Bhagavad Gita Shlokas on Duty

Below are the shlokas from the Bhagavad Gita that emphasise duty (dharma, righteous action, and responsibility), listed with their shloka numbers and one-line English descriptions.

• 2.31: As a Kshatriya, Arjuna must uphold his duty to fight righteously.
• 2.32: Warriors who fight such a battle gain heaven’s glory.
• 2.33: Abandoning duty brings dishonor and loss of fame.
• 2.34: People will scorn Arjuna forever if he shirks his duty.
• 2.35: Great warriors will mock Arjuna’s fear as cowardice.
• 2.36: Enemies will slander Arjuna, causing greater pain than death.
• 2.37: Arjuna will gain heaven if killed or victory if he fights.
• 2.38: Fight with equanimity, treating victory and defeat equally, to avoid sin.
• 2.47: Act without attachment to results, focusing only on duty.
• 3.8: Perform prescribed duties, as action is better than inaction.
• 3.19: Perform duties selflessly to attain the supreme goal.
• 3.20: Great kings like Janaka achieved perfection through selfless action.
• 3.21: People follow the example of great leaders’ actions.
• 3.22: Krishna, though free from duties, acts for the world’s welfare.
• 3.23: If Krishna ceased acting, people would follow and fall.
• 3.24: Krishna’s inaction would lead to chaos and destruction.
• 3.25: The wise act selflessly to guide the ignorant.
• 3.26: The wise should not disturb the ignorant but inspire action.
• 3.35: Following one’s own duty is better than another’s, even if imperfect.
• 18.41: Duties of Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, and Shudras arise from gunas.
• 18.42: Brahmins’ duties include serenity, purity, and wisdom.
• 18.43: Kshatriyas’ duties involve valor, leadership, and protection.
• 18.44: Vaishyas and Shudras serve through trade and labor.
• 18.45: Perfection comes from performing one’s natural duties.
• 18.46: Worshipping Krishna through duty leads to perfection.
• 18.47: One’s own duty, though imperfect, is better than another’s.
• 18.48: Natural duties, despite flaws, should not be abandoned.

Total: 27 shlokas

Notes

• Selection Criteria: The 27 shlokas were selected for their direct focus on duty (dharma), emphasizing performing one’s prescribed role selflessly (e.g., 2.47, 3.19), the importance of action over inaction (e.g., 3.8), and the societal impact of duty (e.g., 3.21, 18.41–44), primarily from Chapters 2 (8 shlokas), 3 (9 shlokas), and 18 (10 shlokas).