Famous Bhagavad Gita Quotes in Sanskrit and English
A curated collection of 20 iconic Bhagavad Gita quotes with original Sanskrit (Devanagari), transliteration, English translation, and meaning — the verses that have inspired millions across centuries.
Quick Answer
The most famous Bhagavad Gita quotes in Sanskrit and English include: "Karmanye vadhikaraste" (BG 2.47) on selfless action, "Yada yada hi dharmasya" (BG 4.7) on divine incarnation, "Na jayate mriyate" (BG 2.20) on the immortal soul, "Vasamsi jirnani" (BG 2.22) on changing bodies, and "Sarva dharman parityajya" (BG 18.66) on surrender.
Timeless Words That Changed the World
The Bhagavad Gita has been quoted by world leaders, scientists, philosophers, and artists for over two thousand years. These quotes are not merely beautiful words — they are concentrated insights into the nature of reality, duty, love, and liberation. Each one is a complete teaching that can be contemplated for a lifetime.
Below are 20 of the most famous and frequently quoted passages from the Gita, presented in three forms: the original Sanskrit in Devanagari script, a phonetic transliteration for pronunciation, and a clear English translation. Each quote is accompanied by a brief explanation of its context and significance.
Quotes on Action and Duty
1. On Selfless Action (BG 2.47)
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन।
karmanye vadhikaraste ma phaleshu kadachana
"You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions."
Significance: The most quoted verse in the Gita and the cornerstone of Karma Yoga. This quote teaches the art of detached action — giving your best while releasing anxiety about outcomes. Gandhi built his entire philosophy upon this teaching.
2. On Equanimity (BG 2.48)
योगस्थः कुरु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा धनञ्जय। समत्वं योग उच्यते।
yogasthah kuru karmani sangam tyaktva dhananjaya. samatvam yoga uchyate.
"Perform your duty with equanimity, abandoning attachment. Such evenness of mind is called yoga."
Significance: Krishna's definition of yoga as equanimity (samatvam yoga uchyate) is among the most elegant philosophical statements ever made. Yoga is not a posture — it is mental balance in all circumstances.
3. On Following Your Own Path (BG 3.35)
श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात्।
shreyan sva-dharmo vigunah para-dharmat svanushtitat
"It is better to perform one's own duty imperfectly than another's duty perfectly."
Significance: The Gita's great statement on authenticity. This quote validates every person's unique calling and warns against the danger of imitation. Discover your life purpose through the Gita.
4. On Leadership (BG 3.21)
यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेतरो जनः।
yad yad acharati shreshtas tat tad evetaro janah
"Whatever a great person does, common people follow. Whatever standards they set, all the world pursues."
Significance: A foundational teaching on the responsibility of leadership. Leaders do not merely give orders — they set examples that shape the behavior of entire communities and generations.
Quotes on the Soul and Reality
5. On the Immortal Soul (BG 2.20)
न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचिन्
na jayate mriyate va kadachin
"The soul is never born, nor does it die. It is unborn, eternal, ever-existing, and primeval."
Significance: The Gita's foundational metaphysical truth. This quote dissolves the fear of death by revealing the eternal nature of the Self — the most liberating insight in all of philosophy.
6. On Changing Bodies (BG 2.22)
वासांसि जीर्णानि यथा विहाय नवानि गृह्णाति नरोऽपराणि।
vasamsi jirnani yatha vihaya navani grihnati naroparani
"As a person puts on new garments, giving up old ones, the soul similarly accepts new material bodies."
Significance: One of the most elegant metaphors in world literature. Death is simply changing clothes — the soul remains unchanged while the body is replaced. This makes the concept of reincarnation intuitively accessible.
7. On Temporary Pleasures and Pains (BG 2.14)
आगमापायिनोऽनित्यास्तांस्तितिक्षस्व भारत।
agamapayino nityas tams titikshasva bharata
"Pleasures and pains come and go like winter and summer. Learn to tolerate them without being disturbed."
Significance: A profound teaching on emotional resilience. Both happiness and suffering are temporary — like seasons. The wise person observes them without being controlled by them.
Quotes on Devotion and Surrender
8. On Divine Incarnation (BG 4.7-8)
यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत।
yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati bharata
"Whenever dharma declines and adharma rises, I manifest Myself. For the protection of the good and the destruction of evil, I appear in every age."
Significance: The Avatara doctrine — God's personal promise to protect dharma. This quote has inspired hope during humanity's darkest hours, assuring that divine justice will ultimately prevail.
9. On Simple Devotion (BG 9.26)
पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं यो मे भक्त्या प्रयच्छति।
patram pushpam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati
"If one offers Me with devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or water, I accept it."
Significance: God values sincerity over grandeur. This quote makes bhakti accessible to everyone — even the poorest person can offer pure devotion.
10. On Total Surrender (BG 18.66)
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 dharmas and surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sins; do not fear."
Significance: The Gita's final and most confidential instruction. The ultimate promise: whoever surrenders to God with full faith is guaranteed liberation. "Ma shuchah" (do not fear/grieve) — two of the most comforting words in all of scripture.
Quotes on Mind and Self-Mastery
11. On the Mind as Friend or Enemy (BG 6.5-6)
आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मनः।
atmaiva hyatmano bandhur atmaiva ripur atmanah
"The mind is the friend of the conditioned soul, and his enemy as well."
Significance: Your mind determines your destiny. This quote empowers complete self-responsibility — you are the architect of your own liberation or bondage. Learn meditation from the Gita.
12. On Controlling the Mind (BG 6.35)
अभ्यासेन तु कौन्तेय वैराग्येण च गृह्यते।
abhyasena tu kaunteya vairagyena cha grihyate
"By practice and detachment, the mind can be controlled."
Significance: The complete science of mental training in two words: abhyasa (practice) and vairagya (detachment). This is the foundation of all meditation, mindfulness, and cognitive training traditions.
13. On Knowledge Destroying Karma (BG 4.37)
ज्ञानाग्निः सर्वकर्माणि भस्मसात्कुरुते तथा।
jnanagnih sarva-karmani bhasmasat kurute tatha
"As a blazing fire reduces wood to ashes, so does the fire of knowledge burn all karma to ashes."
Significance: No matter how much karma has accumulated, knowledge can destroy it completely. This is one of the most hopeful teachings in the Gita — liberation is always possible.
Quotes on Divine Nature
14. On God in the Heart (BG 15.15)
सर्वस्य चाहं हृदि सन्निविष्टो
sarvasya chaham hridi sannivishto
"I am seated in everyone's heart."
Significance: God is not distant — He dwells within every being. This quote teaches that the Divine is the most intimate reality of existence, accessible through the inner journey of self-knowledge and devotion.
15. On God as Time (BG 11.32)
कालोऽस्मि लोकक्षयकृत्प्रवृद्धो
kalo smi loka-kshaya-krit pravriddho
"I am Time, the great destroyer of worlds."
Significance: Perhaps the most awe-inspiring statement in the Gita. During the cosmic vision of Chapter 11, Krishna reveals Himself as the force of Time that creates and destroys all things. This quote was famously recalled by J. Robert Oppenheimer.
16. On Equal Vision (BG 5.18)
विद्याविनयसम्पन्ने ब्राह्मणे गवि हस्तिनि। शुनि चैव श्वपाके च पण्डिताः समदर्शिनः॥
vidya-vinaya-sampanne brahmane gavi hastini. shuni chaiva shvapake cha panditah sama-darshinah
"The wise see with equal vision a learned Brahmin, a cow, an elephant, a dog, and an outcast."
Significance: One of the Gita's most radical teachings on equality. The truly wise person sees the same divine soul in every being — human or animal, high or low. This verse has been cited as one of the earliest teachings of universal spiritual equality.
More Iconic Quotes
17. On Offering All to God (BG 9.27)
यत्करोषि यदश्नासि यज्जुहोषि ददासि यत्। तत्कुरुष्व मदर्पणम्।
yat karoshi yad ashnasi yaj juhoshi dadasi yat. tat kurushva mad-arpanam.
"Whatever you do, eat, offer, or give — do it as an offering to Me."
Significance: This transforms all of daily life into spiritual practice. No action is too small to be offered to the Divine.
18. On the Chain of Desire (BG 2.62)
ध्यायतो विषयान्पुंसः सङ्गस्तेषूपजायते।
dhyayato vishayan pumsah sangas teshupajayate
"Contemplating sense objects breeds attachment. From attachment arises desire. From desire arises anger."
Significance: A precise psychological map of how the mind falls into suffering. Understanding this chain is the first step to breaking free from destructive patterns.
19. On Yoga as Skill (BG 2.50)
योगः कर्मसु कौशलम्।
yogah karmasu kaushalam
"Yoga is skill in action."
Significance: In just three Sanskrit words, Krishna redefines yoga from a posture practice to an art of living. True yoga is performing every action with mastery and detachment.
20. On Divine Provision (BG 9.22)
योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम्।
yoga-kshemam vahamy aham
"I carry what they lack and preserve what they have."
Significance: God's personal guarantee of provision for His devotees. "Vahamy aham" — "I Myself carry" — conveys the intimate, personal nature of divine care.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most famous quotes from the Bhagavad Gita?
The most famous include "Karmanye vadhikaraste" (BG 2.47 — right to action, not fruits), "Yada yada hi dharmasya" (BG 4.7 — whenever dharma declines), "Vasamsi jirnani" (BG 2.22 — soul changes bodies), and "Sarva dharman parityajya" (BG 18.66 — surrender to Me).
Are Bhagavad Gita quotes originally in Sanskrit?
Yes. The Gita was composed in Sanskrit using the anushtubh meter (32 syllables per verse). While translations exist in every major language, the original Sanskrit carries the sacred vibration and precise philosophical meaning.
Can I use Bhagavad Gita quotes for motivation?
Absolutely. BG 2.47 teaches focus on effort over outcomes, BG 6.5 teaches self-mastery, BG 2.14 teaches resilience, and BG 3.35 teaches authenticity. These are used by leaders, athletes, and students worldwide.
How do I pronounce Sanskrit Gita quotes?
Sanskrit pronunciation follows consistent rules. Each letter has one sound. "A" is short like "u" in "but", "aa" is long like "a" in "father". The transliterations in this guide follow standard IAST conventions for accurate pronunciation.
What is the most inspirational quote in the Gita?
BG 6.5 is widely considered most inspirational: "One must elevate oneself by one's own mind, not degrade oneself." This empowers complete self-responsibility and the belief that every person can transform their life.
How many quotes or verses are in the Bhagavad Gita?
The Gita contains 700 verses across 18 chapters. Most are spoken by Krishna (574), with Arjuna speaking 84, Sanjaya 40, and Dhritarashtra 1.