Topic

Forgiveness

5 verses from the Bhagavad Gita on forgiveness. Explore teachings across 4 chapters.

All Verses

Chapter 10 • Verse 34 →The Yoga of Divine Glories
Mrityuh sarva-harash caham udbhavash ca bhavishyatam, kirtih shrir vak ca narinam smritir medha dhritih kshama

I am all-devouring death, and I am the origin of all things yet to come. Among feminine qualities I am fame, prosperity, speech, memory, intelligence, steadfastness, and forgiveness. Death, the great equaliser, is not separate from God — even the end of all things is a divine act. The feminine virtues represent the noblest qualities of human character.

  • •Death is not the enemy but a divine expression of God's all-consuming presence
  • •Feminine virtues — memory, forgiveness, steadfastness — are divine in nature
  • •The origin of all future possibilities rests entirely in the Lord
deathfeminine virtuesmemoryvibhuti
Chapter 11 • Verse 41 →The Yoga of the Vision of the Universal Form
Sakheti matvā prasabhaṁ yad uktaṁ he kṛiṣhṇa he yādava he sakheti, ajānatā mahimānaṁ tavaidaṁ mayā pramādāt praṇayena vāpi

Whatever I have rashly said to You, calling You Krishna, Yadava, or friend, not knowing Your greatness, whether out of negligence or affection—

  • •Intimacy with God is a great gift but carries responsibility
  • •Human familiarity can obscure divine greatness
  • •Asking forgiveness for casual speech to the divine
familiarityrashnessfriendnot knowing greatness
Chapter 11 • Verse 42 →The Yoga of the Vision of the Universal Form
Yach chāvahāsārtham asat-kṛito 'si vihāra-śhayyāsana-bhojaneṣhu, eko 'thavāpy achyuta tat-samakṣhaṁ tat kṣhāmaye tvāṁ aham aprameyam

And whatever disrespect was shown to You while playing, resting, sitting, or eating — whether alone or in the presence of others — I beg forgiveness from You, O immeasurable one.

  • •We must seek forgiveness for all unconscious irreverence
  • •The immeasurable nature of the divine demands reverence
  • •Friendship with God is a sacred responsibility
disrespectimmeasurablefriendshipreverence
Chapter 12 • Verse 13 →The Yoga of Devotion
Adveshta sarva-bhutanam maitrah karuna eva cha, nirmamo nirahankarah sama-duhkha-sukhah kshami

One who is not envious but a kind friend to all living entities, free from proprietorship and false ego, equal in happiness and distress, forgiving.

  • •Cultivate universal friendliness
  • •Let go of ego and possessiveness
  • •Maintain equanimity in all situations
compassionequanimityhumilitykindness