः॥
Actionकर्म
Doing your work without clinging to results.
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन।
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि॥
karmaṇy-evādhikāras te mā phaleṣu kadācana, mā karma-phala-hetur bhūr mā te saṅgo ‘stv akarmaṇi.
You have a right to your action alone, never to its fruits. Let not the fruit of action be your motive, nor let your attachment be to inaction.
योगस्थः कुरु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा धनञ्जय।
सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योः समो भूत्वा समत्वं योग उच्यते॥
yoga-sthaḥ kuru karmāṇi saṅgaṁ tyaktvā dhanañjaya, siddhy-asiddhyoḥ samo bhūtvā samatvaṁ yoga ucyate.
Established in yoga, do your work, giving up attachment, O Arjuna, even-minded in success and failure. This evenness of mind is called yoga.
बुद्धियुक्तो जहातीह उभे सुकृतदुष्कृते।
तस्माद्योगाय युज्यस्व योगः कर्मसु कौशलम्॥
buddhi-yukto jahātīha ubhe sukṛta-duṣkṛte, tasmād yogāya yujyasva yogaḥ karmasu kauśalam.
One united in wisdom casts off both good and bad deeds here. Therefore devote yourself to yoga. Yoga is skill in action.
नियतं कुरु कर्म त्वं कर्म ज्यायो ह्यकर्मणः।
शरीरयात्रापि च ते न प्रसिद्ध्येदकर्मणः॥
niyataṁ kuru karma tvaṁ karma jyāyo hy akarmaṇaḥ, śarīra-yātrāpi ca te na prasiddhyed akarmaṇaḥ.
Do your prescribed duty, for action is better than inaction. Even the maintenance of your body would not be possible without action.
तस्मादसक्तः सततं कार्यं कर्म समाचर।
असक्तो ह्याचरन्कर्म परमाप्नोति पूरुषः॥
tasmād asaktaḥ satataṁ kāryaṁ karma samācara, asakto hy ācaran karma param āpnoti pūruṣaḥ.
Therefore, always perform your duty without attachment, for by working without attachment one attains the Supreme.
ब्रह्मण्याधाय कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा करोति यः।
लिप्यते न स पापेन पद्मपत्रमिवाम्भसा॥
brahmaṇy ādhāya karmāṇi saṅgaṁ tyaktvā karoti yaḥ, lipyate na sa pāpena padma-patram ivāmbhasā.
One who acts offering all actions to the Divine, abandoning attachment, is untouched by sin as a lotus leaf is untouched by water.
यतः प्रवृत्तिर्भूतानां येन सर्वमिदं ततम्।
स्वकर्मणा तमभ्यर्च्य सिद्धिं विन्दति मानवः॥
yataḥ pravṛttir bhūtānāṁ yena sarvam idaṁ tatam, sva-karmaṇā tam abhyarcya siddhiṁ vindati mānavaḥ.
By worshipping through his own work the One from whom all beings arise and by whom all this is pervaded, a person attains perfection.
Dutyधर्म
Walking your own path, steady and true.
सुखदुःखे समे कृत्वा लाभालाभौ जयाजयौ।
ततो युद्धाय युज्यस्व नैवं पापमवाप्स्यसि॥
sukha-duḥkhe same kṛtvā lābhālābhau jayājayau, tato yuddhāya yujyasva naivaṁ pāpam avāpsyasi.
Treating pleasure and pain, gain and loss, victory and defeat alike, engage in your battle. Thus you will not incur sin.
यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेतरो जनः।
स यत्प्रमाणं कुरुते लोकस्तदनुवर्तते॥
yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhas tat tad evetaro janaḥ, sa yat pramāṇaṁ kurute lokas tad anuvartate.
Whatever a great person does, others follow. Whatever standard they set, the world pursues.
श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात्।
स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मो भयावहः॥
śreyān sva-dharmo viguṇaḥ para-dharmāt sv-anuṣṭhitāt, sva-dharme nidhanaṁ śreyaḥ para-dharmo bhayāvahaḥ.
Better is one’s own duty, though imperfect, than the duty of another well performed. Better is death in one’s own duty; the duty of another brings fear.
श्रद्धावाँल्लभते ज्ञानं तत्परः संयतेन्द्रियः।
ज्ञानं लब्ध्वा परां शान्तिमचिरेणाधिगच्छति॥
śraddhāvāl labhate jñānaṁ tat-paraḥ saṁyatendriyaḥ, jñānaṁ labdhvā parāṁ śāntim acireṇādhigacchati.
One who has faith, is devoted to it and has mastered the senses, gains knowledge; and having gained it, quickly attains supreme peace.
अद्वेष्टा सर्वभूतानां मैत्रः करुण एव च।
निर्ममो निरहङ्कारः समदुःखसुखः क्षमी॥
adveṣṭā sarva-bhūtānāṁ maitraḥ karuṇa eva ca, nirmamo nirahaṅkāraḥ sama-duḥkha-sukhaḥ kṣamī.
One who hates no being, who is friendly and compassionate, free from the sense of mine and from ego, even in sorrow and joy, and forgiving.
अभयं सत्त्वसंशुद्धिर्ज्ञानयोगव्यवस्थितिः।
दानं दमश्च यज्ञश्च स्वाध्यायस्तप आर्जवम्॥
abhayaṁ sattva-saṁśuddhir jñāna-yoga-vyavasthitiḥ, dānaṁ damaś ca yajñaś ca svādhyāyas tapa ārjavam.
Fearlessness, purity of heart, steadfastness in knowledge and yoga, charity, self-restraint, sacrifice, study of scripture, austerity and straightforwardness.
दातव्यमिति यद्दानं दीयतेऽनुपकारिणे।
देशे काले च पात्रे च तद्दानं सात्त्विकं स्मृतम्॥
dātavyam iti yad dānaṁ dīyate ‘nupakāriṇe, deśe kāle ca pātre ca tad dānaṁ sāttvikaṁ smṛtam.
Charity given because it ought to be given, to one who can make no return, in the right place, at the right time, to a worthy person, is sattvic.
इति ते ज्ञानमाख्यातं गुह्याद्गुह्यतरं मया।
विमृश्यैतदशेषेण यथेच्छसि तथा कुरु॥
iti te jñānam ākhyātaṁ guhyād guhyataraṁ mayā, vimṛśyaitad aśeṣeṇa yathecchasi tathā kuru.
Thus I have told you the knowledge more secret than all secrets. Reflect on it fully, and then do as you choose.
Devotionभक्ति
Offering the heart, and being held.
यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत।
अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम्॥
yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati bhārata, abhyutthānam adharmasya tadātmānaṁ sṛjāmy aham.
Whenever dharma declines and adharma rises, O Bharata, then I manifest myself.
परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम्।
धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय सम्भवामि युगे युगे॥
paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām, dharma-saṁsthāpanārthāya sambhavāmi yuge yuge.
To protect the good, to destroy the wicked, and to establish dharma, I am born in every age.
ये यथा मां प्रपद्यन्ते तांस्तथैव भजाम्यहम्।
मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः॥
ye yathā māṁ prapadyante tāṁs tathaiva bhajāmy aham, mama vartmānuvartante manuṣyāḥ pārtha sarvaśaḥ.
In whatever way people approach me, so do I receive them. All paths, Arjuna, lead to me.
मत्तः परतरं नान्यत्किञ्चिदस्ति धनञ्जय।
मयि सर्वमिदं प्रोतं सूत्रे मणिगणा इव॥
mattaḥ parataraṁ nānyat kiñcid asti dhanañjaya, mayi sarvam idaṁ protaṁ sūtre maṇi-gaṇā iva.
There is nothing higher than me, Arjuna. All this is strung upon me like pearls upon a thread.
तस्मात्सर्वेषु कालेषु मामनुस्मर युध्य च।
मय्यर्पितमनोबुद्धिर्मामेवैष्यस्यसंशयम्॥
tasmāt sarveṣu kāleṣu mām anusmara yudhya ca, mayy arpita-mano-buddhir mām evaiṣyasy asaṁśayam.
Therefore remember me at all times and do your work. With mind and understanding given to me, you will surely come to me.
अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जनाः पर्युपासते।
तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम्॥
ananyāś cintayanto māṁ ye janāḥ paryupāsate, teṣāṁ nityābhiyuktānāṁ yoga-kṣemaṁ vahāmy aham.
To those who worship me with undivided devotion, ever united with me, I carry what they lack and preserve what they have.
पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं यो मे भक्त्या प्रयच्छति।
तदहं भक्त्युपहृतमश्नामि प्रयतात्मनः॥
patraṁ puṣpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayacchati, tad ahaṁ bhakty-upahṛtam aśnāmi prayatātmanaḥ.
Whoever offers me with devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water, that offering of love from a pure heart I accept.
यत्करोषि यदश्नासि यज्जुहोषि ददासि यत्।
यत्तपस्यसि कौन्तेय तत्कुरुष्व मदर्पणम्॥
yat karoṣi yad aśnāsi yaj juhoṣi dadāsi yat, yat tapasyasi kaunteya tat kuruṣva mad-arpaṇam.
Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer, whatever you give, whatever you practice as discipline, O Arjuna, do it as an offering to me.
अपि चेत्सुदुराचारो भजते मामनन्यभाक्।
साधुरेव स मन्तव्यः सम्यग्व्यवसितो हि सः॥
api cet su-durācāro bhajate mām ananya-bhāk, sādhur eva sa mantavyaḥ samyag vyavasito hi saḥ.
Even if one of very bad conduct worships me with undivided devotion, that one is to be regarded as righteous, for the resolve has been rightly made.
मन्मना भव मद्भक्तो मद्याजी मां नमस्कुरु।
मामेवैष्यसि युक्त्वैवमात्मानं मत्परायणः॥
man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru, mām evaiṣyasi yuktvaivam ātmānaṁ mat-parāyaṇaḥ.
Fix your mind on me, be devoted to me, offer to me, bow to me. So shall you come to me, having made me your supreme goal.
सर्वधर्मान्परित्यज्य मामेकं शरणं व्रज।
अहं त्वा सर्वपापेभ्यो मोक्षयिष्यामि मा शुचः॥
sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja, ahaṁ tvā sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi mā śucaḥ.
Abandon all duties and take refuge in me alone. I shall free you from all sins. Do not grieve.
यत्र योगेश्वरः कृष्णो यत्र पार्थो धनुर्धरः।
तत्र श्रीर्विजयो भूतिर्ध्रुवा नीतिर्मतिर्मम॥
yatra yogeśvaraḥ kṛṣṇo yatra pārtho dhanur-dharaḥ, tatra śrīr vijayo bhūtir dhruvā nītir matir mama.
Wherever there is Krishna, the lord of yoga, and Arjuna, the archer, there will surely be fortune, victory, prosperity and sound morality. This is my conviction.
Peaceशांति
A mind that stays calm through all that comes.
मात्रास्पर्शास्तु कौन्तेय शीतोष्णसुखदुःखदाः।
आगमापायिनोऽनित्यास्तांस्तितिक्षस्व भारत॥
mātrā-sparśās tu kaunteya śītoṣṇa-sukha-duḥkha-dāḥ, āgamāpāyino ‘nityās tāṁs titikṣasva bhārata.
The contacts of the senses with their objects give cold and heat, pleasure and pain. They come and go and are impermanent. Endure them patiently, O Arjuna.
दुःखेष्वनुद्विग्नमनाः सुखेषु विगतस्पृहः।
वीतरागभयक्रोधः स्थितधीर्मुनिरुच्यते॥
duḥkheṣv anudvigna-manāḥ sukheṣu vigata-spṛhaḥ, vīta-rāga-bhaya-krodhaḥ sthita-dhīr munir ucyate.
One whose mind is undisturbed in sorrow and without craving in pleasure, free from attachment, fear and anger, is called a sage of steady wisdom.
ध्यायतो विषयान्पुंसः सङ्गस्तेषूपजायते।
सङ्गात्सञ्जायते कामः कामात्क्रोधोऽभिजायते॥
dhyāyato viṣayān puṁsaḥ saṅgas teṣūpajāyate, saṅgāt sañjāyate kāmaḥ kāmāt krodho ‘bhijāyate.
Dwelling on the objects of the senses, a person develops attachment to them. From attachment springs desire, and from desire arises anger.
आपूर्यमाणमचलप्रतिष्ठं
समुद्रमापः प्रविशन्ति यद्वत्।
तद्वत्कामा यं प्रविशन्ति सर्वे
स शान्तिमाप्नोति न कामकामी॥
āpūryamāṇam acala-pratiṣṭhaṁ samudram āpaḥ praviśanti yadvat, tadvat kāmā yaṁ praviśanti sarve sa śāntim āpnoti na kāma-kāmī.
As waters flow into the ocean which, though ever filling, stays still, so the one whom all desires enter attains peace, not the one who runs after desires.
विहाय कामान्यः सर्वान्पुमांश्चरति निःस्पृहः।
निर्ममो निरहङ्कारः स शान्तिमधिगच्छति॥
vihāya kāmān yaḥ sarvān pumāṁś carati niḥspṛhaḥ, nirmamo nirahaṅkāraḥ sa śāntim adhigacchati.
The one who gives up all desires and moves free of longing, without the sense of mine and without ego, attains peace.
यथा दीपो निवातस्थो नेङ्गते सोपमा स्मृता।
योगिनो यतचित्तस्य युञ्जतो योगमात्मनः॥
yathā dīpo nivāta-stho neṅgate sopamā smṛtā, yogino yata-cittasya yuñjato yogam ātmanaḥ.
As a lamp in a windless place does not flicker, so is the disciplined mind of a yogi absorbed in the yoga of the self.
असंशयं महाबाहो मनो दुर्निग्रहं चलम्।
अभ्यासेन तु कौन्तेय वैराग्येण च गृह्यते॥
asaṁśayaṁ mahā-bāho mano durnigrahaṁ calam, abhyāsena tu kaunteya vairāgyeṇa ca gṛhyate.
Undoubtedly the mind is restless and hard to restrain; but by practice and by detachment it is held.
यस्मान्नोद्विजते लोको लोकान्नोद्विजते च यः।
हर्षामर्षभयोद्वेगैर्मुक्तो यः स च मे प्रियः॥
yasmān nodvijate loko lokān nodvijate ca yaḥ, harṣāmarṣa-bhayodvegair mukto yaḥ sa ca me priyaḥ.
One by whom the world is not disturbed, and who is not disturbed by the world, freed from joy, envy, fear and anxiety, is dear to me.
प्रकाशं च प्रवृत्तिं च मोहमेव च पाण्डव।
न द्वेष्टि सम्प्रवृत्तानि न निवृत्तानि काङ्क्षति॥
prakāśaṁ ca pravṛttiṁ ca moham eva ca pāṇḍava, na dveṣṭi sampravṛttāni na nivṛttāni kāṅkṣati.
He who neither hates light, activity or delusion when they arise, nor longs for them when they cease.
The Selfआत्मा
What you truly are, beyond birth and death.
अशोच्यानन्वशोचस्त्वं प्रज्ञावादांश्च भाषसे।
गतासूनगतासूंश्च नानुशोचन्ति पण्डिताः॥
aśocyān anvaśocas tvaṁ prajñā-vādāṁś ca bhāṣase, gatāsūn agatāsūṁś ca nānuśocanti paṇḍitāḥ.
You grieve for those who should not be grieved for, and yet you speak words of wisdom. The wise mourn neither for the living nor for the dead.
देहिनोऽस्मिन्यथा देहे कौमारं यौवनं जरा।
तथा देहान्तरप्राप्तिर्धीरस्तत्र न मुह्यति॥
dehino ‘smin yathā dehe kaumāraṁ yauvanaṁ jarā, tathā dehāntara-prāptir dhīras tatra na muhyati.
As the embodied soul passes in this body through childhood, youth and age, so it passes to another body. The wise are not deluded by this.
नासतो विद्यते भावो नाभावो विद्यते सतः।
उभयोरपि दृष्टोऽन्तस्त्वनयोस्तत्त्वदर्शिभिः॥
nāsato vidyate bhāvo nābhāvo vidyate sataḥ, ubhayor api dṛṣṭo ‘ntas tv anayos tattva-darśibhiḥ.
The unreal has no being; the real never ceases to be. The seers of truth have seen the conclusion of both.
न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचि-
न्नायं भूत्वा भविता वा न भूयः।
अजो नित्यः शाश्वतोऽयं पुराणो
न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे॥
na jāyate mriyate vā kadācin nāyaṁ bhūtvā bhavitā vā na bhūyaḥ, ajo nityaḥ śāśvato ‘yaṁ purāṇo na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre.
The soul is never born and never dies. It has not come to be, nor will it cease to be. Unborn, eternal, ever-existing, ancient, it is not slain when the body is slain.
वासांसि जीर्णानि यथा विहाय
नवानि गृह्णाति नरोऽपराणि।
तथा शरीराणि विहाय जीर्णा-
न्यन्यानि संयाति नवानि देही॥
vāsāṁsi jīrṇāni yathā vihāya navāni gṛhṇāti naro ‘parāṇi, tathā śarīrāṇi vihāya jīrṇāny anyāni saṁyāti navāni dehī.
As a person casts off worn-out clothes and puts on new ones, so the embodied soul casts off worn-out bodies and enters new ones.
नैनं छिन्दन्ति शस्त्राणि नैनं दहति पावकः।
न चैनं क्लेदयन्त्यापो न शोषयति मारुतः॥
nainaṁ chindanti śastrāṇi nainaṁ dahati pāvakaḥ, na cainaṁ kledayanty āpo na śoṣayati mārutaḥ.
Weapons cannot cut the soul, fire cannot burn it, water cannot wet it, and wind cannot dry it.
जातस्य हि ध्रुवो मृत्युर्ध्रुवं जन्म मृतस्य च।
तस्मादपरिहार्येऽर्थे न त्वं शोचितुमर्हसि॥
jātasya hi dhruvo mṛtyur dhruvaṁ janma mṛtasya ca, tasmād aparihārye ‘rthe na tvaṁ śocitum arhasi.
For one who is born, death is certain, and for one who dies, birth is certain. You should not grieve over what cannot be avoided.
न हि ज्ञानेन सदृशं पवित्रमिह विद्यते।
तत्स्वयं योगसंसिद्धः कालेनात्मनि विन्दति॥
na hi jñānena sadṛśaṁ pavitram iha vidyate, tat svayaṁ yoga-saṁsiddhaḥ kālenātmani vindati.
There is nothing in this world as purifying as knowledge. One perfected in yoga finds it within the self in time.
उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत्।
आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मनः॥
uddhared ātmanātmānaṁ nātmānam avasādayet, ātmaiva hy ātmano bandhur ātmaiva ripur ātmanaḥ.
Lift yourself by your own self; do not degrade yourself. For the self alone is the friend of the self, and the self alone is its enemy.
बन्धुरात्मात्मनस्तस्य येनात्मैवात्मना जितः।
अनात्मनस्तु शत्रुत्वे वर्तेतात्मैव शत्रुवत्॥
bandhur ātmātmanas tasya yenātmaivātmanā jitaḥ, anātmanas tu śatrutve vartetātmaiva śatru-vat.
For one who has conquered the self by the self, the self is a friend. But for one who has not, the very self behaves as an enemy.
नात्यश्नतस्तु योगोऽस्ति न चैकान्तमनश्नतः।
न चातिस्वप्नशीलस्य जाग्रतो नैव चार्जुन॥
nāty-aśnatas tu yogo ‘sti na caikāntam anaśnataḥ, na cāti-svapna-śīlasya jāgrato naiva cārjuna.
Yoga is not for one who eats too much, nor for one who does not eat at all; not for one who sleeps too much, nor for one who stays awake.
अहमात्मा गुडाकेश सर्वभूताशयस्थितः।
अहमादिश्च मध्यं च भूतानामन्त एव च॥
aham ātmā guḍākeśa sarva-bhūtāśaya-sthitaḥ, aham ādiś ca madhyaṁ ca bhūtānām anta eva ca.
I am the Self seated in the heart of all beings. I am the beginning, the middle and the end of all beings.
अमानित्वमदम्भित्वमहिंसा क्षान्तिरार्जवम्।
आचार्योपासनं शौचं स्थैर्यमात्मविनिग्रहः॥
amānitvam adambhitvam ahiṁsā kṣāntir ārjavam, ācāryopāsanaṁ śaucaṁ sthairyam ātma-vinigrahaḥ.
Humility, absence of pretence, non-violence, patience, uprightness, service of the teacher, purity, steadfastness and self-control.
ममैवांशो जीवलोके जीवभूतः सनातनः।
मनःषष्ठानीन्द्रियाणि प्रकृतिस्थानि कर्षति॥
mamaivāṁśo jīva-loke jīva-bhūtaḥ sanātanaḥ, manaḥ-ṣaṣṭhānīndriyāṇi prakṛti-sthāni karṣati.
An eternal portion of my own self becomes the living soul in the world of the living, drawing to itself the mind and the five senses that rest in nature.
नष्टो मोहः स्मृतिर्लब्धा त्वत्प्रसादान्मयाच्युत।
स्थितोऽस्मि गतसन्देहः करिष्ये वचनं तव॥
naṣṭo mohaḥ smṛtir labdhā tvat-prasādān mayācyuta, sthito ‘smi gata-sandehaḥ kariṣye vacanaṁ tava.
My delusion is destroyed and memory is regained through your grace. I stand firm, my doubts gone. I will do as you say.
All 18 chaptersअध्याय
Read the whole Gita, every verse with its Sanskrit and a simple meaning.
The Bhakti Angan app brings a Daily Shlok to your home and lock screen, with daily darshan, katha and the Panchang.
The Bhagavad Gita, made simple
Spoken by Lord Krishna to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, the Bhagavad Gita is the heart of Hindu wisdom. Its 700 verses answer the questions we all carry: how to act, how to let go of the result, how to stay calm, and who we truly are. This page gathers its best loved shlokas with a clear meaning for everyday life.
What is the Bhagavad Gita?
The Bhagavad Gita is part of the Mahabharata, where on the battlefield of Kurukshetra Lord Krishna gives Arjuna the knowledge of life, action, devotion and the self across 700 verses.
Which is the most famous verse of the Gita?
The best known is 2.47: karmanye vadhikaraste ma phaleshu kadachana. It means your right is to your action alone, never to its fruits.
Can I read one verse a day?
Yes. A new Shlok appears here each day on its own, and the Bhakti Angan app has a Daily Shlok widget that brings the same verse to your home screen.
The Sanskrit is the traditional text in Devanagari and is in the public domain. The meanings are our own plain-language renderings, offered for daily reflection rather than as a scholarly translation. For close study, please also consult an authoritative commentary such as those in the Gita Press, Ramanuja, or Sri Aurobindo traditions.