Reigniting your inner fire
When energy is low and you want to give up, find renewed strength and purpose to continue.
Klaibyam ma sma gamah partha naitat tvayy upapadyate, kshudram hridaya-daurbalyam tyaktvottishtha parantapa
O Partha, do not yield to this degrading impotence. It does not become you. Give up such petty weakness of heart and arise, O chastiser of the enemy.
Karmany evadhikaras te ma phalesu kadacana, ma karma-phala-hetur bhur ma te sango 'stv akarmani
You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled 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.
Niyatam kuru karma tvam karma jyayo hy akarmanah, sharira-yatrapi ca te na prasiddhyed akarmanah
You should thus perform your prescribed Vedic duties, since action is superior to inaction. By ceasing activity, even your bodily maintenance will not be possible.
Tasmad asaktah satatam karyam karma samachara, asakto hy acharan karma param apnoti purushah
Therefore, without attachment, constantly perform action which is duty, for by performing action without attachment, one attains the Supreme.
Karmanaiva hi samsiddhim asthita janakadayah, loka-sangraham evapi sampashyan kartum arhasi
Even kings like Janaka attained perfection through action alone. You should act, also considering the welfare of the world. Great leaders demonstrate that dedicated, selfless action leads to perfection.
Uddhared atmanatmanam natmanam avasadayet, atmaiva hy atmano bandhur atmaiva ripur atmanah
Elevate yourself through the power of your mind, and not degrade yourself. The mind can be the friend and also the enemy of the self.
Tasmāt tvam uttiṣhṭha yaśho labhasva jitvā śhatrūn bhuṅkṣhva rājyaṁ samṛiddham, mayaivaite nihatāḥ pūrvam eva nimitta-mātraṁ bhava savya-sāchin
Therefore, arise and attain glory. Conquer your enemies and enjoy a prosperous kingdom. They are already slain by My arrangement; you are merely an instrument.
Saha-jam karma kaunteya sa-dosham api na tyajet, sarvarambha hi dosena dhumenagnir ivavritah
One should not abandon one's natural work, even if it has some fault, O Arjuna. Indeed, all undertakings are enveloped by some fault, as fire is by smoke.
Mayi sarvani karmani sannyasyadhyatma-cetasa, nirashir nirmamo bhutva yudhyasva vigata-jvarah
Therefore, surrendering all your works unto Me, with mind intent on the self, free from desire and possessiveness, and cured of mental fever, fight.
Evam jnatva kritam karma purvair api mumukshubhih, kuru karmaiva tasmat tvam purvaih purvataram kritam
Knowing this, the ancient seekers of liberation also performed action. Therefore, perform your duty as the ancients did in earlier times.
Hato va prapsyasi svargam jitva va bhokshyase mahim tasmad uttishtha kaunteya yuddhaya krita-nishchayah
Either you will be killed on the battlefield and attain the heavenly planets, or you will conquer and enjoy the earthly kingdom. Therefore, get up with determination and fight. Krishna presents Arjuna with a win-win scenario — both outcomes of righteous battle lead to benefit. There is no reason for hesitation.
Sukha-duhkhe same kritva labhalabhau jayajayau, tato yuddhaya yujyasva naivam papam avapsyasi
Fight for the sake of duty, treating alike happiness and distress, loss and gain, victory and defeat. Fulfilling your responsibility in this way, you will never incur sin.
Partha naiveha namutra vinashas tasya vidyate, na hi kalyana-krit kashchid durgatim tata gacchati
O Arjuna, neither in this world nor in the next is there destruction for such a person. Never does one who does good come to grief.
Yatra yogeshvarah krishno yatra partho dhanur-dharah, tatra shrir vijayo bhutir dhruva nitir matir mama
Wherever there is Krishna, the master of all mystics, and wherever there is Arjuna, the supreme archer, there will also certainly be opulence, victory, extraordinary power, and morality.
Na buddhi-bhedam janayed ajnanam karma-sanginam, joshayed sarva-karmani vidvan yuktah samacaran
The wise should not unsettle the minds of the ignorant who are attached to action. Rather, performing all actions with devotion, one should inspire them to act. Gentle example teaches better than disruptive instruction.
Tam vidyad duhkha-samyoga-viyogam yoga-samjnitam, sa nishchayena yoktavyo yogo 'nirviinna-chetasa
The state of freedom from all miseries is known as yoga. This yoga should be practiced with determination and an undepressed mind.
Sa nishchayena yoktavyo yogo 'nirvinna-cetasa, sankalpa-prabhavan kamams tyaktva sarvan asheshatah, manasaivendriya-gramam viniyamya samantatah
Yoga should be practiced with firm determination and without despondency; desires born of imagination should be completely abandoned and the multitude of senses restrained on all sides by the mind alone. Firm determination — not wavering or discouragement — is the attitude required for the long journey of meditation.
Mat-karma-kṛin mat-paramo mad-bhaktaḥ saṅga-varjitaḥ, nirvairaḥ sarva-bhūteṣhu yaḥ sa mām eti pāṇḍava
O Pandava, one who performs My work, considers Me as the supreme, is devoted to Me, is free from attachment, and is without enmity toward any being — such a person comes to Me.
yatah pravrittir bhutanam yena sarvam idam tatam sva-karmana tam abhyarcya siddhim vindati manavah
By worshipping through one's own duty the One from whom all beings arise and by whom all this is pervaded, a person finds perfection. Every form of work becomes worship when offered to the Supreme who pervades all existence.
sarva-karmany api sada kurvano mad-vyapasrayah mat-prasadad avapnoti sasvatam padam avyayam
Taking refuge in me, one attains through my grace the eternal, imperishable abode, even while performing all actions always. Divine grace, working through devotion, enables liberation without abandonment of worldly duties.
Read slowly and contemplate. Don't rush through these verses. Pick one that resonates and sit with it for a few minutes.
Return regularly. Ancient wisdom reveals itself gradually. Come back to these verses when you need them.
Apply to your situation. Consider how each teaching relates specifically to what you're experiencing right now.
Share what helps. If a verse brings you peace or clarity, share it with others who might need it.