The Bhagavad Gita, a spiritual classic, consists of 18 chapters and 700 verses (shlokas). Below is a concise article presenting a key shloka from each chapter, along with its meaning, to capture the essence of the Gita’s teachings.
Chapter 1: Arjuna Vishada Yoga (The Yoga of Arjuna’s Dejection)
kulakshaye praNashyanti kuladharmaah sanaatanaah
dharme nashhte kulam kritsnam adharmo abhibhavatyuta
Meaning: When a family declines, its ancient traditions perish. When traditions perish, lawlessness overtakes the whole family6.
Chapter 2: Sankhya Yoga (Transcendental Knowledge)
jaatasya hi dhruvo mrityuh dhruvam janma mritasya cha
tasmaadaparihaarye arthe na tvam shochitumarhasi
Meaning: Death is certain for the born, and rebirth is certain for the dead. Therefore, you should not grieve over the inevitable6.
Chapter 3: Karma Yoga (Path of Selfless Action)
karmanye vadhikaraste ma phaleshu kadachana
ma karma phala hetur bhur ma te sango’stvakarmani
Meaning: You have the right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, nor be attached to inaction5.
Chapter 4: Jnana Karma Sanyasa Yoga (Path of Knowledge and Renunciation of Action)
paritraanaaya sadhuunaam vinaashaaya cha dushkritaam
dharma samsthaapanaarthaaya sambhavaami yuge yuge
Meaning: For the protection of the good, destruction of the wicked, and establishment of righteousness, I manifest myself, age after age6.
Chapter 5: Karma Sanyasa Yoga (Path of Renunciation)
yogayukto vishuddhaatma vijitaatma jitendriyah
sarvabhootaatmabhootaatmaa kurvannapi na lipyate
Meaning: One who acts in devotion, whose mind and senses are controlled and who sees himself as the servant of all, is not entangled, though performing all actions5.
Chapter 6: Dhyana Yoga (Path of Meditation)
uddhared atmanatmanam naatmanam avasaadayet
atmaiva hy atmano bandhur atmaiva ripur atmanah
Meaning: Elevate yourself by your own mind, do not degrade yourself. The mind can be your friend and also your enemy6.
Chapter 7: Jnana Vijnana Yoga (Self-Knowledge and Enlightenment)
bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyate
vasudevah sarvam iti sa mahatma sudurlabhah
Meaning: After many births, the wise seek refuge in Me, realizing that Vasudeva is everything. Such a great soul is rare5.
Chapter 8: Akshara Brahma Yoga (Path of the Imperishable Brahman)
antakale cha mam eva smaran muktva kalevaram
yah prayati sa madbhavam yati nastyatra samshayahMeaning: Whoever, at the time of death, remembers Me alone, attains My nature. There is no doubt about this5.
Chapter 9: Raja Vidya Raja Guhya Yoga (Yoga of Royal Knowledge and Royal Secret)
satatam kirtayanto mam yatantashcha dridhavratah
namasyantashcha mam bhaktya nityayukta upasateMeaning: My devotees always sing My glories, strive with determination, bow to Me in devotion, and worship Me with constant faith6.
Chapter 10: Vibhuti Yoga (Yoga of Divine Glories)
yadyad vibhutimat sattvam shrimad urjitam eva va
tat tad evavagaccha tvam mama tejo’msa sambhavam
Meaning: Know that all opulent, beautiful, and glorious creations spring from but a spark of My splendor6.
Chapter 11: Vishwarupa Darshana Yoga (Yoga of the Vision of the Universal Form)
divi suryasahasrasya bhaved yugapad utthita
yadi bhah sadrishi sa syad bhahas tasya mahatmanahMeaning: If a thousand suns were to rise at once in the sky, their radiance might resemble the splendor of that Supreme Being6.
Chapter 12: Bhakti Yoga (Path of Devotion)
yasmaan nodvijate loko lokaannodvijate cha yah
harshha-marsha-bhayodvegair mukto yah sa cha me priyahMeaning: He who neither disturbs the world nor is disturbed by it, who is free from joy, envy, fear, and anxiety, is dear to Me6.
Chapter 13: Kshetra Kshetragna Vibhaga Yoga (Yoga of Distinction between the Field and the Knower of the Field)
prakritim purusham chaiva viddhy anadi ubhav api
vikaramsh cha gunamsh chaiva viddhi prakriti sambhavanMeaning: Both material nature and the living entities are beginningless. Modifications and qualities are born of material nature5.
Chapter 14: Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga (Yoga of Division of the Three Gunas)
sattvam rajas tama iti gunah prakriti sambhavah
nibadhnanti mahabaho dehe dehinam avyayam
Meaning: Goodness, passion, and ignorance — these modes born of nature bind the imperishable soul to the body5.
Chapter 15: Purushottama Yoga (Yoga of the Supreme Person)
mamaivamsho jiva-loke jiva-bhutah sanatanah
manah-shashthani indriyani prakriti-sthani karshati
Meaning: The living entities in this conditioned world are My eternal fragmental parts. Due to conditioned life, they are struggling very hard with the six senses, including the mind5.
Chapter 16: Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga (Yoga of Division between the Divine and Demonic)
dvau bhuta-sargau loke’smin daiva asura eva cha
daivo vistarashah prokta asuram partha me shrinuMeaning: There are two types of beings created in this world — the divine and the demonic. I have described the divine in detail; now hear from Me about the demonic5.
Chapter 17: Shraddhatraya Vibhaga Yoga (Yoga of Threefold Faith)
shraddhaya paraya taptam tapas tat tri-vidham naraih
aphalakankshibhir yuktaih sattvikam parichakshateMeaning: That penance performed with great faith, without expectation of reward, and with a focused mind, is said to be of the nature of goodness5.
Chapter 18: Moksha Sannyasa Yoga (Yoga of Liberation and Renunciation)
sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam sharanam vraja
aham tvam sarva-papebhyo mokshayishyami ma shuchah
Meaning: Abandon all varieties of dharma and just surrender unto Me alone. I shall liberate you from all sinful reactions; do not fear5.
These shlokas encapsulate the core teachings of each chapter, guiding seekers on the paths of knowledge, action, meditation, and devotion. For a full list of verses and detailed meanings, refer to comprehensive Gita resources135.
- https://shlokam.org/bhagavad-gita/
- https://www.holy-bhagavad-gita.org/chapter/1/verse/1
- https://vivekavani.com/bg/
- https://iskconmangaluru.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/108-SLOKAS-FROM-BHAGAVAD-GITA_TRANSLITERATION-MEANING-TRANSLATION-PURPORT.pdf
- https://www.hellomyyoga.com/blog/bhagavad-gita/shlokas/
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/most-popular-shlokas-from-bhagavad-gita-meanings-pravin-agrawal--bpytf
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WITUOwi3EYk
- https://www.iskconbooks.com/chapter-wise-summary-of-bhagavad-gita-as-it-is/
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