Gita in 18 Lessons

कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन।मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि

Literal TranslationYou have the right to work alone, but not to the fruits of it. Do not be driven by the results of your work, nor have attachment to inaction.

श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात्।स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मो भयावहः

Literal TranslationBetter is one's own duty, even if done poorly, than the duty of another done well. It is better to die while performing one's own duty; the duty of another is full of fear.

यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत।अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदाऽऽत्मानं सृजाम्यहम्

Literal TranslationWhenever there is a decline of Dharma, O Arjuna, and an uprising of Adharma, then I incarnate myself.

विद्याविनयसंपन्ने ब्राह्मणे गवि हस्तिनि।शुनि चैव श्वपाके च पण्डिताः समदर्शिनः

Literal TranslationThe sages look with an equal eye on one endowed with learning and humility, a Brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog, and a dog-eater.

युक्ताहारविहारस्य युक्तचेष्टस्य कर्मसु।युक्तस्वप्नावबोधस्य योगो भवति दुःखहा

Literal TranslationYoga becomes the destroyer of sorrows for those who are temperate in food and recreation, temperate in their actions, and temperate in their sleep and wakefulness.

मत्तः परतरं नान्यत्किञ्चिदस्ति धनञ्जय।मयि सर्वमिदं प्रोतं सूत्रे मणिगणा इव

Literal TranslationThere is nothing higher than Me, O Arjuna. All this is strung on Me, like rows of gems on a thread.

तस्मात्सर्वेषु कालेषु मामनुस्मर युध्य च।मय्यर्पितमनोबुद्धिर्मामेवैष्यस्यसंशयम्

Literal TranslationTherefore, think of Me at all times and fight; there is no doubt that by dedicating your mind and intellect to Me, you will attain only Me.

अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जनाः पर्युपासते।तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम्

Literal TranslationThose who, excluding all else, think of Me and worship Me, aspiring after eternal union with Me, I look after their prosperity and welfare (Yoga and Ksema).

अहं सर्वस्य प्रभवो मत्तः सर्वं प्रवर्तते।इति मत्वा भजन्ते मां बुधा भावसमन्विताः

Literal TranslationI am the origin of all; from me everything proceeds. Thinking thus, the wise worship me with all devotion (Bhava).

श्री भगवानुवाचकालोऽस्मि लोकक्षयकृत्प्रवृद्धोलोकान्समाहर्तुमिह प्रवृत्तः।ऋतेऽपि त्वां न भविष्यन्ति सर्वेयेऽवस्थिताः प्रत्यनीकेषु योधाः

Literal TranslationThe Lord said, "I am the world-destroying Time. Manifesting myself fully, I have begun to destroy the worlds here. Even without you, none of the warriors arrayed in the hostile ranks will survive."

अद्वेष्टा सर्वभूतानां मैत्रः करुण एव च।निर्ममो निरहङ्कारः समदुःखसुखः क्षमी

Literal TranslationHe who never hates any being, who is friendly and compassionate, who is free from the feelings of "I" and "mine," who looks upon all pain and pleasure equally, and who is enduring;

समं पश्यन्हि सर्वत्र समवस्थितमीश्वरम्।न हिनस्त्यात्मनाऽऽत्मानं ततो याति परां गतिम्

Literal TranslationFor, seeing the ruler abiding alike in every place, he does not injure himself with his own mind and therefore reaches the highest goal.

सत्त्वं रजस्तम इति गुणाः प्रकृतिसंभवाः।निबध्नन्ति महाबाहो देहे देहिनमव्ययम्

Literal TranslationThe Gunas of Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas arise from Prakrti and bind the immutable Self in the body, O Arjuna.

सर्वस्य चाहं हृदि सन्निविष्टो मत्तः स्मृतिर्ज्ञानमपोहनं च।वेदैश्च सर्वैरहमेव वेद्यो वेदान्तकृद्वेदविदेव चाहम्

Literal TranslationAnd I am seated in the hearts of all. From Me come memory, knowledge, and their removal too. Indeed, I alone am to be known from all the Vedas. I bring about the fruition of the Vedic rituals; I alone am the knower of the Vedas.

त्रिविधं नरकस्येदं द्वारं नाशनमात्मनः।कामः क्रोधस्तथा लोभस्तस्मादेतत्त्रयं त्यजेत्

Literal TranslationDesire, wrath, and greed—these are the three gateways to Naraka, ruinous to the self. Therefore, one should abandon these three.

अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत्।स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव वाङ्मयं तप उच्यते

Literal TranslationSpeech that causes no shock, is true, pleasant, and beneficial, and also the practice of reciting scriptures, is called the austerity of speech.

सर्वधर्मान्परित्यज्य मामेकं शरणं व्रज।अहं त्वा सर्वपापेभ्यो मोक्षयिष्यामि मा शुचः

Literal TranslationRelinquishing all Dharmas completely, seek Me alone for refuge. I will release you from all sins; grieve not.