50 Important Shlokas from the Bhagavad Gita

Below are 50 significant shlokas from the Bhagavad Gita, covering key teachings on duty, self-control, karma, devotion, and liberation, listed with their shloka numbers and one-line English descriptions.

• 1.28: Arjuna feels compassion and sorrow at the sight of his kin ready to fight.
• 2.7: Arjuna, confused, surrenders to Krishna as his disciple, seeking guidance.
• 2.12: Krishna explains that souls exist forever, beyond birth and death.
• 2.13: The soul transitions through bodies, like changing clothes, without perishing.
• 2.20: The soul is never born nor dies, remaining eternal and unchanging.
• 2.27: Death is certain for the born, and birth follows death, so avoid sorrow.
• 2.31: As a Kshatriya, Arjuna must uphold his duty to fight righteously.
• 2.38: Fight with equanimity, treating victory and defeat equally, to avoid sin.
• 2.47: Act without attachment to results, focusing only on duty.
• 2.48: Perform actions with equanimity, unaffected by success or failure.
• 2.55: Krishna says the wise abandon desires, finding joy in the self.
• 2.61: Controlling senses by focusing on Krishna leads to stability.
• 2.62: Attachment to sense objects breeds desire, anger, and delusion.
• 2.71: Renouncing desires, the sage finds peace without ego.
• 2.72: Attaining this state ensures liberation, even at life’s end.
• 3.8: Perform prescribed duties, as action is better than inaction.
• 3.9: Selfless action as sacrifice frees one from karmic bondage.
• 3.19: Perform duties selflessly to attain the supreme goal.
• 3.35: Following one’s own duty is better than another’s, even if imperfect.
• 3.43: Knowing the soul’s supremacy, conquer desire with disciplined intellect.
• 4.7: Krishna incarnates whenever dharma declines and adharma rises.
• 4.8: Krishna descends to protect the righteous and destroy evil.
• 4.9: Knowing Krishna’s divine birth leads to liberation.
• 4.18: Seeing inaction in action and action in inaction is true wisdom.
• 4.37: Wisdom’s fire burns all karma, like fire consumes wood.
• 5.10: Offering actions to Brahman, one is untouched by sin.
• 5.24: Inner joy and light lead to liberation in Brahman.
• 6.5: Elevate the self through discipline, not degradation.
• 6.6: The controlled mind is a friend; the uncontrolled is a foe.
• 6.15: Constant meditation leads to supreme peace in Krishna.
• 6.35: Krishna says discipline and detachment can control the restless mind.
• 6.40: Krishna assures that no effort in yoga is ever wasted.
• 7.19: After many births, the wise surrender, knowing Krishna as all.
• 8.5: Remembering Krishna at death ensures union with him.
• 8.7: Constantly think of Krishna and fight, dedicating actions to him.
• 8.15: Great souls, reaching Krishna, escape rebirth’s suffering.
• 8.24: Departing in light, day, or auspicious times leads to liberation.
• 9.26: Krishna accepts even a leaf offered with pure devotion.
• 9.34: Fix the mind on Krishna, serve him, and attain him.
• 10.8: Krishna is the origin of all, and the wise worship him.
• 11.32: Krishna declares himself as time, destroyer of worlds.
• 12.2: Krishna says devoted worshipers of his form are best.
• 12.6-7: Krishna rescues devotees who surrender all actions to him.
• 14.20: Transcending gunas frees one from birth and death.
• 15.5: The humble and detached attain Krishna’s eternal abode.
• 16.1-3: Divine qualities like fearlessness and purity lead to liberation.
• 18.46: Worshipping Krishna through duty leads to perfection.
• 18.55: Devotion reveals Krishna’s true essence, attaining him.
• 18.65: Fix the mind on Krishna for certain liberation.
• 18.66: Abandon all duties and surrender to Krishna for freedom.

Total: 50 shlokas

Notes

• Selection Criteria: The 50 shlokas were chosen as a condensed subset of the previous 100, prioritizing core teachings across themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma (2 shlokas, e.g., 1.28, 2.7), Nature of the Soul (4 shlokas, e.g., 2.12, 2.20), Karma Yoga (7 shlokas, e.g., 2.47, 3.19), Jnana Yoga (6 shlokas, e.g., 2.55, 4.37), Bhakti Yoga (11 shlokas, e.g., 9.34, 18.65), Dhyana Yoga (5 shlokas, e.g., 6.5, 6.35), Three Gunas (1 shloka, 14.20), Krishna’s Divine Nature (5 shlokas, e.g., 4.7, 11.32), Divine and Demonic Qualities (1 shloka, 16.1-3), and Liberation (8 shlokas, e.g., 8.15, 18.66). The focus is on duty, self-control, devotion, and liberation.