Peace in the unknown
When the future is unclear, find stability in the present. Navigate ambiguity with wisdom.
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.
Yoga-sthah kuru karmani sangam tyaktva dhananjaya, siddhy-asiddhyoh samo bhutva samatvam yoga ucyate
Perform your duty equipoised, O Arjuna, abandoning all attachment to success or failure. Such equanimity is called yoga.
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.
Shanaih shanair uparamed buddhya dhriti-grihitaya, atma-samstham manah kritva na kinchid api chintayet
Gradually, step by step, with the intellect endowed with steadiness, one should bring the mind to stillness, and think of nothing else.
Sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam sharanam vraja, aham tvam sarva-papebhyo mokshayishyami ma shuchah
Abandon all varieties of dharmas and simply surrender unto Me alone. I shall liberate you from all sinful reactions; do not fear.
Matra-sparshas tu kaunteya shitoshna-sukha-duhkha-dah, agamapayino 'nityas tams titikshasva bharata
O son of Kunti, the contact between the senses and sense objects gives rise to fleeting perceptions of happiness and distress. These are impermanent, and come and go like the winter and summer seasons. O descendant of Bharata, one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed.
Yam hi na vyathayanty ete purusham purusharshabha, sama-duhkha-sukham dhiram so 'mritatvaya kalpate
O best among men, the person who is not disturbed by happiness and distress and is steady in both is certainly eligible for liberation.
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.
Bhoktaram yajna-tapasam sarva-loka-maheshvaram, suhrdam sarva-bhutanam jnatva mam shantim rcchati
The sages, knowing Me as the ultimate enjoyer of all sacrifices and austerities, the Lord of all worlds, and the friend of all beings, attain peace.
Ananya-chintayanto mam ye janah paryupasate, tesham nityabhiyuktanam yoga-kshemam vahamy aham
To those who are constantly devoted and worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me.
Ye tu sarvani karmani mayi sannyasya mat-parah, ananyenaiva yogena mam dhyayanta upasate
But those who worship Me, surrendering all their activities to Me and devoted to Me without deviation, meditating on Me with exclusive yoga...
Tesham aham samuddharta mrityu-samsara-sagarat, bhavami na chirat partha mayy aveshita-chetasam
For those whose minds are set on Me, I am soon the deliverer from the ocean of death and transmigration, O Partha.
cetasa sarva-karmani mayi sannyasya mat-parah buddhi-yogam upasritya mac-cittah satatam bhava
Mentally renouncing all actions in me, regarding me as the supreme goal, resorting to buddhi yoga, fix your consciousness on me always. Krishna integrates surrendered action with the yoga of intellect and sustained God-consciousness.
Mac-chittah sarva-durgani mat-prasadat tarishyasi, atha cet tvam ahankaran na shroshyasi vinankshyasi
If you become conscious of Me, you will pass over all the obstacles of conditioned life by My grace. But if you do not work in such consciousness, but act through ego, you will be lost.
Tam eva śharaṇaṁ gachchha sarva-bhāvena bhārata, tat-prasādāt parāṁ śhāntim sthānaṁ prāpsyasi śhāśhvatam
Surrender exclusively unto Him with your whole being, O Bharata. By His grace, you will attain supreme peace and the eternal abode.
Ye yatha mam prapadyante tams tathaiva bhajamy aham, mama vartmanuvartante manushyah partha sarvashah
In whatever way people surrender unto Me, I reciprocate accordingly. Everyone follows My path, knowingly or unknowingly, O son of Pritha.
Yam labdhva caparam labham manyate nadhikam tatah, yasmin sthito na duhkhena gurunapi vicalyate
Having attained which, no other gain is considered greater; established in which, one is not shaken even by the heaviest sorrow. This is the supreme attainment — a state so complete that no further seeking is needed and no sorrow can dislodge the yogi from it.
Gatir bharta prabhuh sakshi nivasah sharanam suhrit, prabhavah pralayah sthanam nidhanam bijam avyayam
I am the goal, sustainer, master, witness, abode, shelter, and friend. I am the creation and destruction, the basis of everything, the resting place, and the eternal seed.
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.
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.
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