| Shloka No. | Translation (Key teachings) |
|---|---|
| 1.1 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Dhritarashtra asks Sanjaya what his sons and the Pandavas are doing on the battlefield. (The Gita begins with Dhritarashtra’s question, setting the stage for the war and Arjuna’s moral conflict.) |
| 1.2 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Sanjaya describes Duryodhana observing the Pandava army and speaking to Drona. (Duryodhana’s observation of the Pandava army reveals his strategic concern and confidence before the battle.) |
| 1.3 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Duryodhana points out the strength of the Pandava army to Drona. (Duryodhana highlights the formidable Pandava warriors, emphasizing the challenge ahead.) |
| 1.4 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Duryodhana lists great warriors like Bhima and Arjuna in the Pandava army. (The Pandavas’ strength is showcased through their skilled warriors, setting up the war’s intensity.) |
| 1.5 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Duryodhana names more Pandava heroes like Dhrishtaketu and Chekitana. (Duryodhana continues to acknowledge the Pandavas’ powerful allies, building tension.) |
| 1.6 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Duryodhana mentions additional Pandava warriors like Yudhishthira and Virata. (The list of Pandava warriors underscores their army’s depth and readiness for battle.) |
| 1.7 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Duryodhana describes his own army’s great warriors to Drona. (Duryodhana takes pride in his army’s strength, comparing it to the Pandavas’.) |
| 1.8 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Duryodhana lists key Kaurava warriors like Bhishma and Karna. (The Kaurava army’s might is highlighted through its prominent leaders.) |
| 1.9 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Duryodhana mentions other brave warriors ready to fight for him. (Duryodhana’s confidence grows as he notes his army’s many valiant fighters.) |
| 1.10 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Duryodhana compares the strength of both armies, favoring his own. (Duryodhana believes his army, led by Bhishma, is stronger than the Pandavas’.) |
| 1.11 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Duryodhana urges his warriors to protect Bhishma in battle. (Protecting Bhishma is key to the Kauravas’ strategy, showing his critical role.) |
| 1.12 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Bhishma blows his conch, signaling the start of the war. (Bhishma’s conch blow marks the war’s commencement, raising the battle’s intensity.) |
| 1.13 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Kaurava warriors blow conches, creating a loud, fearsome sound. (The Kauravas’ conch sounds create a dramatic, intimidating war atmosphere.) |
| 1.14 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Krishna and Arjuna blow their conches, responding to the Kauravas. (Krishna and Arjuna’s conch sounds signal the Pandavas’ readiness and courage.) |
| 1.15 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Arjuna, Krishna, and other Pandavas blow their divine conches. (The divine conches of the Pandavas symbolize their strength and divine support.) |
| 1.16 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Yudhishthira and other Pandava leaders blow their conches. (The Pandava leaders’ conch sounds unite their army, boosting morale.) |
| 1.16 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Yudhishthira and other Pandava leaders blow their conches. (The Pandava leaders’ conch sounds unite their army, boosting morale.) |
| 1.17 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | More Pandava warriors, like Satyaki, sound their conches. (Additional Pandava conch sounds reinforce their unity and battle readiness.) |
| 1.18 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Drupada and other warriors join in blowing conches. (The collective conch sounds from Pandava allies amplify the war’s intensity.) |
| 1.19 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | The conch sounds terrify the Kaurava army’s hearts. (The Pandavas’ conch sounds create fear in the Kauravas, showing their strength.) |
| 1.20 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Arjuna, holding his bow, asks Krishna to place the chariot between the armies. (Arjuna’s request to view both armies sets the stage for his moral dilemma.) |
| 1.21 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Arjuna asks Krishna to position their chariot to observe the warriors. (Arjuna seeks to assess the battlefield, preparing for his emotional conflict.) |
| 1.22 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Arjuna wants to see those eager to fight in the war. (Arjuna’s curiosity about the enemy reflects his initial readiness for battle.) |
| 1.23 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Arjuna wishes to observe the Kaurava warriors ready to fight. (Arjuna’s focus on the enemy shows his strategic mindset before his doubts arise.) |
| 1.24 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Krishna places the chariot between the armies as Arjuna requested. (Krishna fulfills Arjuna’s request, enabling him to face the reality of war.) |
| 1.25 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Krishna positions the chariot before Bhishma and Drona. (The chariot’s placement before key Kaurava leaders intensifies Arjuna’s conflict.) |
| 1.26 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Arjuna sees relatives, teachers, and friends in both armies. (Seeing loved ones on both sides sparks Arjuna’s emotional and moral turmoil.) |
| 1.27 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Arjuna is filled with compassion, seeing his kin ready to fight. (Arjuna’s compassion for his kin deepens his reluctance to engage in battle.) |
| 1.28 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Arjuna feels sorrow, his body trembling at the thought of killing family. (Arjuna’s physical and emotional distress reveals his inner conflict about war.) |
| 1.29 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Arjuna’s mind reels, and he feels weak, unable to fight. (Arjuna’s overwhelming grief paralyzes him, highlighting his moral struggle.) |
| 1.30 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Arjuna’s bow slips as he is overcome by sorrow and confusion. (Arjuna’s despair leads toexperimental evidence to physical weakness, symbolizing his inner turmoil.) |
| 1.31 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Arjuna sees bad omens and refuses to fight his kin. (Arjuna’s fear of negative consequences fuels his decision to avoid battle.) |
| 1.32 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Arjuna questions the value of victory gained by killing family. (Arjuna doubts the worth of a kingdom won through bloodshed of loved ones.) |
| 1.33 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Arjuna says he doesn’t desire victory or pleasure from killing kin. (Arjuna rejects worldly gains that come at the cost of family destruction.) |
| 1.34 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Arjuna lists his respected kin and teachers he must face in battle. (Arjuna’s respect for his elders deepens his moral conflict about fighting.) |
| 1.35 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Arjuna refuses to kill his kin, even for the sake of a kingdom. (Arjuna prioritizes family bonds over material gains, intensifying his dilemma.) |
| 1.36 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Arjuna fears sin from killing revered elders and family. (Arjuna worries that killing kin will lead to grave spiritual consequences.) |
| 1.37 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Arjuna argues that killing kin is sinful and destroys family dharma. (Arjuna believes war will ruin family values, strengthening his refusal to fight.) |
| 1.38 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Arjuna says the Kauravas’ greed blinds them to war’s evils. (Arjuna criticizes the Kauravas’ ignorance, yet still hesitates to fight.) |
| 1.39 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Arjuna fears that destroying families will lead to societal ruin. (Arjuna predicts war will disrupt social order and moral values.) |
| 1.40 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Arjuna warns that family destruction will corrupt women and society. (Arjuna fears war’s impact on family purity and societal stability.) |
| 1.41 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Arjuna says mixed castes from war will lead to chaos. (Arjuna believes war will cause social disorder through caste mixing.) |
| 1.42 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Arjuna fears ancestors will suffer without offerings due to family ruin. (Arjuna worries war will disrupt ancestral rituals, harming spiritual traditions.) |
| 1.43 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Arjuna laments the loss of family traditions due to war’s sins. (Arjuna grieves the destruction of dharma caused by war’s consequences.) |
| 1.44 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Arjuna questions how anyone can desire a kingdom through sin. (Arjuna rejects victory gained through immoral acts, deepening his conflict.) |
| 1.45 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Arjuna feels it’s better to die than kill kin for a kingdom. (Arjuna prefers death over fighting, showing his moral and emotional struggle.) |
| 1.46 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Arjuna prefers being killed unarmed than fighting his kin. (Arjuna’s willingness to die reflects his deep aversion to harming family.) |
| 1.47 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Arjuna drops his bow, overwhelmed by grief, refusing to fight. (Arjuna’s despair peaks, setting the stage for Krishna’s spiritual guidance.) |
| 2.1 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Sanjaya describes Arjuna’s grief and Krishna’s response to it. (Krishna begins to address Arjuna’s emotional turmoil, initiating the Gita’s teachings.) |
| 2.2 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Krishna asks why Arjuna is grieving at this critical moment. (Krishna challenges Arjuna’s weakness, urging him to face his duty.) |
| 2.3 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Krishna urges Arjuna to rise above weakness and fight like a warrior. (Krishna encourages Arjuna to overcome cowardice and fulfill his warrior duty.) |
| 2.4 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Arjuna refuses to fight revered elders like Bhishma and Drona. (Arjuna’s respect for his teachers deepens his reluctance to engage in battle.) |
| 2.5 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Arjuna says he’d rather beg than kill his respected elders. (Arjuna values honor over victory, preferring poverty to killing his kin.) |
| 2.6 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Arjuna is unsure which is better: winning or losing the war. (Arjuna’s confusion about victory’s worth reflects his moral and emotional conflict.) |
| 2.7 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Arjuna admits his confusion and surrenders to Krishna as his guide. (Arjuna seeks Krishna’s wisdom, marking his shift to spiritual discipleship.) |
| 2.8 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Arjuna says no worldly gain can remove his grief. (Arjuna’s sorrow overrides material desires, showing his need for spiritual guidance.) |
| 2.9 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Arjuna refuses to fight, overwhelmed by grief, and stays silent. (Arjuna’s silence reflects his complete surrender to despair, awaiting Krishna’s advice.) |
| 2.10 Themes: Arjuna’s Dilemma | Krishna smiles and begins teaching Arjuna amidst the armies. (Krishna’s smile signals his readiness to impart wisdom to resolve Arjuna’s dilemma.) |
| 2.11 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga | Krishna says the wise don’t grieve for the living or dead, as the soul is eternal. (The wise understand the soul’s immortality, so they don’t mourn temporary losses.) |
| 2.12 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga | Krishna explains that souls always exist, never ceasing to be. (Souls are eternal, existing beyond birth and death, removing the need for grief.) |
| 2.13 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga | The soul passes through bodies like a person changes clothes. (The soul’s journey through bodies is natural, like changing clothes, so death isn’t final.) |
| 2.14 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga | Sensations like heat and cold are temporary; endure them wisely. (Temporary sensations shouldn’t disturb the wise, who focus on eternal truth.) |
| 2.15 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Liberation | The wise, unmoved by pleasure or pain, attain liberation. (Equanimity in all circumstances leads to spiritual freedom and liberation.) |
| 2.16 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga | The unreal has no existence; the real (soul) never ceases. (The soul’s eternal reality surpasses the unreal, temporary world, guiding true wisdom.) |
| 2.17 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga | The soul, pervading all, is indestructible and eternal. (The soul’s all-pervading, indestructible nature ensures its eternal existence.) |
| 2.18 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga | Only the body dies; the soul is eternal, so fight without fear. (Since only the body is mortal, Arjuna should perform his duty fearlessly.) |
| 2.19 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga | Neither the slayer nor slain is truly affected, as the soul is eternal. (The soul’s immortality means neither killing nor dying affects its eternal nature.) |
| 2.20 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga | The soul is never born nor dies; it is eternal and unchanging. (The soul’s eternal, unchanging nature removes fear of death and loss.) |
| 2.21 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga | Knowing the soul is indestructible, there’s no cause to kill or grieve. (Understanding the soul’s immortality eliminates guilt or sorrow in performing duty.) |
| 2.22 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga | The soul changes bodies like clothes, remaining eternal. (The soul’s continuity through changing bodies encourages detachment from the physical.) |
| 2.23 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga | Weapons, fire, or water cannot destroy the eternal soul. (The soul’s invincibility to physical harm reinforces its eternal nature.) |
| 2.24 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga | The soul is unbreakable, unburnable, and eternal, beyond harm. (The soul’s indestructible qualities assure its permanence beyond physical destruction.) |
| 2.25 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga | The soul is invisible and unchanging; no need to grieve for it. (The soul’s subtle, eternal nature makes grieving for it unnecessary.) |
| 2.26 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga | Even if you believe the soul is born and dies, don’t grieve. (Even under a mortal view of the soul, grief is pointless as death is natural.) |
| 2.27 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga | Death is certain for the born; don’t grieve for the inevitable. (Since death is inevitable, Arjuna should focus on duty, not sorrow.) |
| 2.28 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga | Beings are unmanifest before birth and after death; don’t grieve. (The soul’s existence beyond physical form makes grieving for death illogical.) |
| 2.29 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga | Few truly understand the soul’s wondrous, eternal nature. (The soul’s profound eternity is a rare realization, guiding spiritual wisdom.) |
| 2.30 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga | The soul in all bodies is eternal; don’t grieve for anyone. (The universal soul’s immortality removes the need to mourn any loss.) |
| 2.31 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga | As a Kshatriya, Arjuna’s duty is to fight for righteousness. (Arjuna must uphold his warrior duty to protect dharma without hesitation.) |
| 2.32 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga | A righteous war is a rare opportunity for glory and heaven. (Fighting a just war brings honor and spiritual merit to a warrior.) |
| 2.33 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga | Refusing to fight dishonors Arjuna’s duty and incurs sin. (Abandoning duty as a warrior brings shame and spiritual consequences.) |
| 2.34 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga | People will mock Arjuna’s cowardice, causing him great shame. (Fleeing battle will ruin Arjuna’s reputation, worse than death for a warrior.) |
| 2.35 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga | Great warriors will think Arjuna fled from fear, not honor. (Arjuna’s retreat will be seen as cowardice, tarnishing his heroic image.) |
| 2.36 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga | Enemies will insult Arjuna, causing him unbearable pain. (Mockery from enemies for abandoning duty will deeply hurt Arjuna’s pride.) |
| 2.37 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga | Victory brings kingdom; death brings heaven—Arjuna should fight. (Regardless of outcome, fighting fulfills Arjuna’s duty with divine rewards.) |
| 2.38 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga | Fight with equanimity, treating victory and defeat the same. (Perform duty without attachment to outcomes for true spiritual balance.) |
| 2.39 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga | Krishna introduces Jnana Yoga, the wisdom of selfless action. (Selfless action guided by wisdom frees one from worldly bondage.) |
| 2.40 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga | Selfless action protects from failure and leads to spiritual gain. (Performing duty without selfish motives ensures spiritual progress without loss.) |
| 2.41 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga | Resolute focus on selfless action leads to a steady mind. (A determined mind focused on selfless duty achieves spiritual clarity.) |
| 2.42 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga | Ignorant people pursue rituals for pleasure, missing true wisdom. (Desire-driven rituals distract from the true spiritual path of wisdom.) |
| 2.43 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga | Those attached to wealth and pleasure lack resolute wisdom. (Attachment to material gains hinders the steady pursuit of spiritual truth.) |
| 2.44 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga, Three Gunas | Desire for pleasure prevents focus on true spiritual knowledge. (Obsession with worldly pleasures blocks the path to divine wisdom.) |
| 2.45 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga, Three Gunas | Rise above the three gunas to focus on the eternal soul. (Transcending the gunas leads to a focused, spiritually liberated mind.) |
| 2.46 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga | A wise person uses scriptures like a well serves a flooded land. (True wisdom extracts only what’s needed from scriptures for spiritual growth.) |
| 2.47 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga | Your right is to action, not its results; don’t avoid duty. (Perform duties selflessly without attachment to outcomes to achieve spiritual freedom.) |
| 2.48 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | Act with equanimity, free from attachment to success or failure. (True yoga is performing actions with balance, unaffected by outcomes.) |
| 2.49 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga | Selfless action is superior to desire-driven work. (Acting without selfish motives elevates one above inferior, desire-based actions.) |
| 2.50 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga | A wise person, skilled in action, attains liberation. (Skillful, selfless action leads to freedom from karma and spiritual liberation.) |
| 2.51 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | Wise yogis, detached from results, reach liberation from rebirth. (Renouncing action’s fruits through wisdom ensures freedom from the cycle of rebirth.) |
| 2.52 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | Wisdom frees the mind from delusion, revealing clear understanding. (True knowledge dispels ignorance, guiding one to spiritual clarity and liberation.) |
| 2.53 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | A steady mind, free from doubts, achieves yoga’s success. (A focused, unwavering mind attains spiritual stability through disciplined practice.) |
| 2.54 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | Arjuna asks about the traits of a person with a steady mind. (Arjuna seeks to understand the qualities of a spiritually stable person.) |
| 2.55 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | A steady-minded person abandons desires and finds joy in the self. (True stability comes from renouncing desires and finding contentment within.) |
| 2.56 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | The wise remain unmoved by pleasure, pain, or adversity. (A steady mind stays balanced amidst life’s ups and downs, free from disturbance.) |
| 2.57 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | A wise person is detached, unaffected by good or evil. (Detachment from outcomes ensures a wise person’s mind remains undisturbed.) |
| 2.58 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | A yogi controls senses like a tortoise retracts its limbs. (Mastering senses through discipline protects the mind from worldly distractions.) |
| 2.59 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | Senses may withdraw, but desire remains without divine vision. (True detachment requires experiencing the divine to overcome lingering desires.) |
| 2.60 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | Even the wise struggle to control turbulent senses. (Senses are powerful and challenge even the wise, requiring constant discipline.) |
| 2.61 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | Control senses by fixing the mind on Krishna for stability. (Focusing on the divine helps master senses and achieve mental steadiness.) |
| 2.62 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | Dwelling on sense objects leads to desire, anger, and delusion. (Obsession with senses creates a chain of desire and anger, clouding wisdom.) |
| 2.63 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | Delusion from anger destroys wisdom, leading to ruin. (Uncontrolled anger and delusion cause loss of wisdom and spiritual downfall.) |
| 2.64 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | A disciplined mind, free from attachment, attains peace. (Mastering desires through discipline brings inner peace and spiritual clarity.) |
| 2.65 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | A peaceful mind brings joy and clarity to the intellect. (Inner peace from a disciplined mind fosters happiness and wise understanding.) |
| 2.66 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | Without discipline, there’s no peace, wisdom, or happiness. (Lack of mental control prevents peace, wisdom, and true happiness.) |
| 2.67 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | A mind swayed by senses drifts like a boat in the wind. (Uncontrolled senses destabilize the mind, leading it astray from spiritual goals.) |
| 2.68 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | Controlling senses fully brings a steady, peaceful mind. (Complete sense mastery ensures a calm and focused spiritual state.) |
| 2.69 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | The yogi stays awake to truth while others are lost in illusion. (A yogi sees divine truth clearly, unlike those lost in worldly distractions.) |
| 2.70 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | A yogi remains unmoved by desires, like an ocean receiving rivers. (A steady yogi is undisturbed by desires, maintaining inner calm like an ocean.) |
| 2.71 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | One who abandons desires and ego attains true peace. (Renouncing desires and ego leads to lasting peace and spiritual freedom.) |
| 2.72 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | Living in this wisdom ensures liberation at life’s end. (Embracing spiritual wisdom guarantees liberation from the cycle of rebirth.) |
| 3.1 Themes: Karma Yoga | Arjuna asks which is better: knowledge or action. (Arjuna seeks clarity on whether knowledge or action is the superior spiritual path.) |
| 3.2 Themes: Karma Yoga | Arjuna requests Krishna to give one clear path to follow. (Arjuna’s confusion prompts a plea for a definitive spiritual direction.) |
| 3.3 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga | Krishna says Jnana Yoga suits thinkers, Karma Yoga suits doers. (Krishna explains two paths—knowledge for thinkers and action for doers—for spiritual growth.) |
| 3.4 Themes: Karma Yoga, Three Gunas | Inaction doesn’t free one from karma; action is inevitable. (Avoiding action doesn’t lead to freedom, as all are driven by nature to act.) |
| 3.5 Themes: Karma Yoga, Three Gunas | No one can remain inactive, as gunas compel action. (The three gunas naturally drive all beings to act, making inaction impossible.) |
| 3.6 Themes: Karma Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | Pretending to renounce action while desiring is hypocrisy. (Acting without true detachment while craving results is spiritually dishonest.) |
| 3.7 Themes: Karma Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | Selfless action with controlled senses is true yoga. (Performing duty selflessly with sense control defines a true yogi’s path.) |
| 3.8 Themes: Karma Yoga, Three Gunas | Perform your duties, as action is better than inaction. (Doing prescribed duties is superior to avoiding action, supporting life’s purpose.) |
| 3.9 Themes: Karma Yoga, Liberation | Actions done as sacrifice to God free one from bondage. (Selfless actions offered to God lead to liberation from karmic ties.) |
| 3.10 Themes: Karma Yoga | God created sacrifice to sustain the world’s prosperity. (Sacrifice, ordained by God, ensures the world’s harmony and abundance.) |
| 3.11 Themes: Karma Yoga | Honor gods through sacrifice; they’ll grant your desires. (Mutual support between humans and gods through sacrifice sustains cosmic order.) |
| 3.12 Themes: Karma Yoga | Gods, pleased by sacrifice, provide life’s necessities. (Performing sacrifices ensures divine blessings for sustenance and prosperity.) |
| 3.13 Themes: Karma Yoga | Eating food offered in sacrifice purifies; otherwise, it’s sinful. (Consuming sacrificial food purifies, while selfish eating incurs sin.) |
| 3.14 Themes: Karma Yoga | Food comes from rain, rain from sacrifice, sustaining life. (Sacrifice drives the cosmic cycle, producing food and sustaining existence.) |
| 3.15 Themes: Karma Yoga | Sacrifice, rooted in Vedic action, comes from Brahman. (All actions and sacrifices originate from the eternal Brahman, guiding duty.) |
| 3.16 Themes: Karma Yoga | One who doesn’t follow the cycle of sacrifice lives in vain. (Ignoring the sacrificial cycle leads to a purposeless, selfish life.) |
| 3.17 Themes: Karma Yoga, Liberation | One delighted in the self is free from duty’s burden. (Self-realized individuals find joy within, transcending worldly obligations.) |
| 3.18 Themes: Karma Yoga | A self-realized person has no need for worldly actions. (Those who know the self act without dependence on external duties or gains.) |
| 3.19 Themes: Karma Yoga | Perform duties without attachment to attain the supreme. (Selfless duty, free from attachment, leads to spiritual liberation.) |
| 3.20 Themes: Karma Yoga | Great kings like Janaka performed duties for the world’s good. (Performing duty selflessly, like great leaders, benefits society and the self.) |
| 3.21 Themes: Karma Yoga | People follow the example of great leaders’ actions. (Leaders’ actions set a standard, inspiring others to follow righteous paths.) |
| 3.22 Themes: Karma Yoga | Krishna, though perfect, acts to set an example for others. (Even the divine performs duties to guide humanity toward righteousness.) |
| 3.23 Themes: Karma Yoga | If Krishna didn’t act, people would fall into inaction. (Krishna’s actions prevent societal chaos by inspiring diligent duty.) |
| 3.24 Themes: Karma Yoga | Without Krishna’s actions, the world would perish in chaos. (Krishna’s selfless actions sustain cosmic order and prevent destruction.) |
| 3.25 Themes: Karma Yoga | The wise act selflessly to guide the ignorant toward duty. (Wise individuals perform duties without attachment to inspire others.) |
| 3.26 Themes: Karma Yoga | The wise don’t disturb the ignorant but guide through action. (Enlightened ones lead by example, encouraging duty without disrupting others’ beliefs.) |
| 3.27 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Actions are driven by gunas, but the ego claims doership. (The three gunas cause actions, yet the ego wrongly assumes control.) |
| 3.28 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | The wise know actions arise from gunas, not the self. (Understanding that gunas drive actions frees the wise from ego’s delusion.) |
| 3.29 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | The wise don’t confuse those deluded by gunas. (Enlightened ones guide gently, respecting the ignorant’s limited understanding.) |
| 3.30 Themes: Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Liberation | Offer all actions to Krishna, free from desire, for liberation. (Surrendering actions to Krishna without desire leads to spiritual freedom.) |
| 3.31 Themes: Karma Yoga, Liberation | Those who follow Krishna’s teachings are freed from karma. (Adhering to divine guidance ensures liberation from karmic bondage.) |
| 3.32 Themes: Karma Yoga, Liberation | Those who reject Krishna’s teachings remain deluded and lost. (Ignoring divine wisdom keeps one trapped in ignorance and suffering.) |
| 3.33 Themes: Karma Yoga, Three Gunas | Even the wise act according to their nature shaped by gunas. (Human nature, influenced by gunas, drives actions, even for the wise.) |
| 3.34 Themes: Karma Yoga | Senses are drawn to objects; don’t let them sway you. (Controlling sensory desires prevents deviation from the spiritual path.) |
| 3.35 Themes: Karma Yoga | Follow your own duty, not others’, even if it’s imperfect. (Sticking to one’s own dharma is better than adopting another’s, despite flaws.) |
| 3.36 Themes: Karma Yoga | Arjuna asks what forces one to sin despite good intentions. (Arjuna seeks the cause of sinful actions, prompting Krishna’s explanation.) |
| 3.37 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Desire and anger, born of Rajas, drive sinful actions. (Desire and anger, fueled by Rajas, are the root causes of sin.) |
| 3.38 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Desire clouds wisdom like smoke covers fire or dust covers a mirror. (Desire obscures true knowledge, blocking spiritual clarity like smoke or dust.) |
| 3.39 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga | Desire, an insatiable fire, destroys knowledge and wisdom. (Uncontrolled desire consumes wisdom, hindering spiritual progress.) |
| 3.40 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas, Dhyana Yoga | Desire resides in senses, mind, and intellect, deluding the soul. (Desire, rooted in senses and mind, misleads the soul from truth.) |
| 3.41 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Nature of the Soul, Dhyana Yoga | Control desire by mastering senses and focusing on the soul. (Overcoming desire through sense control and soul awareness ensures spiritual growth.) |
| 3.42 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Nature of the Soul, Dhyana Yoga | The soul is above senses, mind, and intellect; know this truth. (The soul’s supremacy over senses and mind guides one to true wisdom.) |
| 3.43 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Nature of the Soul, Dhyana Yoga | Knowing the soul’s greatness, conquer desire through self-control. (Realizing the soul’s higher nature empowers one to overcome desire’s pull.) |
| 4.1 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna taught this eternal yoga to Vivasvan, who passed it to Manu. (The ancient yoga taught by Krishna ensures timeless spiritual wisdom.) |
| 4.2 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | This yoga was lost over time but is now taught to Arjuna. (Krishna revives the lost yoga, sharing it with Arjuna for spiritual renewal.) |
| 4.3 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna teaches this ancient yoga to Arjuna, his devotee. (As a devotee, Arjuna receives divine wisdom to fulfill his spiritual purpose.) |
| 4.4 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Arjuna asks how Krishna taught yoga long before his birth. (Arjuna’s question about Krishna’s ancient role prompts a divine explanation.) |
| 4.5 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna says he and Arjuna have had many births, but he remembers all. (Krishna’s divine memory of past births reveals his eternal nature.) |
| 4.6 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna, though unborn, takes birth through his divine power. (Krishna’s divine incarnation demonstrates his control over nature for a purpose.) |
| 4.7 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna incarnates when dharma declines to restore righteousness. (Krishna appears to protect righteousness whenever evil overtakes the world.) |
| 4.8 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna comes to save the good, destroy evil, and establish dharma. (Krishna’s incarnations restore balance by protecting good and eliminating evil.) |
| 4.9 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Liberation, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Knowing Krishna’s divine birth and actions leads to liberation. (Understanding Krishna’s divine nature frees one from the cycle of rebirth.) |
| 4.10 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Liberation, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Free from attachment, fear, and anger, devotees attain Krishna. (Renouncing negative emotions through devotion leads to divine union.) |
| 4.11 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna rewards all based on their approach to him. (Krishna responds to everyone’s spiritual efforts, guiding them toward truth.) |
| 4.12 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | People worship lesser gods for quick material gains. (Seeking temporary gains from lesser gods distracts from true spiritual goals.) |
| 4.13 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna created the four varnas based on qualities and actions. (The varna system, rooted in qualities, is divinely ordained for societal harmony.) |
| 4.14 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna is unaffected by actions or their results. (Krishna’s divine nature remains untouched by worldly actions or outcomes.) |
| 4.15 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation | Ancient sages acted selflessly; Arjuna should do the same. (Following the example of selfless sages ensures spiritual progress through duty.) |
| 4.16 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation | Krishna explains what action and inaction truly mean. (True wisdom distinguishes between action and inaction for spiritual clarity.) |
| 4.17 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation | Understanding action, forbidden action, and inaction is complex. (Discerning the nature of actions requires deep spiritual understanding.) |
| 4.18 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation | Seeing inaction in action and action in inaction is true wisdom. (True wisdom sees the deeper reality of action and inaction, leading to liberation.) |
| 4.19 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation | Actions free from desire are purified, leading to liberation. (Selfless actions, without desire, burn karma and pave the way to freedom.) |
| 4.20 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation | Acting without attachment to results brings inner peace. (Detached action frees one from worldly ties, fostering spiritual tranquility.) |
| 4.21 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation | Renouncing desire and ego in actions leads to liberation. (Acting without ego or desire ensures freedom from karmic bondage.) |
| 4.22 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation | Content with whatever comes, a yogi transcends duality. (Accepting life’s outcomes with equanimity leads to spiritual freedom.) |
| 4.23 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation | Selfless actions of a liberated soul dissolve in divine wisdom. (A liberated person’s selfless actions merge into divine truth, free from karma.) |
| 4.24 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Offering actions to Brahman makes all acts divine. (Actions offered to the divine become sacred, leading to spiritual unity.) |
| 4.25 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation | Some yogis offer sacrifices to gods, others to Brahman. (Different spiritual practices, like sacrifices, all aim for divine connection.) |
| 4.26 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation | Yogis offer senses and breath in the fire of self-control. (Controlling senses through disciplined practice is a form of spiritual sacrifice.) |
| 4.27 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation | Yogis offer all actions in the fire of self-realization. (Sacrificing actions through wisdom leads to complete spiritual liberation.) |
| 4.28 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation | Some offer wealth, austerity, or yoga as sacrifices. (Various forms of sacrifice, like giving or austerity, lead to spiritual growth.) |
| 4.29 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation | Yogis control breath through pranayama for spiritual focus. (Breath control in yoga purifies the mind, aiding spiritual progress.) |
| 4.30 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation | Those who practice sacrifice know Brahman and attain liberation. (Sacrificial practices, done with wisdom, lead to divine realization and freedom.) |
| 4.31 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation | Eating sacrificial remnants brings eternal liberation. (Consuming food offered in sacrifice purifies and leads to spiritual freedom.) |
| 4.32 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation | Various sacrifices, rooted in scriptures, lead to Brahman. (Scriptural sacrifices guide practitioners to divine truth and liberation.) |
| 4.33 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation | Knowledge sacrifice is superior to material offerings. (Offering wisdom surpasses material sacrifices, leading to true spiritual growth.) |
| 4.34 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Learn truth from a guru through humility and service. (Humble service to a guru reveals divine truth for spiritual liberation.) |
| 4.35 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation | Knowledge destroys ignorance, revealing all beings in the self. (True knowledge removes delusion, showing unity of all in the divine.) |
| 4.36 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation | Knowledge purifies even the greatest sinners, like a burning fire. (Wisdom cleanses all sins, guiding even the fallen toward liberation.) |
| 4.37 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation | Knowledge burns all karma, like fire consumes wood. (Spiritual wisdom destroys karmic bonds, ensuring complete liberation.) |
| 4.38 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation | Nothing purifies like knowledge; it’s found through yoga. (Knowledge, gained through disciplined practice, is the ultimate purifier.) |
| 4.39 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation | Faithful yogis gain knowledge, attaining peace swiftly. (Faith and discipline in yoga lead to wisdom and inner peace.) |
| 4.40 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation | Ignorance and doubt destroy spiritual progress. (Lack of knowledge and faith hinders the path to spiritual liberation.) |
| 4.41 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation | Yoga and knowledge destroy karma, ensuring liberation. (Combining action and wisdom eliminates karma, leading to spiritual freedom.) |
| 4.42 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation | Cut doubt with knowledge and rise to perform your duty. (Wisdom dispels doubts, empowering Arjuna to fulfill his righteous duty.) |
| 5.1 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga | Arjuna asks whether renunciation or action is the better path. (Arjuna seeks clarity on whether renouncing or performing actions leads to liberation.) |
| 5.2 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga | Krishna says both renunciation and selfless action lead to liberation. (Selfless action and true renunciation both guide one to spiritual freedom.) |
| 5.3 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation | A true renunciant acts without attachment, free from duality. (True renunciation involves acting selflessly, free from ego and opposites.) |
| 5.4 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga | Sankhya (knowledge) and Yoga (action) lead to the same goal. (Knowledge and selfless action are equal paths to spiritual liberation.) |
| 5.5 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga | The goal reached by knowledge is also attained through action. (Both knowledge and action yogas ultimately lead to the same divine truth.) |
| 5.6 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | Action yoga is easier than renunciation without discipline. (Disciplined action is more practical than renunciation for spiritual progress.) |
| 5.7 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | A selfless yogi, pure in mind, attains divine peace. (Purity and selflessness in action lead to divine connection and peace.) |
| 5.8 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | A yogi knows they don’t truly act, despite performing duties. (The wise understand that the soul remains detached from bodily actions.) |
| 5.9 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | Senses act on objects, but the soul remains unattached. (The soul is uninvolved in sensory actions, maintaining spiritual detachment.) |
| 5.10 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | Offering actions to Brahman, a yogi is untouched by sin. (Selfless actions offered to the divine free one from karmic consequences.) |
| 5.11 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | Yogis act with body and mind, unattached to results. (Acting without attachment to outcomes purifies the soul for liberation.) |
| 5.12 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | A yogi, detached from results, attains lasting peace. (Renouncing action’s fruits brings enduring peace and spiritual freedom.) |
| 5.13 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | The soul, dwelling in the body, is free from actions. (The soul remains a non-doer, detached from the body’s actions.) |
| 5.14 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | The soul doesn’t create actions or their results; nature does. (Actions and their outcomes arise from nature, not the eternal soul.) |
| 5.15 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | God doesn’t take on anyone’s sins or virtues. (The divine remains impartial, unaffected by human actions or qualities.) |
| 5.16 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | Knowledge removes ignorance, revealing the divine light within. (Spiritual wisdom dispels ignorance, illuminating the path to liberation.) |
| 5.17 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | Knowing the soul and God brings eternal liberation. (Realizing the soul’s unity with God ensures freedom from rebirth.) |
| 5.18 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | A wise person sees all beings equally, beyond differences. (True wisdom views all beings as equal, fostering universal compassion.) |
| 5.19 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | Equal vision conquers rebirth, aligning with the divine. (Seeing all equally frees one from the cycle of birth and death.) |
| 5.20 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | A wise person, steady in truth, is unmoved by pleasure or pain. (Stability in divine truth brings equanimity amidst life’s dualities.) |
| 5.21 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | Detached from external pleasures, a yogi finds joy within. (Inner joy, free from external desires, leads to spiritual fulfillment.) |
| 5.22 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | Sense pleasures are temporary and lead to suffering. (Worldly pleasures, being fleeting, cause pain and hinder spiritual growth.) |
| 5.23 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | Enduring desires and anger brings true happiness here. (Mastering desires and anger in this life leads to genuine happiness.) |
| 5.24 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | Inner joy and divine focus bring eternal liberation. (Finding joy within and focusing on God ensures spiritual freedom.) |
| 5.25 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | Sages, free from duality, attain divine peace and liberation. (Transcending opposites through wisdom leads to divine peace and freedom.) |
| 5.26 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | Desireless yogis quickly attain eternal peace and liberation. (Freedom from desires ensures swift attainment of spiritual liberation.) |
| 5.27 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | Meditating with controlled senses brings supreme peace. (Disciplined meditation, free from sensory distractions, leads to divine tranquility.) |
| 5.28 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | A disciplined yogi, free from desire, attains liberation. (Sense control and desirelessness through yoga lead to spiritual freedom.) |
| 5.29 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | Knowing Krishna as the ultimate goal brings supreme peace. (Recognizing Krishna as the source of all grants lasting spiritual peace.) |
| 6.1 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | A true yogi performs duties without attachment to results. (Selfless action without desire defines a true yogi’s spiritual path.) |
| 6.2 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | Renunciation and yoga are the same when actions are selfless. (True renunciation equals yoga when actions are performed without attachment.) |
| 6.3 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | Action helps beginners; renunciation suits advanced yogis. (Beginners progress through action, while advanced yogis embrace renunciation.) |
| 6.4 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | A yogi, free from desires, attains true renunciation. (Complete detachment from desires marks a yogi’s true renunciation.) |
| 6.5 Themes: Dhyana Yoga | Elevate yourself through self-control, not self-degradation. (Self-discipline lifts the soul, while self-neglect leads to spiritual harm.) |
| 6.6 Themes: Dhyana Yoga | The controlled mind is a friend; the uncontrolled is an enemy. (A disciplined mind supports spiritual growth, while an uncontrolled one hinders it.) |
| 6.7 Themes: Dhyana Yoga | A self-controlled yogi remains steady in all circumstances. (Mastery over the self ensures equanimity in pleasure, pain, or adversity.) |
| 6.8 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | A yogi sees all as equal, steady in knowledge and self-control. (True wisdom brings equal vision and stability through disciplined practice.) |
| 6.9 Themes: Dhyana Yoga | A yogi treats friends, foes, and all beings with equal kindness. (A yogi’s equal treatment of all reflects deep spiritual understanding and compassion.) |
| 6.10 Themes: Dhyana Yoga | Meditate alone in a clean place with a focused mind. (Solitary meditation in a pure environment fosters spiritual focus and growth.) |
| 6.11 Themes: Dhyana Yoga | Sit on a clean seat in a quiet place for meditation. (A proper meditation setup enhances focus and spiritual progress.) |
| 6.12 Themes: Dhyana Yoga | Focus the mind, controlling thoughts, to practice yoga. (Disciplined focus on the mind during meditation leads to yogic success.) |
| 6.13 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | Sit straight, gazing at the nose-tip, for steady meditation. (Proper posture and gaze in meditation ensure mental stability and focus.) |
| 6.14 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | With a calm mind, focus on Krishna during meditation. (Meditating on Krishna with a serene mind fosters divine connection.) |
| 6.15 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga, Liberation | Meditating on Krishna with discipline leads to eternal peace. (Disciplined meditation on Krishna ensures liberation and lasting peace.) |
| 6.16 Themes: Karma Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | Moderation in eating and sleeping ensures yoga’s success. (Balanced lifestyle habits support effective meditation and spiritual growth.) |
| 6.17 Themes: Karma Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | Balanced eating, sleeping, and work lead to yoga’s success. (Moderation in daily activities fosters discipline for successful yoga practice.) |
| 6.18 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | A disciplined mind, free from desires, achieves yoga. (Detachment from desires through discipline marks true yogic attainment.) |
| 6.19 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | A yogi’s mind is steady, like a lamp in a windless place. (A disciplined mind remains calm and focused, like an unwavering flame.) |
| 6.20 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | Meditation brings joy by stilling the mind’s restlessness. (A calm mind in meditation experiences divine joy and spiritual peace.) |
| 6.21 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | The yogi finds infinite joy in the self through meditation. (Meditation reveals boundless inner joy, connecting the self to the divine.) |
| 6.22 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | True joy from meditation surpasses all worldly pleasures. (Meditation’s divine joy outshines temporary worldly satisfactions.) |
| 6.23 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | Yoga brings freedom from suffering through disciplined meditation. (Disciplined meditation liberates one from all forms of suffering.) |
| 6.24 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | Abandon desires and control senses for successful meditation. (Renouncing desires and mastering senses ensures effective meditation practice.) |
| 6.25 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | Gradually focus the mind on the self through meditation. (Steady meditation on the self leads to spiritual focus and clarity.) |
| 6.26 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | Bring the wandering mind back to focus on the self. (Persistent effort to refocus the mind ensures meditative success.) |
| 6.27 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | A pure mind, meditating on Krishna, attains supreme bliss. (Meditation with a pure mind on Krishna brings ultimate spiritual joy.) |
| 6.28 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | A yogi, free from impurities, enjoys eternal happiness. (Purity through meditation leads to everlasting spiritual happiness.) |
| 6.29 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | A yogi sees the self in all beings and all in God. (True yoga reveals the unity of all beings with the divine self.) |
| 6.30 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | One who sees Krishna everywhere is never lost to Him. (Constant awareness of Krishna ensures an unbreakable divine connection.) |
| 6.31 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | A yogi devoted to Krishna lives in Him always. (Devotion to Krishna keeps a yogi eternally united with the divine.) |
| 6.32 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga | A yogi sees others’ joys and sorrows as their own. (True compassion in a yogi equates others’ experiences with their own.) |
| 6.33 Themes: Dhyana Yoga | Arjuna says the mind is too restless to control in meditation. (Arjuna acknowledges the difficulty of mastering the mind for yoga.) |
| 6.34 Themes: Dhyana Yoga | The mind is unsteady, turbulent, and hard to tame. (The mind’s restless nature poses a significant challenge to meditative practice.) |
| 6.35 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | Krishna agrees the mind is restless but can be controlled through practice. (Persistent practice and detachment can tame the restless mind for yoga.) |
| 6.36 Themes: Dhyana Yoga | An uncontrolled mind fails yoga; discipline brings success. (Success in yoga requires disciplined control over the wandering mind.) |
| 6.37 Themes: Dhyana Yoga | Arjuna asks what happens to a yogi who fails despite effort. (Arjuna questions the fate of a yogi who strives but fails in meditation.) |
| 6.38 Themes: Dhyana Yoga | Does a failed yogi lose both worldly and spiritual gains? (Arjuna fears that failed yogis might lose all progress in both realms.) |
| 6.39 Themes: Dhyana Yoga | Arjuna seeks Krishna’s answer to clear his doubts about failure. (Arjuna requests clarity on the consequences of failing in spiritual efforts.) |
| 6.40 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | Krishna says no effort in yoga is ever wasted. (Spiritual efforts never go to waste, ensuring progress even in failure.) |
| 6.41 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | A failed yogi is reborn in a good family to continue yoga. (A yogi who fails is reborn favorably to resume their spiritual journey.) |
| 6.42 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | Or, a failed yogi is born in a wise yogi’s family. (Rebirth in a yogic family supports continued spiritual progress for failures.) |
| 6.43 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | Past efforts revive, pushing the yogi toward success. (Previous spiritual efforts carry forward, aiding progress in future lives.) |
| 6.44 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | Past yoga practice naturally draws one to spiritual life. (Prior spiritual efforts instinctively guide one back to yoga’s path.) |
| 6.45 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | With persistent effort, a yogi attains liberation. (Continuous effort in yoga purifies and leads to ultimate liberation.) |
| 6.46 Themes: Karma Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | A yogi surpasses ascetics, scholars, and ritualists. (A disciplined yogi excels beyond those focused on rituals or mere knowledge.) |
| 6.47 Themes: Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | The yogi devoted to Krishna is the highest of all. (Devotion to Krishna makes a yogi supreme among all spiritual practitioners.) |
| 7.1 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna teaches how to know Him fully through devoted yoga. (Devotion and focus on Krishna lead to complete divine understanding.) |
| 7.2 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna shares complete knowledge, leaving nothing more to know. (Krishna’s teachings provide ultimate wisdom, encompassing all spiritual truth.) |
| 7.3 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Few attain the supreme knowledge of Krishna. (True knowledge of Krishna is rare, achieved only by dedicated seekers.) |
| 7.4 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Three Gunas | Krishna’s material nature includes earth, water, fire, and more. (Krishna’s material energy forms the physical world, distinct from His divine nature.) |
| 7.5 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Nature of the Soul | Krishna’s higher, spiritual energy sustains all living beings. (The soul, Krishna’s spiritual energy, enlivens all beings beyond material nature.) |
| 7.6 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | All creation comes from Krishna’s material and spiritual energies. (Krishna’s dual energies—material and spiritual—are the source of all existence.) |
| 7.7 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Nothing is higher than Krishna; all rests upon Him. (Krishna is the supreme foundation, supporting all existence like a thread through pearls.) |
| 7.8 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna is the essence of water, light, and sacred sound. (Krishna’s divine presence pervades essential elements like taste and radiance.) |
| 7.9 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna is the fragrance of earth and brilliance of fire. (Krishna manifests as the subtle qualities in nature, like earth’s scent.) |
| 7.10 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna is the seed of all beings and intelligence of the wise. (Krishna is the source of all life and the wisdom guiding the enlightened.) |
| 7.11 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna is pure strength and desire aligned with dharma. (Krishna embodies righteous strength and desire free from worldly attachment.) |
| 7.12 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Three Gunas | All states of being come from Krishna’s gunas, yet He is beyond them. (The three gunas originate from Krishna, but He remains detached from them.) |
| 7.13 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Three Gunas | The three gunas delude the world, hiding Krishna’s true nature. (The gunas’ illusion prevents people from recognizing Krishna’s divine supremacy.) |
| 7.14 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation, Three Gunas | Surrender to Krishna to cross the delusive gunas. (Devotion to Krishna helps transcend the deceptive influence of the three gunas.) |
| 7.15 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | The foolish and demonic don’t surrender to Krishna. (Ignorant and negative souls reject Krishna, remaining trapped in delusion.) |
| 7.16 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Four types of virtuous people worship Krishna. (Devotees with pure intentions, seeking various goals, worship Krishna sincerely.) |
| 7.17 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | The wise, devoted to Krishna alone, are dearest to Him. (Single-minded devotion to Krishna through wisdom earns His highest favor.) |
| 7.18 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | All devotees are noble, but the wise are Krishna’s own self. (While all devotees are great, the wise, fully devoted, are closest to Krishna.) |
| 7.19 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | After many births, the wise surrender to Krishna as all. (True wisdom, gained over lifetimes, leads to complete surrender to Krishna.) |
| 7.20 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Three Gunas | Those swayed by desires worship lesser gods for quick gains. (Desire-driven worship of lesser deities yields only temporary benefits.) |
| 7.21 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Three Gunas | Krishna strengthens faith in whatever god one worships. (Krishna supports devotees’ faith in any deity, guiding them toward Him.) |
| 7.22 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Three Gunas | Worshipping other gods, devotees get results from Krishna. (Krishna grants the fruits of worship to lesser gods, showing His supremacy.) |
| 7.23 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Three Gunas | Worship of lesser gods gives limited, temporary results. (Seeking lesser deities leads to fleeting gains, unlike Krishna’s eternal rewards.) |
| 7.24 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Three Gunas | Ignorant see Krishna as human, missing His divine nature. (Misunderstanding Krishna’s divine form limits spiritual progress and connection.) |
| 7.25 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Three Gunas | Krishna’s divine form is hidden from the deluded by His power. (Krishna’s divine nature is veiled to those lost in material illusion.) |
| 7.26 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Three Gunas | Krishna knows past, present, and future, but none know Him fully. (Krishna’s omniscient nature surpasses human understanding, inspiring devotion.) |
| 7.27 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Three Gunas | Desire and aversion, born of gunas, delude all beings. (The gunas create duality, clouding minds and obstructing spiritual clarity.) |
| 7.28 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Three Gunas | Virtuous souls, free from duality, worship Krishna purely. (Overcoming duality through virtue enables pure devotion to Krishna.) |
| 7.29 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | Those seeking liberation understand Krishna and the soul. (Knowing Krishna and the soul’s nature leads to freedom from rebirth.) |
| 7.30 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Devotees know Krishna as the source of all at death. (True devotees recognize Krishna’s divine essence, ensuring liberation at death.) |
| 8.1 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Arjuna asks about Brahman, soul, karma, and spiritual terms. (Arjuna seeks definitions of key spiritual concepts to deepen his understanding.) |
| 8.2 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Arjuna asks how Krishna is known at the time of death. (Arjuna questions how to realize Krishna at life’s end for liberation.) |
| 8.3 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Nature of the Soul | Krishna defines Brahman as the supreme, soul as eternal. (Brahman is the ultimate reality, and the soul is its eternal fragment.) |
| 8.4 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Material nature is perishable; Krishna is the divine Person. (Krishna transcends perishable nature as the eternal divine being.) |
| 8.5 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | Remembering Krishna at death leads to His divine abode. (Constant remembrance of Krishna ensures liberation at the time of death.) |
| 8.6 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | Thoughts at death determine one’s next state of being. (The final thoughts at death shape one’s future existence or liberation.) |
| 8.7 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Remember Krishna always while performing your duties. (Combining devotion to Krishna with duty ensures spiritual success.) |
| 8.8 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | Meditating on Krishna leads to reaching Him at death. (Focused meditation on Krishna ensures divine union after death.) |
| 8.9 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | Meditate on Krishna as the all-knowing, eternal divine. (Contemplating Krishna’s divine qualities leads to spiritual liberation.) |
| 8.10 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | With devotion and focus, reach Krishna at death. (Devoted meditation on Krishna at death guarantees divine attainment.) |
| 8.11 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | Krishna explains the eternal path attained through discipline. (Disciplined practice leads to the eternal state of divine liberation.) |
| 8.12 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | Control senses and mind, focusing on Krishna in meditation. (Mastering senses and meditating on Krishna ensures spiritual focus.) |
| 8.13 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | Chanting “Om” while meditating on Krishna leads to liberation. (Chanting the sacred syllable “Om” with devotion ensures divine union.) |
| 8.14 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | Constantly remembering Krishna makes liberation easy. (Unwavering devotion to Krishna simplifies the path to spiritual freedom.) |
| 8.15 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | Devotees reach Krishna’s eternal abode, free from rebirth. (True devotees attain Krishna’s divine realm, escaping the cycle of rebirth.) |
| 8.16 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | All worlds up to Brahma’s are subject to rebirth. (Even higher worlds are temporary, but Krishna’s abode is eternal.) |
| 8.17 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | Krishna explains cosmic cycles of creation and dissolution. (Understanding cosmic time cycles reveals the impermanence of material worlds.) |
| 8.18 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | Beings manifest and dissolve in cosmic day and night. (Creation and dissolution follow cosmic cycles, but Krishna remains eternal.) |
| 8.19 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | Beings are reborn repeatedly, dissolving at cosmic night. (Repeated rebirths occur in cosmic cycles, urging focus on liberation.) |
| 8.20 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | Beyond material nature lies Krishna’s eternal, unmanifest realm. (Krishna’s eternal realm transcends the temporary material world.) |
| 8.21 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | Krishna’s eternal abode, once reached, ends all rebirth. (Attaining Krishna’s divine realm ensures permanent liberation from rebirth.) |
| 8.22 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | Devotion to Krishna leads to His eternal, supreme abode. (Unwavering devotion to Krishna grants access to His eternal realm.) |
| 8.23 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | Krishna explains the times for paths of liberation or rebirth. (The time of death influences whether one attains liberation or rebirth.) |
| 8.24 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | Departing in light, fire, or day leads to liberation. (Dying during auspicious times guides the soul to eternal liberation.) |
| 8.25 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | Departing in darkness, smoke, or night leads to rebirth. (Death during inauspicious times results in continued rebirth in material worlds.) |
| 8.26 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | Two paths—light for liberation, darkness for rebirth—exist eternally. (The paths of liberation and rebirth are eternal, based on one’s spiritual state.) |
| 8.27 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | Knowing these paths, a yogi avoids delusion and seeks liberation. (Understanding life’s paths prevents delusion and guides one to liberation.) |
| 8.28 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | Yogis transcend ritualistic results, attaining supreme liberation. (True yogis surpass temporary gains, achieving eternal spiritual freedom.) |
| 9.1 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | Krishna reveals the supreme secret of devotion to Arjuna. (The secret of devotion to Krishna leads to ultimate spiritual liberation.) |
| 9.2 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | This knowledge is royal, pure, and leads to direct experience. (Krishna’s teachings are supreme, purifying, and grant direct divine realization.) |
| 9.3 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | Without faith in this knowledge, one returns to rebirth. (Lack of faith in Krishna’s wisdom traps one in the cycle of rebirth.) |
| 9.4 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna pervades all, yet remains detached from creation. (Krishna’s omnipresence sustains the universe, yet He transcends it.) |
| 9.5 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna supports all beings but is not contained by them. (Krishna upholds creation without being limited by its material nature.) |
| 9.6 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Like wind in space, beings exist in Krishna without affecting Him. (All beings reside in Krishna, yet His divine nature remains untouched.) |
| 9.7 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna creates and dissolves the universe in cosmic cycles. (Krishna controls creation’s cycles, manifesting and dissolving all beings.) |
| 9.8 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna creates repeatedly using His divine power. (Krishna’s divine energy effortlessly drives the cycle of universal creation.) |
| 9.9 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna remains unattached to His acts of creation. (Krishna’s divine actions are performed without attachment, preserving His freedom.) |
| 9.10 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna’s energy oversees creation, while He remains detached. (Krishna’s divine power governs creation, yet He stays uninvolved.) |
| 9.11 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Ignorant see Krishna as human, missing His divine nature. (Misunderstanding Krishna’s divinity limits one’s spiritual progress.) |
| 9.12 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Divine and Demonic Qualities | Deluded by false hopes, demonic natures worship in vain. (Demonic minds pursue futile goals, missing true devotion to Krishna.) |
| 9.13 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Divine and Demonic Qualities | Great souls, devoted to Krishna, worship Him with divine qualities. (Devotees with divine traits worship Krishna, attaining spiritual greatness.) |
| 9.14 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Devotees constantly glorify Krishna and strive for Him. (True devotees dedicate their lives to praising and serving Krishna.) |
| 9.15 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Some worship Krishna as one, others as diverse or universal. (Devotees worship Krishna in various forms, all leading to divine truth.) |
| 9.16 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna is the ritual, sacrifice, and essence of offerings. (Krishna embodies all aspects of sacred rituals and offerings.) |
| 9.17 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna is the father, mother, and sustainer of the universe. (Krishna is the ultimate source and sustainer of all creation.) |
| 9.18 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna is the goal, sustainer, lord, and eternal witness. (Krishna is the ultimate destination and eternal support of all beings.) |
| 9.19 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna gives heat, rain, and is both immortal and death. (Krishna governs life’s cycles, embodying both creation and destruction.) |
| 9.20 Themes: Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Vedic ritualists gain heaven but return to rebirth. (Ritualistic worship yields temporary rewards, not eternal liberation.) |
| 9.21 Themes: Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | After enjoying heaven, ritualists are reborn on earth. (Temporary heavenly gains lead back to the cycle of rebirth.) |
| 9.22 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | Krishna protects devotees who constantly think of Him without distraction. (Devotees who focus solely on Krishna receive His divine protection and care.) |
| 9.23 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Three Gunas | Even worshippers of other gods indirectly worship Krishna. (Worship of lesser gods ultimately reaches Krishna, the supreme divine source.) |
| 9.24 Themes: Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna is the true enjoyer and lord of all sacrifices. (All sacrifices are ultimately for Krishna, who grants their true results.) |
| 9.25 Themes: Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Three Gunas | Worshippers of gods, ancestors, or spirits reach them, but Krishna’s devotees reach Him. (Devotion to Krishna leads to His eternal abode, unlike worship of lesser beings.) |
| 9.26 Themes: Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna accepts even a leaf, flower, or water offered with devotion. (Sincere devotion in offering even simple things is accepted by Krishna.) |
| 9.27 Themes: Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Offer all actions, eating, or sacrifices to Krishna with devotion. (Performing all actions as offerings to Krishna ensures spiritual purity.) |
| 9.28 Themes: Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | Offering actions to Krishna frees one from karmic bondage. (Surrendering actions to Krishna liberates one from the consequences of karma.) |
| 9.29 Themes: Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna is impartial, but His devotees are especially dear to Him. (While Krishna loves all equally, His devotees hold a special place through devotion.) |
| 9.30 Themes: Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | Even sinners who surrender to Krishna are quickly purified. (Sincere surrender to Krishna redeems even those with a sinful past.) |
| 9.31 Themes: Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | Krishna’s devotees never perish and are swiftly purified. (Devotion to Krishna ensures protection and rapid spiritual purification.) |
| 9.32 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | All, regardless of status, can attain Krishna through devotion. (Krishna’s divine grace is accessible to everyone through sincere devotion.) |
| 9.33 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | Virtuous devotees easily reach Krishna through constant worship. (Righteous souls find Krishna’s divine abode through dedicated devotion.) |
| 9.34 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | Fix your mind on Krishna, serve Him, and reach Him. (Complete devotion to Krishna through mind and actions leads to divine union.) |
| 10.1 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna shares deeper wisdom with Arjuna, His beloved devotee. (Krishna imparts profound divine knowledge to Arjuna out of love.) |
| 10.2 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Neither gods nor sages fully know Krishna’s divine origin. (Krishna’s divine nature is beyond the comprehension of even gods and sages.) |
| 10.3 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | Knowing Krishna as unborn and supreme leads to liberation. (Recognizing Krishna’s eternal divinity frees one from worldly bondage.) |
| 10.4 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Divine and Demonic Qualities | Krishna is the source of intellect, wisdom, and other divine qualities. (All noble qualities like wisdom and truth originate from Krishna’s divine nature.) |
| 10.5 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Divine and Demonic Qualities | Krishna creates virtues like non-violence, patience, and truth. (Krishna is the origin of all virtuous qualities that guide spiritual growth.) |
| 10.6 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | The great sages and Manus were born from Krishna’s mind. (Krishna’s divine will creates enlightened beings who guide humanity.) |
| 10.7 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Knowing Krishna’s glory and yoga leads to unshakeable devotion. (Understanding Krishna’s divine power fosters unwavering devotion and faith.) |
| 10.8 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna is the source of all; wise devotees worship Him. (Recognizing Krishna as the origin of everything inspires true devotion.) |
| 10.9 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Devotees live joyfully, absorbed in Krishna’s thoughts and teachings. (Constant focus on Krishna brings joy and spiritual fulfillment to devotees.) |
| 10.10 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | Krishna gives wisdom to devotees, helping them reach Him. (Krishna grants divine wisdom to devoted souls, guiding them to liberation.) |
| 10.11 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | Krishna destroys ignorance in devotees with the light of wisdom. (Krishna’s divine light dispels ignorance, illuminating the path to truth.) |
| 10.12 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Arjuna praises Krishna as the supreme, eternal divine being. (Arjuna acknowledges Krishna’s supreme divinity, affirming His eternal nature.) |
| 10.13 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Sages and scriptures confirm Krishna’s divine supremacy. (Krishna’s divine status is validated by enlightened sages and sacred texts.) |
| 10.14 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Arjuna accepts Krishna’s words as truth, beyond doubt. (Arjuna fully trusts Krishna’s divine teachings, recognizing their ultimate truth.) |
| 10.15 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna alone knows Himself as the source of all beings. (Only Krishna fully comprehends His own divine nature as creation’s origin.) |
| 10.16 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Arjuna asks Krishna to describe His divine manifestations. (Arjuna seeks to understand Krishna’s infinite divine forms and glories.) |
| 10.17 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Dhyana Yoga | Arjuna asks how to meditate on Krishna’s divine forms. (Arjuna inquires how to contemplate Krishna’s divine presence through meditation.) |
| 10.18 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Arjuna requests more details of Krishna’s divine powers and glories. (Arjuna yearns for a deeper understanding of Krishna’s infinite divine qualities.) |
| 10.19 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna agrees to describe His divine manifestations briefly. (Krishna shares His divine glories to inspire Arjuna’s devotion and awe.) |
| 10.20 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Nature of the Soul | Krishna is the soul in all beings and the universe’s essence. (Krishna resides as the eternal soul within all beings and creation.) |
| 10.21 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna is the sun among luminaries, Vishnu among Adityas. (Krishna manifests as the greatest in celestial and divine forms.) |
| 10.22 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna is the Vedas, mind, and intelligence among faculties. (Krishna embodies the highest spiritual and intellectual essences.) |
| 10.23 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna is Shankara among Rudras and Meru among mountains. (Krishna is the supreme among divine beings and natural wonders.) |
| 10.24 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna is the chief priest, Skanda, and ocean among waters. (Krishna represents the greatest in spiritual, martial, and natural realms.) |
| 10.25 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna is Bhrigu among sages, Om among sounds. (Krishna is the essence of sacred wisdom and divine sound.) |
| 10.26 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna is the Ashwattha tree and Narada among sages. (Krishna manifests as the holiest tree and wisest sage.) |
| 10.27 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna is Uchchaihshravas among horses, Airavata among elephants. (Krishna is the finest among divine creatures, symbolizing His supremacy.) |
| 10.28 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna is the thunderbolt among weapons, Kamadhenu among cows. (Krishna embodies the most powerful and sacred in creation.) |
| 10.29 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna is Varuna among water gods, Yama among controllers. (Krishna is the supreme authority in cosmic and divine governance.) |
| 10.30 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna is Prahlada among demons, time among subduers. (Krishna manifests as the best even among demons and universal forces.) |
| 10.31 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna is the wind, Rama among warriors, and shark among fish. (Krishna is the greatest in natural forces, heroism, and aquatic life.) |
| 10.32 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna is the beginning, middle, and end of all creation. (Krishna encompasses the entire cycle of existence as its divine source.) |
| 10.33 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna is the letter A, eternal time, and the creator Brahma. (Krishna is the essence of language, time, and cosmic creation.) |
| 10.34 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna is death, creation, and feminine qualities like fame. (Krishna embodies both destructive and creative forces, including virtues.) |
| 10.35 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna is the Sama Veda, Gayatri mantra, and Margashirsha month. (Krishna represents the holiest scriptures, mantras, and times.) |
| 10.36 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna is the gambling of cheats and splendor of the splendid. (Krishna is the essence of even cunning and radiant qualities.) |
| 10.37 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna is Krishna among Yadavas, Arjuna among Pandavas. (Krishna manifests as Himself and Arjuna, highlighting their divine bond.) |
| 10.38 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna is the rod of punishers, morality among seekers of victory. (Krishna is the essence of justice and righteousness in all pursuits.) |
| 10.39 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna is the seed of all existence; nothing exists without Him. (Krishna is the origin of all beings, the foundation of existence.) |
| 10.40 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna’s divine manifestations are endless; these are but a few. (Krishna’s infinite glories are only partially described, inspiring awe.) |
| 10.41 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | All splendid and powerful things arise from Krishna’s glory. (Every magnificent creation reflects a fraction of Krishna’s divine power.) |
| 10.42 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna sustains the universe with just a fragment of Himself. (A mere portion of Krishna’s divine essence upholds the entire cosmos.) |
| 11.1 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Arjuna thanks Krishna for clarifying his doubts with divine wisdom. (Arjuna expresses gratitude for Krishna’s teachings, resolving his confusion.) |
| 11.2 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Arjuna acknowledges Krishna’s explanation of His divine origin. (Arjuna accepts Krishna’s eternal, divine nature as the source of all.) |
| 11.3 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Arjuna requests to see Krishna’s divine cosmic form. (Arjuna seeks to witness Krishna’s universal form to deepen his understanding.) |
| 11.4 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Arjuna asks to behold Krishna’s divine form if he is worthy. (Arjuna humbly requests to see Krishna’s cosmic form, trusting His grace.) |
| 11.5 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna invites Arjuna to see His countless divine forms. (Krishna prepares to reveal His infinite divine manifestations to Arjuna.) |
| 11.6 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna tells Arjuna to see all gods and beings in His form. (Krishna’s cosmic form encompasses all deities and existence, awe-inspiring Arjuna.) |
| 11.7 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna says His form contains the entire universe. (Krishna’s universal form embodies the whole cosmos, revealing His supremacy.) |
| 11.8 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna grants Arjuna divine eyes to see His cosmic form. (Krishna bestows divine vision on Arjuna to behold His infinite glory.) |
| 11.9 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Sanjaya describes Krishna revealing His cosmic form to Arjuna. (Sanjaya narrates Krishna’s awe-inspiring revelation of His universal form.) |
| 11.10 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna’s form has infinite faces, ornaments, and divine splendor. (Krishna’s cosmic form dazzles with limitless beauty and divine attributes.) |
| 11.11 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna’s form is radiant, universal, and adorned with divine weapons. (Krishna’s cosmic form shines with infinite radiance and divine power.) |
| 11.12 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna’s form is brighter than a thousand suns. (The brilliance of Krishna’s cosmic form surpasses all worldly light.) |
| 11.13 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Arjuna sees the entire universe within Krishna’s form. (Krishna’s form contains all creation, revealing His all-encompassing divinity.) |
| 11.14 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Arjuna, awestruck, bows to Krishna’s divine form. (Overwhelmed by Krishna’s glory, Arjuna reveres His cosmic manifestation.) |
| 11.15 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Arjuna sees all gods, beings, and Brahma in Krishna’s form. (Krishna’s form includes all divine and mortal beings, affirming His supremacy.) |
| 11.16 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna’s form has infinite arms, eyes, and boundless wonder. (Krishna’s cosmic form is limitless, filled with infinite divine features.) |
| 11.17 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Arjuna sees Krishna’s radiant form with divine ornaments and weapons. (Krishna’s dazzling cosmic form, armed and adorned, inspires awe.) |
| 11.18 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Arjuna calls Krishna the eternal, supreme goal of all. (Arjuna recognizes Krishna as the ultimate divine reality and goal.) |
| 11.19 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna’s form is infinite, radiant, and all-powerful. (Krishna’s boundless cosmic form embodies infinite power and glory.) |
| 11.20 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna’s form fills the heavens and earth, amazing all. (Krishna’s universal form spans creation, astonishing all who behold it.) |
| 11.21 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Gods and sages praise Krishna, awestruck by His form. (Divine beings and sages revere Krishna’s cosmic form with devotion.) |
| 11.22 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | All celestial beings gaze at Krishna’s form in wonder. (Krishna’s cosmic form captivates all divine beings with its grandeur.) |
| 11.23 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Arjuna is amazed and terrified by Krishna’s vast form. (Krishna’s immense cosmic form evokes both awe and fear in Arjuna.) |
| 11.24 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna’s radiant, infinite form overwhelms Arjuna with fear. (The overwhelming brilliance of Krishna’s form unsettles Arjuna’s heart.) |
| 11.25 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Seeing Krishna’s fierce form, Arjuna pleads for mercy. (Krishna’s terrifying cosmic form prompts Arjuna to seek divine compassion.) |
| 11.26 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Arjuna sees warriors rushing into Krishna’s fiery mouths. (Krishna’s form as time devours warriors, revealing His destructive power.) |
| 11.27 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Warriors enter Krishna’s mouths, crushed like moths in fire. (Krishna’s cosmic form annihilates warriors, symbolizing time’s relentless force.) |
| 11.28 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Like rivers into the ocean, beings rush to Krishna’s mouths. (Krishna’s form irresistibly draws all beings, like rivers to the sea.) |
| 11.29 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Arjuna compares beings entering Krishna’s form to moths in flame. (Krishna’s cosmic form consumes all, like flames devouring moths.) |
| 11.30 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna’s blazing mouths devour worlds, filling space with radiance. (Krishna’s form, as time, engulfs creation with its fiery brilliance.) |
| 11.31 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Arjuna, trembling, asks Krishna who He truly is. (Arjuna seeks to understand the terrifying divine identity of Krishna’s form.) |
| 11.32 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna declares Himself as time, destroyer of all worlds. (Krishna reveals Himself as the unstoppable force of time, destroying everything.) |
| 11.33 Themes: Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna urges Arjuna to fight, as the warriors are already doomed. (Krishna assures Arjuna that his enemies are fated to perish, so he must act.) |
| 11.34 Themes: Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna tells Arjuna to fight, as Bhishma and others will fall. (Krishna confirms the destined fall of great warriors, urging Arjuna to fight.) |
| 11.35 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Sanjaya describes Arjuna trembling and bowing to Krishna. (Arjuna’s awe and reverence reflect his recognition of Krishna’s divine power.) |
| 11.36 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Arjuna praises Krishna as the supreme lord of all creation. (Arjuna glorifies Krishna as the ultimate divine ruler of the universe.) |
| 11.37 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Arjuna calls Krishna the imperishable source of all beings. (Krishna is the eternal origin, beyond destruction, revered by all.) |
| 11.38 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Arjuna declares Krishna the primal God and infinite truth. (Krishna is the original divine being and the embodiment of eternal truth.) |
| 11.39 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Arjuna hails Krishna as the lord of gods and universe. (Krishna is the supreme lord, governing all deities and creation.) |
| 11.40 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Arjuna bows to Krishna’s infinite form, pervading all directions. (Krishna’s all-encompassing form deserves reverence from every direction.) |
| 11.41 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Arjuna apologizes for treating Krishna casually, unaware of His divinity. (Arjuna seeks forgiveness for his familiarity, now seeing Krishna’s divine nature.) |
| 11.42 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Arjuna regrets any disrespect shown to Krishna in jest. (Arjuna humbly asks pardon for past informalities, recognizing Krishna’s divinity.) |
| 11.43 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Arjuna calls Krishna the supreme, unmatched father of all. (Krishna is the unparalleled divine source, revered above all creation.) |
| 11.44 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Arjuna surrenders and seeks mercy for his past mistakes. (Arjuna’s surrender to Krishna seeks divine compassion for his errors.) |
| 11.45 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Arjuna, awed and afraid, asks to see Krishna’s human form. (Overwhelmed by the cosmic form, Arjuna requests Krishna’s familiar form.) |
| 11.46 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Arjuna wishes to see Krishna’s four-armed divine form. (Arjuna longs for Krishna’s gentler, divine four-armed form for comfort.) |
| 11.47 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna says His cosmic form is rare, shown only to Arjuna. (Krishna’s cosmic form is a rare divine revelation granted to Arjuna.) |
| 11.48 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | No one else can see Krishna’s cosmic form through rituals. (Krishna’s universal form is exclusive, beyond ordinary spiritual practices.) |
| 11.49 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna tells Arjuna not to fear His cosmic form. (Krishna reassures Arjuna to remain calm despite His overwhelming form.) |
| 11.50 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna shows His four-armed form, then His human form. (Krishna transitions to gentler forms to comfort Arjuna’s awe-struck heart.) |
| 11.51 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Arjuna is relieved to see Krishna’s familiar human form. (Krishna’s human form restores Arjuna’s peace after the cosmic vision.) |
| 11.52 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna says His human form is rarely seen, even by gods. (Krishna’s divine human form is a rare privilege, even for divine beings.) |
| 11.53 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Rituals or study alone cannot reveal Krishna’s divine form. (Krishna’s true form is seen only through devotion, not mere rituals.) |
| 11.54 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | Only pure devotion reveals Krishna’s true divine form. (Unwavering devotion is the key to beholding Krishna’s divine essence.) |
| 11.55 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | Devotion, selfless action, and purity lead to Krishna’s abode. (Devoting all actions to Krishna with purity ensures divine union.) |
| 12.1 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Arjuna asks whether worshipping Krishna’s form or the formless is better. (Arjuna seeks clarity on whether personal or impersonal worship is superior.) |
| 12.2 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | Krishna says devotees of His personal form are the best. (Worshipping Krishna’s personal form with devotion is the highest path.) |
| 12.3 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | Those who worship the formless Brahman also reach Krishna. (Impersonal worship of Brahman ultimately leads to Krishna’s divine abode.) |
| 12.4 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | Disciplined worshippers of the formless attain Krishna with effort. (Impersonal worship requires great discipline but still leads to Krishna.) |
| 12.5 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | Impersonal worship is harder than devotion to Krishna’s form. (Worshipping the formless is more challenging than devoted love for Krishna.) |
| 12.6 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | Devotees who surrender to Krishna are quickly saved by Him. (Complete surrender to Krishna ensures swift divine protection and liberation.) |
| 12.7 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | Krishna delivers His devotees from the ocean of rebirth. (Krishna rescues devotees from the cycle of birth and death.) |
| 12.8 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | Fix your mind on Krishna and live in Him always. (Constant focus on Krishna ensures eternal union with the divine.) |
| 12.9 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Dhyana Yoga | If unable to fix the mind, practice disciplined devotion to Krishna. (Regular practice of devotion helps those struggling to focus on Krishna.) |
| 12.10 Themes: Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | If practice is hard, perform actions for Krishna’s sake. (Offering actions to Krishna fosters devotion when meditation is difficult.) |
| 12.11 Themes: Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Dhyana Yoga | If unable to act for Krishna, renounce results with self-control. (Renouncing action’s fruits with discipline is a step toward devotion.) |
| 12.12 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | Knowledge is better than practice; meditation surpasses knowledge. (Meditation, building on knowledge and practice, leads to spiritual peace.) |
| 12.13 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Divine and Demonic Qualities | A devotee with compassion and equanimity is dear to Krishna. (Compassionate and balanced devotees are deeply cherished by Krishna.) |
| 12.14 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Divine and Demonic Qualities | A content, steady devotee is very dear to Krishna. (Devotees who are content and unwavering earn Krishna’s special love.) |
| 12.15 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Divine and Demonic Qualities | A devotee who harms no one and stays balanced is dear to Krishna. (Non-harming and equanimous devotees are highly valued by Krishna.) |
| 12.16 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Divine and Demonic Qualities | A selfless, pure devotee is especially dear to Krishna. (Purity and selflessness in devotion make one exceptionally close to Krishna.) |
| 12.17 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Divine and Demonic Qualities | A devotee unmoved by joy or sorrow is dear to Krishna. (Devotees who remain steady amidst life’s dualities are beloved by Krishna.) |
| 12.18 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Divine and Demonic Qualities | A devotee equal to friend and foe is dear to Krishna. (Treating all equally with a devoted heart earns Krishna’s affection.) |
| 12.19 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Divine and Demonic Qualities | A devotee beyond praise or blame is dear to Krishna. (Devotees who transcend worldly judgments are deeply cherished by Krishna.) |
| 12.20 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | Devotees who follow Krishna’s teachings with faith are dearest. (Faithful adherence to Krishna’s divine teachings makes devotees most beloved.) |
| 13.1 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga | Arjuna asks about the field, knower, knowledge, and the knowable. (Arjuna seeks understanding of the body, soul, and spiritual knowledge.) |
| 13.2 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga | Krishna says the body is the field, the soul is its knower. (The body is the field of action, and the soul is its conscious knower.) |
| 13.3 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga | True knowledge is understanding the field and its knower. (Knowing the body and soul’s relationship is the essence of true wisdom.) |
| 13.4 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga | Krishna will explain the field and knower in detail. (Krishna promises to clarify the nature of body, soul, and their interaction.) |
| 13.5 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga | Sages describe the field in various ways through scriptures. (Scriptures and sages explain the body’s nature in diverse, profound ways.) |
| 13.6 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga | The field includes elements, senses, mind, and their modifications. (The body comprises physical elements, senses, and mental faculties.) |
| 13.7 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga | Humility, non-violence, and purity are true knowledge. (Virtues like humility and purity constitute the essence of spiritual knowledge.) |
| 13.8 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga | Qualities like self-control and detachment define true knowledge. (Disciplined qualities such as detachment are hallmarks of spiritual wisdom.) |
| 13.9 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga | Patience, honesty, and service to the guru are knowledge. (Virtues like patience and guru service embody true spiritual understanding.) |
| 13.10 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga | Devotion to God and solitude are parts of knowledge. (Single-minded devotion and solitude foster deep spiritual wisdom.) |
| 13.11 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga | Constant pursuit of truth and liberation is true knowledge. (Seeking truth and liberation persistently defines genuine spiritual knowledge.) |
| 13.12 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga | The knowable is Brahman, eternal and beyond cause and effect. (Brahman, the eternal truth, transcends all material causes and effects.) |
| 13.13 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga | Brahman is without beginning, neither being nor non-being. (Brahman’s infinite nature exists beyond all definitions of existence.) |
| 13.14 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga | Brahman has hands, eyes, and senses everywhere, all-pervading. (Brahman’s omnipresence manifests through infinite senses and faculties.) |
| 13.15 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga | Brahman exists beyond senses, yet supports all existence. (Brahman, detached yet all-supporting, transcends sensory perception.) |
| 13.16 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga | Brahman is within and beyond all, moving and unmoving. (Brahman pervades all creation, existing as both dynamic and static.) |
| 13.17 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga | Brahman is subtle, indivisible, and the light of all lights. (Brahman, the subtlest essence, illuminates all as the supreme light.) |
| 13.18 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Liberation | Knowing Brahman as the field and knower brings liberation. (Understanding Brahman and the soul grants freedom from worldly bondage.) |
| 13.19 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Both material nature and the soul are eternal, from Krishna. (Material nature and the soul, both eternal, originate from Krishna’s divine energy.) |
| 13.20 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Material nature causes actions; the soul experiences their results. (Nature drives actions, while the soul bears the consequences of joy and sorrow.) |
| 13.21 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | The soul, in material nature, is bound by the three gunas. (The soul’s interaction with gunas causes attachment and worldly experiences.) |
| 13.22 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Three Gunas | The soul, a fragment of Krishna, enjoys or suffers due to gunas. (As Krishna’s fragment, the soul experiences life’s dualities through gunas.) |
| 13.23 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | The supreme soul, within all, witnesses and supports creation. (Krishna, as the supreme soul, observes and sustains all beings impartially.) |
| 13.24 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga, Liberation | Knowing the soul through meditation or devotion leads to liberation. (Understanding the soul via disciplined practices ensures spiritual freedom.) |
| 13.25 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | Some realize the soul through meditation, others through knowledge. (Different paths like meditation and knowledge lead to soul realization.) |
| 13.26 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga | Others attain the soul through selfless action and devotion. (Selfless action and devotion also guide one to realize the soul.) |
| 13.27 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | The supreme soul is equally present in all beings. (Krishna’s supreme soul resides equally in all, uniting creation in divinity.) |
| 13.28 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | Seeing Krishna in all beings leads to liberation. (Recognizing Krishna’s presence in all frees one from worldly bondage.) |
| 13.29 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Liberation | One who sees all actions as nature’s work attains Brahman. (Understanding actions as nature’s doing leads to divine realization.) |
| 13.30 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Liberation | The soul is separate from nature’s actions, eternal and pure. (The soul remains untouched by material actions, eternal in its purity.) |
| 13.31 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Liberation | The soul, indivisible and eternal, is beyond the body’s actions. (The soul’s unchanging nature transcends the body’s temporary actions.) |
| 13.32 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Liberation | Like space, the soul is subtle and unaffected by matter. (The soul, like infinite space, remains pure despite material contact.) |
| 13.33 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga | The soul illuminates the body, like the sun lights the world. (The soul enlivens the body, just as the sun illuminates the universe.) |
| 13.34 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Liberation | Knowing the soul’s distinction from the body leads to liberation. (Understanding the soul’s separation from matter ensures spiritual freedom.) |
| 14.1 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Three Gunas | Krishna shares supreme knowledge about the three gunas. (Knowledge of the gunas leads to the highest spiritual wisdom.) |
| 14.2 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Three Gunas, Liberation | Knowing the gunas and devotion leads to eternal liberation. (Understanding gunas through devotion grants eternal freedom from rebirth.) |
| 14.3 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Three Gunas | Krishna’s material energy creates all beings through Brahman. (Krishna’s divine energy, through material nature, produces all life.) |
| 14.4 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Three Gunas | Krishna is the father, material nature the mother of all beings. (Krishna, as the divine seed, and nature, as the womb, create all existence.) |
| 14.5 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | The three gunas—Sattva, Rajas, Tamas—bind the soul to the body. (The gunas entangle the eternal soul in the material body’s cycle.) |
| 14.6 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Sattva brings purity and happiness but binds through attachment. (Sattva promotes clarity and joy but can still bind through attachment.) |
| 14.7 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Rajas, born of desire, binds through passion and action. (Rajas drives passionate actions, binding the soul to material desires.) |
| 14.8 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Tamas, born of ignorance, deludes and binds through inertia. (Tamas causes delusion and laziness, trapping the soul in ignorance.) |
| 14.9 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Each guna—Sattva, Rajas, Tamas—binds in its own way. (The gunas each bind the soul differently, through happiness, action, or ignorance.) |
| 14.10 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | One guna dominates at a time, overpowering the others. (The three gunas compete, with one prevailing to influence behavior.) |
| 14.11 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Sattva brings light and wisdom through the body’s senses. (Sattva manifests as clarity and knowledge in the body’s faculties.) |
| 14.12 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Rajas brings greed, restlessness, and desire for action. (Rajas fuels ambition and restlessness, driving material pursuits.) |
| 14.13 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Tamas causes ignorance, laziness, and delusion in actions. (Tamas leads to negligence and confusion, hindering spiritual progress.) |
| 14.14 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas, Liberation | Dying in Sattva leads to higher, pure realms. (A Sattvic death results in rebirth in enlightened, pure worlds.) |
| 14.15 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas, Liberation | Dying in Rajas or Tamas leads to lower rebirths. (Death under Rajas or Tamas results in rebirth in lower, ignorant states.) |
| 14.16 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Sattvic actions yield purity, Rajas pain, Tamas ignorance. (Actions driven by gunas produce corresponding results of purity, pain, or ignorance.) |
| 14.17 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Sattva brings knowledge, Rajas greed, Tamas delusion. (Each guna shapes the mind, leading to wisdom, desire, or ignorance.) |
| 14.18 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas, Liberation | Sattva leads upward, Rajas stays worldly, Tamas falls lower. (Sattva elevates, Rajas binds to earth, and Tamas degrades the soul.) |
| 14.19 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Transcending gunas leads to realizing Krishna as the source. (Seeing beyond gunas reveals Krishna as the origin of all existence.) |
| 14.20 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas, Liberation | Transcending gunas frees one from birth, death, and suffering. (Overcoming the gunas liberates the soul from the cycle of rebirth.) |
| 14.21 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Arjuna asks how to recognize one who transcends the gunas. (Arjuna seeks the traits of a person who rises above the three gunas.) |
| 14.22 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas, Liberation | A transcendental person is unmoved by the gunas’ effects. (One beyond gunas remains unaffected by their influence on actions.) |
| 14.23 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas, Liberation | Such a person stays steady, treating all gunas equally. (Equanimity amidst gunas marks a person who transcends their influence.) |
| 14.24 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas, Liberation | They remain balanced in pleasure, pain, and all dualities. (A transcendental person stays even-minded, untouched by life’s opposites.) |
| 14.25 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas, Liberation | They are equal to praise, blame, and material conditions. (Transcending gunas means indifference to worldly judgments and circumstances.) |
| 14.26 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Three Gunas, Liberation, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Devotion to Krishna transcends the gunas, leading to liberation. (Unwavering devotion to Krishna frees one from the gunas’ bondage.) |
| 14.27 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | Krishna is the foundation of Brahman and eternal truth. (Krishna is the ultimate source of eternal reality and spiritual liberation.) |
| 15.1 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | The world is like an inverted tree with Krishna as its root. (The material world, rooted in Krishna, is a temporary, inverted reflection.) |
| 15.2 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Three Gunas | The tree’s branches, fed by gunas, spread through desires. (Gunas and desires entangle souls in the material world’s branches.) |
| 15.3 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | Cut this tree with detachment to seek the supreme goal. (Detachment severs worldly ties, guiding one to Krishna’s eternal realm.) |
| 15.4 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | Surrender to Krishna to reach His eternal, supreme abode. (Surrendering to Krishna leads to His divine, permanent spiritual realm.) |
| 15.5 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | Humility, freedom from duality, and devotion lead to liberation. (Virtues and devotion to Krishna free one from material entanglement.) |
| 15.6 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | Krishna’s abode, beyond sun or fire, is eternal and unreturning. (Krishna’s divine realm, beyond material light, is the eternal destination.) |
| 15.7 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | The soul, a part of Krishna, is deluded by material nature. (As Krishna’s fragment, the soul is trapped by material illusion.) |
| 15.8 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga | The soul carries senses and mind from one body to another. (The soul transfers subtle faculties across lifetimes, shaping experiences.) |
| 15.9 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | The soul uses senses to experience the material world. (The soul engages with the world through senses, driven by gunas.) |
| 15.10 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga | The deluded don’t see the soul moving through bodies. (Ignorance blinds one to the soul’s journey through material existence.) |
| 15.11 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Dhyana Yoga | Yogis with effort see the soul; the impure cannot. (Disciplined yogis realize the soul, while the impure remain ignorant.) |
| 15.12 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna is the light in the sun, moon, and fire. (Krishna’s divine energy illuminates all celestial and natural light sources.) |
| 15.13 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna sustains the earth and nourishes plants with His energy. (Krishna’s divine power upholds the earth and supports all life.) |
| 15.14 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna, as digestive fire, helps beings assimilate food. (Krishna enables life by powering digestion within all beings.) |
| 15.15 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna resides in all hearts, granting memory and knowledge. (Krishna, in every heart, is the source of memory, knowledge, and forgetfulness.) |
| 15.16 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Two beings exist: perishable (body) and imperishable (soul). (The perishable body and imperishable soul are distinct in creation.) |
| 15.17 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna, the supreme Person, transcends both perishable and imperishable. (Krishna, as the ultimate divine Person, surpasses all existence.) |
| 15.18 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna is the supreme Person, celebrated in scriptures. (Krishna’s supremacy as the divine Person is affirmed by sacred texts.) |
| 15.19 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | Knowing Krishna as supreme leads to pure devotion. (Recognizing Krishna’s divine supremacy fosters complete devotion and liberation.) |
| 15.20 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | This supreme knowledge fulfills all spiritual duties. (Understanding Krishna’s truth completes one’s spiritual purpose and duties.) |
| 16.1 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas, Divine and Demonic Qualities | Krishna lists divine qualities like fearlessness and purity. (Divine qualities like fearlessness and purity guide one toward liberation.) |
| 16.2 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas, Divine and Demonic Qualities | Non-violence, truth, and humility are divine qualities. (Virtues such as non-violence and humility mark a divine nature.) |
| 16.3 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas, Divine and Demonic Qualities | Charity, self-control, and austerity are divine traits. (Practicing charity and self-discipline reflects a divine, virtuous nature.) |
| 16.4 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Divine and Demonic Qualities | Pride, arrogance, and anger are demonic qualities. (Demonic traits like pride and anger lead to spiritual degradation.) |
| 16.5 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Divine and Demonic Qualities, Liberation | Divine qualities lead to liberation; demonic ones to bondage. (Divine traits free the soul, while demonic ones bind it to suffering.) |
| 16.6 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Divine and Demonic Qualities | Two types of beings exist: divine and demonic. (Creation is divided into divine and demonic natures, shaping destinies.) |
| 16.7 Themes: Divine and Demonic Qualities | Demonic beings ignore dharma and live without morality. (Demonic natures reject righteousness, leading to chaotic, immoral lives.) |
| 16.8 Themes: Divine and Demonic Qualities | Demonic people deny truth, claiming the world is unreal. (Demonic minds reject divine truth, seeing the world as purposeless.) |
| 16.9 Themes: Divine and Demonic Qualities | Demonic views destroy the self and harm the world. (False beliefs of demonic natures cause personal and societal ruin.) |
| 16.10 Themes: Divine and Demonic Qualities | Demonic people are filled with insatiable desires and hypocrisy. (Endless desires and deceit define the destructive demonic mindset.) |
| 16.11 Themes: Divine and Demonic Qualities | Demonic minds chase desires, ignoring liberation until death. (Obsession with desires blinds demonic souls to spiritual liberation.) |
| 16.12 Themes: Divine and Demonic Qualities | Bound by desires, demonic people fall into delusion. (Demonic natures, trapped by desires, sink deeper into illusion.) |
| 16.13 Themes: Divine and Demonic Qualities | Demonic people boast of wealth and power, deluded by ego. (Ego-driven boasting about material gains marks demonic delusion.) |
| 16.14 Themes: Divine and Demonic Qualities | Demonic minds revel in power, pride, and destruction. (Pride in power and harm defines the demonic, destructive nature.) |
| 16.15 Themes: Divine and Demonic Qualities | Demonic people believe wealth makes them unmatched. (Deluded by wealth, demonic souls think they are invincible.) |
| 16.16 Themes: Divine and Demonic Qualities | Lost in desires, they fall into hellish suffering. (Obsessive desires lead demonic souls to suffering and ruin.) |
| 16.17 Themes: Divine and Demonic Qualities | Arrogant and proud, demonic people mock sacred rituals. (Demonic arrogance scorns spiritual practices, deepening their delusion.) |
| 16.18 Themes: Divine and Demonic Qualities, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Ego-driven, demonic people despise Krishna in all beings. (Demonic ego rejects Krishna’s divine presence, fostering hatred.) |
| 16.19 Themes: Divine and Demonic Qualities, Liberation | Krishna casts demonic souls into lower, suffering births. (Demonic natures face repeated rebirths in lower, painful existences.) |
| 16.20 Themes: Divine and Demonic Qualities, Liberation | Demonic souls, far from Krishna, sink to lower states. (Rejecting Krishna, demonic beings fall into degraded, suffering realms.) |
| 16.21 Themes: Divine and Demonic Qualities | Lust, anger, and greed are gates to self-destruction. (The three vices—lust, anger, greed—lead to spiritual ruin.) |
| 16.22 Themes: Divine and Demonic Qualities, Liberation | Avoiding lust, anger, and greed leads to liberation. (Shunning destructive vices ensures spiritual progress and freedom.) |
| 16.23 Themes: Divine and Demonic Qualities, Liberation | Ignoring scriptures leads to neither success nor liberation. (Disregarding scriptural guidance prevents spiritual and worldly success.) |
| 16.24 Themes: Divine and Demonic Qualities | Follow scriptures to know and perform your duties. (Scriptures guide rightful duties, leading to spiritual and moral clarity.) |
| 17.1 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Arjuna asks about worship done without scriptural guidance. (Arjuna questions the fate of actions performed without scriptural authority.) |
| 17.2 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Krishna says faith is shaped by the three gunas. (Human faith varies according to the influence of Sattva, Rajas, or Tamas.) |
| 17.3 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Faith reflects one’s nature, shaped by the gunas. (A person’s faith mirrors their character, determined by the dominant guna.) |
| 17.4 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Sattva worships gods, Rajas demigods, Tamas ghosts. (Worship reflects gunas: Sattva seeks gods, Rajas power, Tamas spirits.) |
| 17.5 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas, Divine and Demonic Qualities | Austerity without scriptures, driven by ego, is demonic. (Harsh, ego-driven austerities without guidance harm rather than uplift.) |
| 17.6 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas, Divine and Demonic Qualities, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Torturing the body or Krishna within is demonic. (Harming the body or soul disrespects Krishna, reflecting demonic nature.) |
| 17.7 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Food preferences vary by gunas—Sattva, Rajas, or Tamas. (Dietary choices reflect the gunas, influencing spiritual and physical health.) |
| 17.8 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Sattvic food is pure, promoting health and clarity. (Pure, wholesome food supports Sattvic qualities and spiritual growth.) |
| 17.9 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Rajasic food is bitter, spicy, causing pain and unrest. (Overly stimulating food fuels Rajasic tendencies, leading to restlessness.) |
| 17.10 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Tamasic food is stale, impure, and harms health. (Stale or impure food fosters Tamasic ignorance and spiritual decline.) |
| 17.11 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Sattvic sacrifice is offered with faith, without desire. (Selfless sacrifices, done with faith, reflect Sattvic purity and devotion.) |
| 17.12 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Rajasic sacrifice seeks rewards and is done for show. (Sacrifices driven by desire or pride are Rajasic, yielding temporary gains.) |
| 17.13 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Tamasic sacrifice ignores scriptures and lacks faith. (Sacrifices without faith or guidance are Tamasic, spiritually ineffective.) |
| 17.14 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Physical austerity includes purity, non-violence, and worship. (Sattvic physical discipline involves purity, kindness, and devotion to God.) |
| 17.15 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Verbal austerity is truthful, kind, and uplifting speech. (Speaking truth kindly and scripturally reflects Sattvic verbal discipline.) |
| 17.16 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Mental austerity is serenity, purity, and self-control. (A disciplined, pure, and serene mind embodies Sattvic mental austerity.) |
| 17.17 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Sattvic austerity is performed with faith, without desire. (Selfless austerity, done with faith, uplifts spiritually without seeking rewards.) |
| 17.18 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Rajasic austerity is done for praise or material gain. (Austerity seeking recognition or rewards is Rajasic, spiritually limited.) |
| 17.19 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Tamasic austerity harms self or others through ignorance. (Ignorant, harmful austerity reflects Tamasic nature, causing spiritual harm.) |
| 17.20 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Sattvic charity is given selflessly to the deserving. (Giving without expectation to worthy recipients is pure Sattvic charity.) |
| 17.21 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Rajasic charity seeks reward or is given grudgingly. (Charity given for gain or reluctantly is tainted by Rajasic motives.) |
| 17.22 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Tamasic charity is given to unworthy, at wrong times. (Misguided charity, without respect or timing, is Tamasic and fruitless.) |
| 17.23 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | “Om Tat Sat” signifies truth in spiritual actions. (The mantra “Om Tat Sat” sanctifies actions, aligning them with divine truth.) |
| 17.24 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Sattvic actions begin with chanting “Om” for divine connection. (Chanting “Om” in sacrifices connects actions to the divine truth.) |
| 17.25 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | “Tat” signifies actions offered to Brahman without desire. (Offering actions to Brahman with “Tat” ensures selfless spiritual practice.) |
| 17.26 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | “Sat” denotes truth, goodness, and divine reality. (The term “Sat” reflects eternal truth and goodness in spiritual acts.) |
| 17.27 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Faith in “Sat” makes sacrifices and austerities divine. (Steadfast faith in divine truth sanctifies all spiritual endeavors.) |
| 17.28 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Actions without faith are “Asat,” yielding no spiritual fruit. (Faithless actions, labeled “Asat,” lack spiritual value or benefit.) |
| 18.1 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga | Arjuna asks the difference between renunciation and surrender. (Arjuna seeks clarity on renunciation versus complete surrender to Krishna.) |
| 18.2 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga | Krishna defines renunciation as giving up desire-driven actions. (True renunciation involves abandoning actions motivated by selfish desires.) |
| 18.3 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga | Some say all actions should be renounced; others disagree. (Opinions differ on whether all actions or only desires should be renounced.) |
| 18.4 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga | Krishna will explain the truth about renunciation clearly. (Krishna promises to clarify the true nature of renunciation for Arjuna.) |
| 18.5 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga | Sacrifice, charity, and austerity should not be abandoned. (Sacred acts like sacrifice and charity are essential for spiritual purification.) |
| 18.6 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga | Perform these acts selflessly, without attachment to results. (Selfless performance of sacred duties ensures spiritual growth without bondage.) |
| 18.7 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Renouncing prescribed duties is Tamasic and unwise. (Abandoning rightful duties due to ignorance is spiritually harmful.) |
| 18.8 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Renouncing duties due to difficulty is Rajasic and flawed. (Avoiding duties out of discomfort reflects Rajasic weakness, not true renunciation.) |
| 18.9 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Sattvic renunciation is performing duties without attachment. (True renunciation is fulfilling duties selflessly, free from desire for results.) |
| 18.10 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | A Sattvic renunciant is steady, free from doubt. (A pure renunciant acts with clarity, unaffected by doubts or desires.) |
| 18.11 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Complete renunciation of action is impossible; detach from results. (Since action is inevitable, true renunciation lies in abandoning attachment to outcomes.) |
| 18.12 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation | Results of actions—good, bad, mixed—affect the unenlightened. (Unenlightened souls face varied karmic results, unlike the liberated.) |
| 18.13 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga | Five factors cause all actions, as per Sankhya philosophy. (All actions arise from five elements—body, agent, senses, efforts, and destiny.) |
| 18.14 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga | Body, agent, senses, effort, and divinity drive actions. (Actions result from a combination of physical, mental, and divine factors.) |
| 18.15 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga | All actions, physical or mental, stem from these five factors. (Every human action, bodily or mental, arises from these five causes.) |
| 18.16 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga | Ignorance makes one think the soul is the doer. (Misunderstanding the soul’s non-doership causes ego-driven action.) |
| 18.17 Themes: Nature of the Soul, Jnana Yoga, Liberation | Knowing the soul is not the doer frees one from karma. (Realizing the soul’s detachment from actions liberates one from karmic bonds.) |
| 18.18 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga | Knowledge, object, and knower form the basis of action. (Actions are driven by the interplay of knowledge, its object, and the knower.) |
| 18.19 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Knowledge, action, and agent vary by the three gunas. (The gunas shape the nature of knowledge, actions, and the doer.) |
| 18.20 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Sattvic knowledge sees the one indivisible truth in all. (Sattvic knowledge recognizes the unity of all beings in divine truth.) |
| 18.21 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Rajasic knowledge sees separate entities in all beings. (Rajasic knowledge fragments reality, perceiving beings as disconnected.) |
| 18.22 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Tamasic knowledge clings to one object, missing the whole. (Tamasic knowledge, narrow and ignorant, fixates on a single, limited truth.) |
| 18.23 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Sattvic action is selfless, performed without attachment. (Selfless, duty-bound actions without desire reflect Sattvic purity.) |
| 18.24 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Rajasic action is driven by desire and effort. (Actions fueled by ambition and desire are Rajasic, binding the doer.) |
| 18.25 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Tamasic action is reckless, ignoring consequences or ability. (Ignorant, careless actions without regard for outcomes are Tamasic.) |
| 18.26 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | A Sattvic agent is free from attachment and ego. (A Sattvic doer acts selflessly, unaffected by pride or outcomes.) |
| 18.27 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | A Rajasic agent seeks rewards and is swayed by emotions. (Rajasic doers act for gain, driven by passion and ego.) |
| 18.28 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | A Tamasic agent is lazy, careless, and deluded. (Tamasic doers act ignorantly, marked by negligence and delusion.) |
| 18.29 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Krishna explains intellect and determination by gunas. (Intellect and resolve are shaped by the influence of the three gunas.) |
| 18.30 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas, Liberation | Sattvic intellect discerns right from wrong, leading to liberation. (Sattvic intellect clearly distinguishes duty and truth, guiding liberation.) |
| 18.31 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Rajasic intellect confuses dharma with adharma. (Rajasic intellect misjudges right and wrong, leading to flawed decisions.) |
| 18.32 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Tamasic intellect mistakes wrong for right, steeped in ignorance. (Tamasic intellect, clouded by ignorance, reverses truth and falsehood.) |
| 18.33 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Sattvic determination is steady, focused on divine truth. (Sattvic resolve remains unwavering, focused on spiritual goals through discipline.) |
| 18.34 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Rajasic determination seeks wealth, pleasure, and status. (Rajasic resolve pursues material goals, binding one to worldly desires.) |
| 18.35 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Tamasic determination clings to fear, laziness, or delusion. (Tamasic resolve is marked by ignorance, fear, and stubborn inaction.) |
| 18.36 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Krishna describes happiness derived from the three gunas. (Happiness varies by gunas, shaping one’s experience of joy or suffering.) |
| 18.37 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Sattvic happiness is like poison initially but nectar later. (Sattvic joy, initially challenging, brings lasting spiritual fulfillment.) |
| 18.38 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Rajasic happiness is nectar initially but poison later. (Rajasic pleasure, though initially sweet, leads to pain and dissatisfaction.) |
| 18.39 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Tamasic happiness is deluded, born of ignorance and laziness. (Tamasic joy, rooted in ignorance, brings only delusion and harm.) |
| 18.40 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Three Gunas | Gunas pervade all beings in the material world. (No being in creation is free from the influence of the three gunas.) |
| 18.41 Themes: Karma Yoga, Three Gunas | Duties of Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras vary by gunas. (Social roles and duties are shaped by the gunas inherent in each varna.) |
| 18.42 Themes: Karma Yoga, Three Gunas | Brahmins’ duties include study, austerity, and self-control. (Brahmins fulfill their dharma through wisdom, purity, and discipline.) |
| 18.43 Themes: Karma Yoga, Three Gunas | Kshatriyas’ duties include bravery, leadership, and protection. (Kshatriyas uphold dharma through courage, leadership, and righteous action.) |
| 18.44 Themes: Karma Yoga, Three Gunas | Vaishyas and Shudras serve through trade and labor. (Vaishyas and Shudras fulfill dharma through service and honest work.) |
| 18.45 Themes: Karma Yoga | Performing one’s duty leads to spiritual perfection. (Fulfilling one’s prescribed duties perfectly aligns with spiritual growth.) |
| 18.46 Themes: Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | Offering duties to Krishna leads to perfection and liberation. (Performing duties as an offering to Krishna ensures spiritual fulfillment.) |
| 18.47 Themes: Karma Yoga | Better to perform one’s own duty imperfectly than another’s well. (Following one’s own dharma, even imperfectly, is superior to adopting another’s.) |
| 18.48 Themes: Karma Yoga | Perform duties despite flaws, as all actions have imperfections. (No action is flawless, so one should perform duties without fear.) |
| 18.49 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation | Detached mind, free from desire, attains supreme perfection. (A desireless, disciplined mind achieves the highest spiritual state.) |
| 18.50 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation | Krishna explains how to attain Brahman through perfection. (Perfection through disciplined action and knowledge leads to divine realization.) |
| 18.51 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | Purity, self-control, and meditation lead to Brahman. (A pure, disciplined mind focused on meditation attains divine truth.) |
| 18.52 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | Austerity, detachment, and solitude bring spiritual clarity. (Living simply with detachment fosters the clarity needed for liberation.) |
| 18.53 Themes: Karma Yoga, Jnana Yoga, Liberation, Dhyana Yoga | Renouncing ego and desires leads to realizing Brahman. (Abandoning ego and worldly desires ensures divine realization and freedom.) |
| 18.54 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Liberation | A realized soul, joyful in Brahman, loves Krishna devotedly. (Realizing Brahman brings inner joy and deepens devotion to Krishna.) |
| 18.55 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | Knowing Krishna’s essence through devotion leads to divine union. (Devotion reveals Krishna’s true nature, uniting the soul with Him.) |
| 18.56 Themes: Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Liberation | Even imperfect duties, offered to Krishna, lead to liberation. (Sincere offerings of any duty to Krishna ensure spiritual liberation.) |
| 18.57 Themes: Karma Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Mentally offer all actions to Krishna for spiritual success. (Dedicating all actions to Krishna mentally ensures spiritual progress.) |
| 18.58 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Fixing the mind on Krishna overcomes all obstacles. (Devotion to Krishna removes all hurdles on the spiritual path.) |
| 18.59 Themes: Karma Yoga, Three Gunas | Ego-driven refusal to act is futile; nature compels action. (Ego cannot stop action, as nature’s gunas drive one to act.) |
| 18.60 Themes: Karma Yoga, Three Gunas | Bound by nature, Arjuna will fight despite his reluctance. (Arjuna’s nature as a warrior will compel him to fight, despite doubts.) |
| 18.61 Themes: Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | Krishna resides in all hearts, guiding beings through His power. (Krishna, in every heart, directs all actions through divine energy.) |
| 18.62 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | Surrender to Krishna for supreme peace and liberation. (Complete surrender to Krishna grants eternal peace and spiritual freedom.) |
| 18.63 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | Krishna shares wisdom; Arjuna must choose his path freely. (Krishna offers divine wisdom, leaving Arjuna to decide with free will.) |
| 18.64 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna repeats His secret teachings out of love for Arjuna. (Krishna lovingly reiterates His profound teachings to guide Arjuna’s soul.) |
| 18.65 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | Fix your mind on Krishna, and you will attain Him. (Devoting heart and mind to Krishna ensures divine union and liberation.) |
| 18.66 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature, Liberation | Surrender all to Krishna; He will free you from sins. (Complete surrender to Krishna liberates one from all karmic sins.) |
| 18.67 Themes: Bhakti Yoga | Share this wisdom with devotees, not with skeptics. (Krishna’s teachings should be shared with faithful devotees, not the faithless.) |
| 18.68 Themes: Bhakti Yoga | Teaching Krishna’s wisdom to devotees earns divine love. (Sharing Krishna’s teachings with devotees brings the highest divine favor.) |
| 18.69 Themes: Bhakti Yoga | No one is dearer to Krishna than one who spreads His teachings. (Teaching Krishna’s wisdom makes one the most beloved to Him.) |
| 18.70 Themes: Bhakti Yoga | Studying this sacred dialogue is an act of worship. (Engaging with the Gita’s teachings is a devotional act to Krishna.) |
| 18.71 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Divine and Demonic Qualities | Listening to the Gita with faith purifies and liberates. (Faithful listening to the Gita fosters divine qualities and liberation.) |
| 18.72 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Krishna asks if Arjuna’s doubts are cleared by His teachings. (Krishna checks if His wisdom has resolved Arjuna’s spiritual confusion.) |
| 18.73 Themes: Jnana Yoga, Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Arjuna’s doubts are gone; he is ready to follow Krishna. (Krishna’s teachings dispel Arjuna’s doubts, restoring his resolve to act.) |
| 18.74 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Sanjaya describes the wondrous dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna. (Sanjaya marvels at the divine conversation, highlighting its spiritual depth.) |
| 18.75 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Sanjaya recounts the dialogue by Vyasa’s divine grace. (Vyasa’s grace enables Sanjaya to narrate Krishna’s profound teachings.) |
| 18.76 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Sanjaya rejoices in recalling Krishna’s divine words. (Krishna’s teachings fill Sanjaya with joy, affirming their divine power.) |
| 18.77 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Sanjaya is thrilled by Krishna’s cosmic form and teachings. (Krishna’s cosmic vision and wisdom inspire Sanjaya’s awe and devotion.) |
| 18.78 Themes: Bhakti Yoga, Krishna’s Divine Nature | Where Krishna and Arjuna are, victory and prosperity follow. (Krishna’s divine guidance with Arjuna ensures triumph and righteousness.) |