Understanding the Bhagavad Gita
Complete lyrics with original text, transliteration, and meaning, 19 sections
Chapter 1: Arjuna Vishada Yoga
Original
धृतराष्ट्र उवाच धर्मक्षेत्रे कुरुक्षेत्रे समवेता युयुत्सवः | मामकाः पाण्डवाश्चैव किमकुर्वत संजय ||
Transliteration
Dhritarashtrah uvacha dharmakshetre kurukshetre samavetaa yuyutsavaah | Maamakaah paandavaashchaiva kimakurvata sanjayah ||
Meaning / Translation
Dhritarashtra said: In the place of pilgrimage at Kurukshetra, where the Pandavas and my sons have gathered, eager for battle, what did they do, O Sanjaya?
Chapter 1: Arjuna Vishada Yoga
Original
संजय उवाच दृष्ट्वा तु पाण्डवानीकं व्यूढं दुर्योधनस्तदा | आचार्यमुपसंगम्या वाचा व्याहृतेनthus शिष्येन च ||
Transliteration
Sanjayah uvacha drishtvaa tu paandavaaneekam vyoodham duryodhanastadaa | Aacharyamupasangamya vaachaa vyahrutena shishyena cha ||
Meaning / Translation
Sanjaya said: Having seen the army of the Pandavas drawn up in battle array, King Duryodhana, on that occasion, approached his teacher, Dronacharya, and spoke to him in these words.
Chapter 2: Sankhya Yoga
Original
श्रीभगवानुवाच आसीत्येको महाबाहो येन देहीति मामिति त्वम् | वेत्थ त्वमात्मानं यथायथं मामपि यथायथं वेत्थ ||
Transliteration
Shri Bhagavaan uvacha aaseetyeko mahaabaaho yena deheeti maamiti tvam | Vetha tvamaatmaanam yathaa yatham maamapi yathaa yatham vetha ||
Meaning / Translation
The Supreme Lord said: As the one nondual spirit, I am, O mighty-armed one, and I know you to be the same; and as I know myself to be, so I know you to be, O Arjuna.
Chapter 3: Karma Yoga
Original
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन | मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोस्त्वकर्मणि ||
Transliteration
Karmanyevadhikaaraste maa phaleshu kadaachan | Maa karmaphalahetur bhoor maa te sangostvakarmani ||
Meaning / Translation
You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but never to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty.
Chapter 4: Gyaana Karma Sanyasa Yoga
Original
वेदाविनाशिनन् नित्यं य एनमजमavyayम् | कथं स पुरुषः पार्थ कं घातयति हन्ति कम् ||
Transliteration
Vedaavinaashinan nityam ya enamajamavyayam | Katham sa purushah paarthah kam ghaatayati hanti kam ||
Meaning / Translation
He who thinks that the living entity is the slayer and he who thinks that it is slain, both of them do not know the truth. The self is never born, nor does it die, for it is immortal, and it is never annihilated, for it is permanent.
Chapter 5: Karma Vairagya Yoga
Original
न हि कश्चित्क्षणमपि जातु तिष्ठत्यकर्मकृत् | कार्यते ह्यवस्तः तु स योगेन कर्मणा ||
Transliteration
Na hi kashchit kshanamapi jatu tishtatyakarmakrut | Karyate hyavastah tu sa yogena karmana ||
Meaning / Translation
There is no one who is not engaged in activity, for even one who is supposedly idle is engaged in the activity of breathing and other bodily functions. One who is self-controlled and thus not a slave to the senses can engage in activity through the yoga of action.
Chapter 6: Aatma Sanyama Yoga
Original
यदा विनियतं चित्तमात्मन्येव यतं स्थितम् | तदा द्यानयोगपरो भवति अर्थात्मा ||
Transliteration
Yadaa viniyitam chittamaatmanyeva yatam sthitam | Tadaa dyaanayogaparo bhavati arthaatmaa ||
Meaning / Translation
When the mind, restrained by the practice of yoga, becomes steadfast and enters the Self, the yogi, being completely satisfied, is said to have attained the state of being the Self.
Chapter 7: Gyaana ViGyaana Yoga
Original
मय्यासक्तमनाः पार्थ योगं युञ्जन्मदाश्रयः | असंशयं समग्रं मां यथा ज्ञास्यसि तच्छृणु ||
Transliteration
Mayyaasaktamanah paarthah yogam yunjannmadaashrayah | Asanshayam samagram maam yathaa jnaasyasi tachchhrunu ||
Meaning / Translation
With your mind attached to Me, O Arjuna, and by the practice of yoga, take shelter in Me. Thus you will know Me completely, without a doubt, and you will understand Me fully.
Chapter 8: Akshara Brahma Yoga
Original
अनादिमध्यान्तमनन्तवीर्यमनुत्तमम् | सूक्ष्मतत्त्वं व्यापन्नमाहुर्वेदविदो व्यासः ||
Transliteration
Anaadi madhyaantamanantaviiryamanuttamam | Sookshmatattvam vyapannamaahur vedavidah vyaasah ||
Meaning / Translation
The Vedas and the sage Vyasa describe the Supreme Truth as being without beginning, middle, or end, of infinite potency, and unsurpassed. It is the subtle essence that pervades everything.
Chapter 9: Raj Guhya Yoga
Original
इदं तु ते गुह्यतमं प्रवक्ष्याम्यनसूयवे | ज्ञानं विज्ञानसहितं यज्ज्ञात्वा मोक्ष्यसे अशुभात् ||
Transliteration
Idam tu te guhyatamam pravakshyaamyanasuyave | Gyaanam vijnaanasahitam yajjnaatvaa mokshyase ashubhaat ||
Meaning / Translation
This knowledge, which I shall now reveal to you, is the most confidential of all. It is the knowledge combined with realization, and by understanding it, you will be freed from the miserable conditions of material existence.
Chapter 10: Vibhuti Yoga
Original
bahūnāṃ janmanāmante jñānavān māṃ prapadyate | vāsudevaḥ sarvamiti mahātmā sudurlabhaḥ ||
Transliteration
Bahunaam janmanaamante jnaavaan maam prapadyate | Vaasudevaḥ sarvamiti mahaatmaa sudurlabhaḥ ||
Meaning / Translation
After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare.
Chapter 11: Vishwarupa Darshana Yoga
Original
दिवि सूर्यसहस्रस्य भवेद्युगपदुत्थिता | ज्वलन्ति विश्वतः पार्थ माध्यस्तद्विषयं लोकम् ||
Transliteration
Divi sooryasahasyasya bhavedyugapadutthitaa | Jvalanti vishvatah paarthah maadhyastad vishayam lokam ||
Meaning / Translation
If the splendor of a thousand suns were to rise at once in the sky, that would be like the splendor of the mighty Lord, Arjuna. The entire universe is illuminated by that splendor.
Chapter 12: Bhakti Yoga
Original
श्रीभगवानुवाच मय्यावेश्य मनो ये मां नित्ययुक्ता उपासते | श्रद्धया परयोपेतास्ते मे भक्तातत्वदर्शिनः ||
Transliteration
Shri Bhagavaan uvacha mayyaaveshya mano ye maam nityayukta upaasate | Shraddhayaa parayopetaaste me bhaktaat tadva darshinah ||
Meaning / Translation
The Supreme Lord said: Those who, having dedicated their minds to Me, worship Me with unwavering attention and unshakeable faith, they are My true devotees, and they behold Me as the ultimate truth.
Chapter 13: Kshetra Kshetragya Vibhaga Yoga
Original
प्राकृतं पुरुषं चैव क्षेत्रं क्षेत्रज्ञ eva चापि | सर्वं लोकेषु व्यवस्थितं यद्भूतप्रिथगात्मभिः ||
Transliteration
Praakrutam purusham chaiva kshetram kshetragyeva chaapi | Sarvam lokeshu vyavasthitam yad bhootapritag aatmabhih ||
Meaning / Translation
The material nature, the enjoyer, and the field are all situated in every world, and they are all interdependent, as are the individual selves, which are part of the ultimate consciousness.
Chapter 14: Gunatraya Vibhaga Yoga
Original
सर्वभूतेषु येनيكं भावं भावयतः पार्थ | तद्भावभावितं येन सर्वभूतानि भावयेत् ||
Transliteration
Sarvabhooteshu yenikam bhaavam bhaavayatah paarthah | Tadbhaava bhaavitam yena sarvabhoote bhaavayet ||
Meaning / Translation
By which one sees the one indestructible reality, O Arjuna, in all beings, and sees the various states as the different modes of that one reality, that is the vision that sees the truth.
Chapter 15: Purushottama Yoga
Original
ऊर्ध्वमूलमधःशाखमश्वत्थं प्राहुरव्ययम् | तद्वज्ज्ञानमनाद्यन्तं ब्रह्मशब्देन वेदिनः ||
Transliteration
Oordhva moolam adhah shaakham ashvattham praahu raveyam | Tadvaj jnaanamanadyantam brahmashabdena vedinaah ||
Meaning / Translation
The wise knowers of the Vedas call it an eternal banyan tree with its roots above and its branches below, and they call the knowledge that understands this tree as the knowledge of Brahman, without beginning or end.
Chapter 16: Daivasura Sampad Vibhaga Yoga
Original
दिवौ तु भूमिरापः पावकः वायुराकाशम् | अधिष्ठानं भुतानां तद्भविष्यन्ति भूतनिकेतनम् ||
Transliteration
Divau tu bhoomeerapah paavakah vaayuraakaasham | Adhishtaanaam bhuutaanaam tad bhavishyanti bhoote niketanam ||
Meaning / Translation
The earth, water, fire, air, and space are the five great elements, and they are the abode of all living beings. The being who understands the ultimate reality is the supreme abode of all.
Chapter 17: Shradhaa Traya Vibhaga Yoga
Original
श्रद्धात्रयविभागयोग अनाश्रितः कर्मफलं कार्यं कर्म कर्त्तव्यं नित्यम् | न्याय्यं वा विपरीतं वा पण्डिताः समदर्शिनः ||
Transliteration
Shraddhaa traya vibhaagayoga anaashritah karmaphalam kaaryam karm karttavyam nityam | Nyaayyam vaa vipareetaṃ vaa panditaah samadarshinah ||
Meaning / Translation
The wise, who are impartial, know that one must perform his duty, regardless of whether the action is righteous or the opposite, for it is the nature of the duty that is important, not the outcome.
Chapter 18: Moksha Sanyasa Yoga
Original
संन्यासस्तु महाबाहो दु:खमाप्तुमयोगतः | योगयुक्तो मुनिर्ब्रह्म नचिरेणाधिगच्छति ||
Transliteration
Sannyasastu mahaabaaho duhkham aaptum ayogatah | Yogayuktah munir brahma nachireṇaadhigachchhati ||
Meaning / Translation
For one who has not attained the state of yoga, renunciation of worldly duties may bring suffering. But for one who is in the state of yoga, O mighty-armed one, the Absolute is attained very soon.