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Best Slokas of the Bhagavad Gita: 15 Essential Verses

A curated collection of the 15 most important and powerful slokas from the Bhagavad Gita, with original Sanskrit, transliteration, English translation, and practical commentary.

Quick Answer

The best slokas of the Bhagavad Gita include BG 2.47 on selfless action, BG 2.20 on the immortal soul, BG 4.7-8 on divine incarnation, BG 9.26 on simple devotion, BG 6.5-6 on mastering the mind, BG 2.48 on equanimity, and BG 18.66 on complete surrender. These 15 essential verses capture the Gita's teachings on karma, dharma, yoga, and liberation.

Why These 15 Slokas Matter

The Bhagavad Gita contains 700 verses, but certain slokas stand out for their universal wisdom, practical relevance, and spiritual depth. These 15 verses have been quoted, memorized, and meditated upon by millions of seekers across thousands of years. Each one captures a core teaching of Krishna to Arjuna — and through him, to all of humanity.

Whether you are new to the Gita or a lifelong student, these slokas provide a powerful foundation for understanding its essential message: how to live with purpose, act with integrity, find inner peace, and ultimately attain liberation.

The 15 Best Slokas of the Bhagavad Gita

1BG 2.47 — The Right to Action

कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन।
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि॥
karmanye vadhikaraste ma phaleshu kadachana
ma karmaphalaheturbhurma te sangostvakarmani
"You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions. Never consider yourself the cause of results, nor be attached to inaction."
— Bhagavad Gita 2.47

The most quoted verse in the entire Gita. This sloka is the foundation of Karma Yoga — the path of selfless action. It teaches that we control our effort but not the outcome, liberating us from the anxiety of results while maintaining full engagement with life. Modern psychology confirms this: focusing on process over outcome produces both better performance and greater well-being.

2BG 2.20 — The Immortality of the Soul

न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचिन्नायं भूत्वा भविता वा न भूयः।
अजो नित्यः शाश्वतोऽयं पुराणो न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे॥
na jayate mriyate va kadachin nayam bhutva bhavita va na bhuyah
ajo nityah shashvato yam purano na hanyate hanyamane sharire
"The soul is never born, nor does it ever die. It has not come into being, does not come into being, and will not come into being. It is unborn, eternal, ever-existing, and primeval. It is not slain when the body is slain."
— Bhagavad Gita 2.20

This verse establishes the foundational metaphysical truth of the Gita: the soul (Atman) is eternal and indestructible. This teaching frees Arjuna — and all seekers — from the fear of death. If the soul cannot be destroyed, then death is merely a transition, not an ending. This understanding transforms not only how we face death but how we live life — with courage, freedom, and perspective.

3BG 2.48 — Equanimity as Yoga

योगस्थः कुरु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा धनञ्जय।
सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योः समो भूत्वा समत्वं योग उच्यते॥
yogasthah kuru karmani sangam tyaktva dhananjaya
siddhyasiddhyoh samo bhutva samatvam yoga uchyate
"Perform your duty steadfastly, O Arjuna, abandoning all attachment to success and failure. Such equanimity is called yoga."
— Bhagavad Gita 2.48

Krishna defines yoga itself as equanimity (samatvam yoga uchyate). This is not passive indifference but active inner balance — performing your best while remaining unshaken by either success or failure. This is the mental foundation for resilience, emotional intelligence, and sustained excellence in any endeavor.

4BG 4.7-8 — The Divine Incarnation

यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत।
अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम्॥
परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम्।
धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय सम्भवामि युगे युगे॥
yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati bharata
abhyutthanam adharmasya tadatmanam srijamy aham
paritranaya sadhunam vinashaya cha dushkritam
dharma-samsthapanarthaya sambhavami yuge yuge
"Whenever there is a decline of dharma and a rise of adharma, I manifest Myself. For the protection of the good, the destruction of the wicked, and the establishment of dharma, I appear in every age."
— Bhagavad Gita 4.7-8

The Avatara doctrine — God's promise to personally intervene whenever dharma is threatened. This is one of the most hopeful teachings in all of scripture: no matter how dark the times, divine protection is assured. The cosmic order of righteousness will always be restored.

5BG 6.5-6 — The Mind as Friend or Enemy

उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत्।
आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मनः॥
uddhared atmanatmanam natmanam avasadayet
atmaiva hyatmano bandhur atmaiva ripur atmanah
"One must elevate oneself by one's own mind, not degrade oneself. The mind is the friend of the conditioned soul, and his enemy as well."
— Bhagavad Gita 6.5-6

This sloka places the responsibility for spiritual growth squarely on the individual. Your mind can be your greatest ally or your worst adversary — the choice is yours. This teaching empowers self-mastery and personal responsibility. Learn meditation techniques from the Gita to master the mind.

6BG 9.26 — The Simplicity of Devotion

पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं यो मे भक्त्या प्रयच्छति।
तदहं भक्त्युपहृतमश्नामि प्रयतात्मनः॥
patram pushpam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati
tad aham bhaktyupahritam ashnami prayatatmanah
"If one offers Me with devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or water, I accept it, offered with devotion by the pure-hearted."
— Bhagavad Gita 9.26

The democratization of spiritual practice. God does not require elaborate rituals or expensive offerings — a simple leaf offered with love is enough. This verse makes bhakti (devotion) accessible to every person, regardless of wealth, education, or social status.

7BG 3.35 — Follow Your Own Dharma

श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात्।
shreyan sva-dharmo vigunah para-dharmat svanushtitat
"It is far better to perform one's own dharma imperfectly than to perform another's dharma perfectly."
— Bhagavad Gita 3.35

The Gita's great teaching on authenticity. Better to fail at being yourself than to succeed at being someone else. This verse validates every person's unique calling and cautions against the danger of imitation. Discover how to find your life purpose through the Gita.

8BG 2.22 — The Soul Changes Bodies

वासांसि जीर्णानि यथा विहाय नवानि गृह्णाति नरोऽपराणि।
तथा शरीराणि विहाय जीर्णान्यन्यानि संयाति नवानि देही॥
vasamsi jirnani yatha vihaya navani grihnati naroparani
tatha sharirani vihaya jirnany anyani samyati navani dehi
"As a person puts on new garments, giving up old ones, the soul similarly accepts new material bodies, giving up the old and useless ones."
— Bhagavad Gita 2.22

One of the Gita's most elegant metaphors: death is like changing clothes. The body wears out, but the soul simply takes on a new form. This teaching removes the terror of death and provides a framework for understanding reincarnation that is both philosophically profound and intuitively accessible.

9BG 9.27 — Offer Everything to God

यत्करोषि यदश्नासि यज्जुहोषि ददासि यत्।
यत्तपस्यसि कौन्तेय तत्कुरुष्व मदर्पणम्॥
yat karoshi yad ashnasi yaj juhoshi dadasi yat
yat tapasyasi kaunteya tat kurushva mad-arpanam
"Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer or give away, whatever austerities you practice — do that as an offering to Me."
— Bhagavad Gita 9.27

This sloka transforms all of life into worship. By offering every action — eating, working, giving, even your struggles — to the Divine, mundane existence becomes sacred practice. This is the practical union of Karma Yoga and Bhakti Yoga.

10BG 6.34-35 — Controlling the Restless Mind

चञ्चलं हि मनः कृष्ण प्रमाथि बलवद्दृढम्।
तस्याहं निग्रहं मन्ये वायोरिव सुदुष्करम्॥
अभ्यासेन तु कौन्तेय वैराग्येण च गृह्यते॥
chanchalam hi manah krishna pramathi balavad dridham
abhyasena tu kaunteya vairagyena cha grihyate
"The mind is restless, turbulent, strong, and unyielding, O Krishna. I consider it as difficult to control as the wind." Krishna replies: "By practice and detachment, it can be controlled."
— Bhagavad Gita 6.34-35

Arjuna voices every meditator's frustration, and Krishna provides the timeless solution: abhyasa (consistent practice) and vairagya (detachment). These two principles are the foundation of all mind-training traditions, ancient and modern.

11BG 4.37 — Knowledge Burns All Karma

यथैधांसि समिद्धोऽग्निर्भस्मसात्कुरुतेऽर्जुन।
ज्ञानाग्निः सर्वकर्माणि भस्मसात्कुरुते तथा॥
yathaidhamsi samiddho gnir bhasmasat kurute rjuna
jnanagnih sarva-karmani bhasmasat kurute tatha
"As a blazing fire reduces wood to ashes, O Arjuna, so does the fire of knowledge burn to ashes all reactions to material activities."
— Bhagavad Gita 4.37

One of the most hopeful verses in the Gita: no matter how much karma has been accumulated, the fire of spiritual knowledge can burn it all to ashes. This is the promise of Jnana Yoga — the path of wisdom.

12BG 11.32 — The Cosmic Vision

कालोऽस्मि लोकक्षयकृत्प्रवृद्धो लोकान्समाहर्तुमिह प्रवृत्तः।
kalo smi loka-kshaya-krit pravriddho lokan samahartum iha pravrittah
"I am Time, the great destroyer of worlds, and I have come here to engage all people."
— Bhagavad Gita 11.32

Spoken during Krishna's cosmic revelation (Vishvarupa Darshana) in Chapter 11, this verse reveals the awesome power behind the universe. It is one of the most quoted verses in world literature, famously recalled by J. Robert Oppenheimer after the first nuclear test.

13BG 2.62-63 — The Chain of Destruction

ध्यायतो विषयान्पुंसः सङ्गस्तेषूपजायते।
सङ्गात्संजायते कामः कामात्क्रोधोऽभिजायते॥
dhyayato vishayan pumsah sangas teshupajayate
sangat sanjayate kamah kamat krodho bhijayate
"Contemplating the objects of the senses, a person develops attachment. From attachment arises desire, and from desire arises anger."
— Bhagavad Gita 2.62-63

This sloka provides a precise psychological analysis of how the mind falls: sense-contemplation leads to attachment, attachment to desire, desire to anger, anger to delusion, delusion to memory loss, and memory loss to destruction. Understanding this chain is the first step to breaking it.

14BG 3.21 — The Leader's Responsibility

यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेतरो जनः।
yad yad acharati shreshtas tat tad evetaro janah
"Whatever a great person does, common people follow. Whatever standards they set by exemplary acts, all the world pursues."
— Bhagavad Gita 3.21

A powerful teaching on leadership and influence. Those in positions of authority — parents, teachers, managers, public figures — set the standard for those who look up to them. This verse is the foundation of dharmic leadership.

15BG 18.66 — The Supreme Surrender

सर्वधर्मान्परित्यज्य मामेकं शरणं व्रज।
अहं त्वां सर्वपापेभ्यो मोक्षयिष्यामि मा शुचः॥
sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam sharanam vraja
aham tvam sarva-papebhyo mokshayishyami ma shuchah
"Abandon all varieties of dharma and simply surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions; do not fear."
— Bhagavad Gita 18.66

The "charama shloka" — Krishna's final, most confidential instruction. After 18 chapters of teaching, this is the ultimate message: complete surrender to the Divine. This verse is the pinnacle of the Gita and the supreme promise: whoever surrenders to God with full faith is guaranteed liberation from all suffering. It is the culmination of Bhakti Yoga.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most important slokas in the Bhagavad Gita?
The most important slokas include BG 2.47 (right to action, not fruits), BG 2.20 (immortality of the soul), BG 4.7-8 (divine incarnation), BG 9.26 (simple devotion), BG 18.66 (complete surrender), BG 6.5-6 (mind as friend or enemy), and BG 2.48 (equanimity as yoga).
How many slokas are in the Bhagavad Gita?
The Bhagavad Gita contains 700 verses (slokas) distributed across 18 chapters. Each chapter focuses on a different aspect of yoga and spiritual knowledge.
Which sloka should beginners start with?
Beginners should start with BG 2.47 (karmanye vadhikaraste) which teaches the principle of selfless action. It is the most widely quoted verse and encapsulates the Gita's practical wisdom.
Can I chant Bhagavad Gita slokas daily?
Yes, daily chanting of Gita slokas is a revered practice. Many devotees chant Chapter 12 or Chapter 15 daily. Even chanting a single verse with understanding and devotion is considered highly beneficial.
What is the most powerful sloka in the Gita?
Many scholars consider BG 18.66 the most powerful verse, as it is Krishna's final instruction — complete surrender with the promise of total liberation. BG 2.47 and BG 4.7-8 are also among the most powerful.
Are Gita slokas in Sanskrit or Hindi?
The original slokas are in Sanskrit, composed in the anushtubh meter. They have been translated into virtually every language. The Sanskrit originals are considered sacred and traditionally chanted in the original language.

Explore More Bhagavad Gita Topics

BG 2.47 BG 2.20 BG 2.48 BG 4.7 BG 9.26 BG 6.5 BG 18.66 BG 11.32 Top 10 Powerful Verses Famous Sanskrit Quotes What is Karma? What is Dharma? What is Bhakti Yoga? Meditation in the Gita Chapter 2 Overview Chapter 18 Overview