Theme
Verses on stillness of mind, equanimity, and the kind of calm that isn't shaken by circumstance.
Chapter 2Verse 14
Sanskrit
मात्रास्पर्शास्तु कौन्तेय शीतोष्णसुखदुःखदाः। आगमापायिनोऽनित्यास्तांस्तितिक्षस्व भारत॥
This too shall pass. Meet both joy and sorrow with the same steady heart.
Sensation and circumstance are always in motion. Neither discomfort nor pleasure is permanent, and steadiness comes from not over-identifying with either while it passes through.
Read more…Chapter 2Verse 20
Sanskrit
न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचिन्नायं भूत्वा भविता वा न भूयः। अजो नित्यः शाश्वतोऽयं पुराणो न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे॥
What is truly you was never born, and will never die.
What you most fundamentally are is described here as untouched by birth and death, deeper and steadier than any single chapter of a life.
Read more…Chapter 2Verse 48
Sanskrit
योगस्थः कुरु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा धनञ्जय। सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योः समो भूत्वा समत्वं योग उच्यते॥
Do your work in balance. That steadiness of mind is the real practice.
The Gita defines yoga here not as a posture but as balance of mind: the ability to give real effort without being thrown off by whether it succeeds or fails.
Read more…Chapter 2Verse 70
Sanskrit
आपूर्यमाणमचलप्रतिष्ठं समुद्रमापः प्रविशन्ति यद्वत्। तद्वत्कामा यं प्रविशन्ति सर्वे स शान्तिमाप्नोति न कामकामी॥
Be like the ocean. Let desires arrive without disturbing your depth.
Desires will keep arriving; that isn't the problem. Peace belongs to whoever can let them arrive without being swept out to sea by each one.
Read more…Chapter 2Verse 71
Sanskrit
विहाय कामान्यः सर्वान्पुमांश्चरति निःस्पृहः। निर्ममो निरहङ्कारः स शान्तिमधिगच्छति॥
Let go of craving and ego, and peace has room to arrive.
Ownership and ego are named here as the two quiet sources of restlessness. Loosen their grip, and peace has room to settle in.
Read more…Chapter 6Verse 19
Sanskrit
यथा दीपो निवातस्थो नेङ्गते सोपमा स्मृता। योगिनो यतचित्तस्य युञ्जतो योगमात्मनः॥
A steady mind is a lamp that doesn't flicker, even in the wind.
A well-known image for a trained mind. Not motionless because nothing happens around it, but steady because it's learned not to flicker at every draft.
Read more…Chapter 9Verse 22
Sanskrit
अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जनाः पर्युपासते। तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम्॥
What you truly need has a way of arriving when your focus is whole.
A verse about steady, wholehearted focus being met with support: the sense that what's genuinely needed tends to arrive.
Read more…Chapter 9Verse 26
Sanskrit
पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं यो मे भक्त्या प्रयच्छति। तदहं भक्त्युपहृतमश्नामि प्रयतात्मनः॥
A small gift given with a whole heart is never small.
It's the sincerity of an offering, not its size, that gives it worth. A small gesture given wholeheartedly outweighs a grand one given carelessly.
Read more…Chapter 12Verse 13
Sanskrit
अद्वेष्टा सर्वभूतानां मैत्रः करुण एव च। निर्ममो निरहङ्कारः समदुःखसुखः क्षमी॥
Meet every being with kindness, and every swing of fortune with the same steady heart.
A short portrait of a settled mind: goodwill toward others, humility, and roughly the same composure whether things are going well or badly.
Read more…Chapter 12Verse 15
Sanskrit
यस्मान्नोद्विजते लोको लोकान्नोद्विजते च यः। हर्षामर्षभयोद्वेगैर्मुक्तो यः स च मे प्रियः॥
Be someone the world doesn't unsettle, and who doesn't unsettle the world.
A quiet kind of strength: being someone who doesn't unsettle others, and who has enough steadiness not to be easily unsettled by them either.
Read more…Chapter 18Verse 66
Sanskrit
सर्वधर्मान्परित्यज्य मामेकं शरणं व्रज। अहं त्वां सर्वपापेभ्यो मोक्षयिष्यामि मा शुचः॥
Let go of what you're carrying alone. Surrender, and don't be afraid.
One of the Gita's most quoted lines: an offer of rest for anyone who's been carrying every responsibility alone. It's safe to let go and trust.
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