Bhagavad Gītāभगवद्गीता
A dialogue on duty and action, within the Mahābhārata. 44 passages in the chapters come from it.
- What it is
- 700 verses in 18 chapters, in the Bhīṣma Parva of the Mahābhārata
- Composed
- Usually placed between the 2nd century BCE and the 2nd century CE; some estimates are earlier
- By
- Ascribed by tradition to Vyāsa, the composer of the Mahābhārata
- References on this site
- Chapter.verse: 3.35 is chapter 3, verse 35. A few editions number chapter 13 one verse apart, because they count an extra opening verse.
On the eve of battle at Kurukṣetra, the warrior Arjuna will not fight his own kin. His charioteer, Kṛṣṇa, answers him with a teaching on one's own duty (svadharma), on acting without attachment to the fruits of action, and on knowledge, discipline and devotion as ways to the highest good.
Few texts have been read in more ways. Commentators from Śaṅkara, around the 8th century, onward found their own philosophies in it. In modern India Tilak read it as a call to action, Gandhi as a guide to selfless service, and Aurobindo as a path of integral yoga. Management writers took up its idea of action without attachment much more recently.
Read it in full
- Gita Supersite, IIT Kanpur: the Sanskrit with several translations and commentaries (free, opens another site)
Translations in print
- Barbara Stoler Miller, The Bhagavad-Gita (Bantam, 1986)
- Franklin Edgerton, The Bhagavad Gītā (Harvard, 1944)
Names with marks such as ā, ṣ or ṛ are explained in how to read the names and terms.
The 44 passages the chapters quote
- DocumentedUnit 1 · Management and Its Principles
Division of work and svadharma
Read it in its chapter“Better one's own duty, imperfectly done, than another's duty done well.” श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् । śreyān svadharmo viguṇaḥ paradharmāt svanuṣṭhitāt. Bhagavad Gītā 3.35; also 18.45–47
“The root of wealth is activity; its absence brings ruin.” अर्थस्य मूलमुत्थानमनर्थस्य विपर्ययः । arthasya mūlam utthānam anarthasya viparyayaḥ. Arthaśāstra 1.19.35; Bhagavad Gītā 18.26
Also cites: ArthaśāstraDiscuss
- DocumentedUnit 1 · Management and Its Principles
Taylor's best method and skill in action
Read it in its chapter“Yoga is skill in action.” योगः कर्मसु कौशलम् । yogaḥ karmasu kauśalam. Bhagavad Gītā 2.50
- My viewUnit 1 · Management and Its Principles
Piece-rate and the fruit of action
Read it in its chapter“You have a claim on action alone, never on its fruits.” कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन । karmaṇy evādhikāras te mā phaleṣu kadācana. Bhagavad Gītā 2.47
- DocumentedUnit 1 · Management and Its Principles
Human and conceptual skill and leading by example, seeing the whole
Read it in its chapter“Whatever the best person does, others do too.” यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेतरो जनः । yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhas tat tad evetaro janaḥ. Bhagavad Gītā 3.21; see also 18.20
समदर्शिनः । sama-darśinaḥ. “Those who see with equal regard.” Bhagavad Gītā 5.18; 6.9
“Lift yourself by yourself.” उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानम् । uddhared ātmanātmānam. Bhagavad Gītā 6.5; moderation at 6.17
- DocumentedUnit 1 · Theories of Management
Contingency and place, time and person
Read it in its chapterदेशे काले च पात्रे च । deśe kāle ca pātre ca. “In the right place, at the right time, to the right recipient.” Bhagavad Gītā 17.20
- DocumentedUnit 1 · Theories of Management
Total Quality Management and practice that compounds
Read it in its chapterअभ्यासेन तु कौन्तेय वैराग्येण च गृह्यते । abhyāsena tu kaunteya vairāgyeṇa ca gṛhyate. Bhagavad Gītā 6.35
- DocumentedUnit 1 · Theories of Management
Knowledge management and learning through questions and service
Read it in its chapter“Learn it by humble approach, by questioning, by service.” तद्विद्धि प्रणिपातेन परिप्रश्नेन सेवया । tad viddhi praṇipātena paripraśnena sevayā. Bhagavad Gītā 4.34; 4.38
- DocumentedUnit 1 · Communication
Communication ethics and true, pleasant and beneficial
Read it in its chapter - DocumentedUnit 1 · Communication
Psychological barriers and the chain from anger to confusion
Read it in its chapterक्रोधाद्भवति सम्मोहः सम्मोहात्स्मृतिविभ्रमः । krodhād bhavati sammohaḥ sammohāt smṛtivibhramaḥ. Bhagavad Gītā 2.63
“Reflect on this fully, then do as you wish.” विमृश्यैतदशेषेण यथेच्छसि तथा कुरु । vimṛśyaitad aśeṣeṇa yathecchasi tathā kuru. Bhagavad Gītā 18.63
- DocumentedUnit 1 · Decision Making
Implementation and the five factors of action
Read it in its chapter“The base, the doer, the various instruments, the many separate efforts, and providence as the fifth.” अधिष्ठानं तथा कर्ता करणं च पृथग्विधम् । विविधाश्च पृथक्चेष्टा दैवं चैवात्र पञ्चमम् । adhiṣṭhānaṃ tathā kartā karaṇaṃ ca pṛthagvidham, vividhāś ca pṛthak ceṣṭā daivaṃ caivātra pañcamam. Bhagavad Gītā 18.14
- DocumentedUnit 1 · Decision Making
Judgement and knowing what to do and what to avoid
Read it in its chapterप्रवृत्तिं च निवृत्तिं च कार्याकार्ये भयाभये । pravṛttiṃ ca nivṛttiṃ ca kāryākārye bhayābhaye. Bhagavad Gītā 18.30
- My viewUnit 1 · Organisation Structure
The organising process and a cycle of exchange
Read it in its chapter“Whoever here does not keep turning the wheel thus set in motion…” एवं प्रवर्तितं चक्रं नानुवर्तयतीह यः । evaṃ pravartitaṃ cakraṃ nānuvartayatīha yaḥ. Bhagavad Gītā 3.14–16
- DocumentedUnit 1 · Business Economics and Demand
Wants that grow and and pleasures that fade
Read it in its chapter - My viewUnit 1 · Business Economics and Demand
Veblen and bandwagon and display and imitation
Read it in its chapterआढ्योऽभिजनवानस्मि कोऽन्योऽस्ति सदृशो मया । āḍhyo 'bhijanavān asmi ko 'nyo 'sti sadṛśo mayā. Bhagavad Gītā 16.15; 3.21
- My viewUnit 1 · Utility Analysis
Utility is unstable and sensations come and go
Read it in its chapterआगमापायिनोऽनित्यास् । āgamāpāyino 'nityās. “They come and go, and are impermanent.” Bhagavad Gītā 2.14
- My viewUnit 1 · Utility Analysis
Diminishing returns on pleasure and pleasures that end
Read it in its chapter“Pleasures born of contact are sources of sorrow; they have a beginning and an end, and the wise take no delight in them.” ये हि संस्पर्शजा भोगा दुःखयोनय एव ते । आद्यन्तवन्तः कौन्तेय न तेषु रमते बुधः । ye hi saṃsparśajā bhogā duḥkhayonaya eva te, ādyantavantaḥ kaunteya na teṣu ramate budhaḥ. Manusmṛti 2.94; Bhagavad Gītā 5.22
- My viewUnit 1 · Utility Analysis
Equi-marginal allocation and balance across what we consume
Read it in its chapterनात्यश्नतस्तु योगोऽस्ति न चैकान्तमनश्नतः । nātyaśnatas tu yogo 'sti na caikāntam anaśnataḥ. Bhagavad Gītā 6.16–17
“Treating pleasure and pain, gain and loss, victory and defeat alike.” सुखदुःखे समे कृत्वा लाभालाभौ जयाजयौ । sukhaduḥkhe same kṛtvā lābhālābhau jayājayau. Bhagavad Gītā 2.38; 2.48
- DocumentedUnit 1 · Business Ethics and CSR
Profit and social welfare and sharing what is earned
Read it in its chapter - DocumentedUnit 1 · Business Ethics and CSR
Stakeholder interest and delight in the welfare of all beings
Read it in its chapterसर्वभूतहिते रताः । sarvabhūtahite ratāḥ. Bhagavad Gītā 5.25; 12.4
- DocumentedUnit 1 · Business Ethics and CSR
Virtue ethics and the divine endowment
Read it in its chapterअभयं सत्त्वसंशुद्धिर्ज्ञानयोगव्यवस्थितिः । दानं दमश्च … abhayaṃ sattvasaṃśuddhir jñānayogavyavasthitiḥ, dānaṃ damaś ca… Bhagavad Gītā 16.1–3
- DocumentedUnit 1 · Business Ethics and CSR
Ethical dilemma and Arjuna's confusion
Read it in its chapterधर्मसम्मूढचेताः । dharmasammūḍhacetāḥ. “My mind confused about duty.” गहना कर्मणो गतिः । gahanā karmaṇo gatiḥ. “The way of action is deep.” Bhagavad Gītā 2.7; 4.17
“Lift yourself by yourself; do not let yourself sink.” उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत् । uddhared ātmanātmānaṃ nātmānam avasādayet. Bhagavad Gītā 6.5
- My viewUnit 2 · Organisational Behaviour
Several factors behind any result and the five factors of action
Read it in its chapter“The seat, the doer, the various instruments, the many kinds of effort, and fate as the fifth.” अधिष्ठानं तथा कर्ता करणं च पृथग्विधम् विविधाश्च पृथक्चेष्टा दैवं चैवात्र पञ्चमम् adhiṣṭhānaṃ tathā kartā karaṇaṃ ca pṛthagvidham vividhāś ca pṛthak ceṣṭā daivaṃ caivātra pañcamam Bhagavad Gītā 18.14
- My viewUnit 2 · Personality, Perception, Attitude
Personality and the three qualities of nature
Read it in its chapter“Sattva, rajas and tamas, the qualities born of nature, bind the embodied self.” सत्त्वं रजस्तम इति गुणाः प्रकृतिसम्भवाः । sattvaṃ rajas tama iti guṇāḥ prakṛti-sambhavāḥ. Bhagavad Gītā 14.5
- DocumentedUnit 2 · Personality, Perception, Attitude
Personality is consistent and acting by one's own nature
Read it in its chapter“Even the wise act in keeping with their own nature; beings follow their nature.” सदृशं चेष्टते स्वस्याः प्रकृतेर्ज्ञानवानपि । प्रकृतिं यान्ति भूतानि । sadṛśaṃ ceṣṭate svasyāḥ prakṛter jñānavān api, prakṛtiṃ yānti bhūtāni. Bhagavad Gītā 3.33
- My viewUnit 2 · Personality, Perception, Attitude
Attitude and a person is made of their faith
Read it in its chapter“A person is made of their faith: as their faith is, so are they.” श्रद्धामयोऽयं पुरुषो यो यच्छ्रद्धः स एव सः । śraddhāmayo ’yaṃ puruṣo yo yac-chraddhaḥ sa eva saḥ. Bhagavad Gītā 17.3
- DocumentedUnit 2 · Values, Learning and Motivation
Social learning and people follow the best
Read it in its chapter“Whatever the best person does, others do too; the world follows the standard they set.” यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेतरो जनः । स यत्प्रमाणं कुरुते लोकस्तदनुवर्तते । yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhas tat tad evetaro janaḥ, sa yat pramāṇaṃ kurute lokas tad anuvartate. Bhagavad Gītā 3.21
- My viewUnit 2 · Values, Learning and Motivation
Working for the work itself and the right to action alone
Read it in its chapter“Your right is to action alone, never to its fruits; let the fruit of action not be your motive, and let there be no attachment to inaction.” कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि karmaṇy evādhikāras te mā phaleṣu kadācana mā karmaphalahetur bhūr mā te saṅgo 'stv akarmaṇi Bhagavad Gītā 2.47
- My viewUnit 2 · Groups, Teams and Leadership
Social loafing and action is better than inaction
Read it in its chapter“Do your allotted work, for action is better than inaction.” नियतं कुरु कर्म त्वं कर्म ज्यायो ह्यकर्मणः । niyataṃ kuru karma tvaṃ karma jyāyo hy akarmaṇaḥ. Bhagavad Gītā 3.8
- My viewUnit 2 · Groups, Teams and Leadership
Playing to a natural team role and one's own role, imperfectly done
Read it in its chapter“Better one's own duty, though imperfectly done, than another's duty well done; death in one's own duty is better, another's duty brings fear.” श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मो भयावहः śreyān svadharmo viguṇaḥ paradharmāt svanuṣṭhitāt svadharme nidhanaṃ śreyaḥ paradharmo bhayāvahaḥ Bhagavad Gītā 3.35
“Undisturbed in sorrow, free of craving in pleasure, without attachment, fear or anger: such a person is called steady in wisdom.” दुःखेष्वनुद्विग्नमनाः सुखेषु विगतस्पृहः । वीतरागभयक्रोधः स्थितधीर्मुनिरुच्यते । duḥkheṣv anudvigna-manāḥ sukheṣu vigata-spṛhaḥ, vīta-rāga-bhaya-krodhaḥ sthita-dhīr munir ucyate. Bhagavad Gītā 2.56
- DocumentedUnit 2 · Emotions and Stress
Empathy and seeing others' joy and sorrow as one's own
Read it in its chapter“Who, by comparison with themself, sees the joy and sorrow of all beings as their own is held to be the highest yogin.” आत्मौपम्येन सर्वत्र समं पश्यति योऽर्जुन । सुखं वा यदि वा दुःखं स योगी परमो मतः । ātmaupamyena sarvatra samaṃ paśyati yo ’rjuna, sukhaṃ vā yadi vā duḥkhaṃ sa yogī paramo mataḥ. Bhagavad Gītā 6.32
- DocumentedUnit 2 · Emotions and Stress
Individual stress management and moderation in food, rest and sleep
Read it in its chapter“For one moderate in food and recreation, measured in effort at work, and regular in sleep and waking, discipline destroys sorrow.” युक्ताहारविहारस्य युक्तचेष्टस्य कर्मसु । युक्तस्वप्नावबोधस्य योगो भवति दुःखहा । yuktāhāra-vihārasya yukta-ceṣṭasya karmasu, yukta-svapnāvabodhasya yogo bhavati duḥkha-hā. Bhagavad Gītā 6.17
- My viewUnit 2 · Emotions and Stress
Same stressor, different reaction and contacts come and go
Read it in its chapter“The contacts of the senses with their objects, son of Kuntī, bring cold and heat, pleasure and pain; they come and go and do not last; bear them, Bhārata.” मात्रास्पर्शास्तु कौन्तेय शीतोष्णसुखदुःखदाः आगमापायिनोऽनित्यास्तांस्तितिक्षस्व भारत mātrāsparśās tu kaunteya śītoṣṇasukhaduḥkhadāḥ āgamāpāyino 'nityās tāṃs titikṣasva bhārata Bhagavad Gītā 2.14
- My viewUnit 2 · Compensation Management
Security beyond the pay packet and yogakṣema, getting and keeping
Read it in its chapter“For those who think of me alone and worship me, ever steadfast, I bring what they lack and keep what they have.” अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जनाः पर्युपासते । तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम् । ananyāś cintayanto māṃ ye janāḥ paryupāsate; teṣāṃ nityābhiyuktānāṃ yogakṣemaṃ vahāmy aham. Bhagavad Gītā 9.22
- My viewUnit 2 · Careers and Succession
Career stages and childhood, youth and old age
Read it in its chapter“As the embodied self passes in this body through childhood, youth and old age, so it passes to another body; the steady person is not bewildered by it.” देहिनोऽस्मिन्यथा देहे कौमारं यौवनं जरा । तथा देहान्तरप्राप्तिर्धीरस्तत्र न मुह्यति । dehino 'smin yathā dehe kaumāraṃ yauvanaṃ jarā; tathā dehāntaraprāptir dhīras tatra na muhyati. Bhagavad Gītā 2.13
- My viewUnit 2 · Engagement and Work-Life
Meaningful work and work done for a larger purpose
Read it in its chapter“Except for work done as sacrifice, this world is bound by its work; so do your work for that purpose, free from attachment, son of Kuntī.” यज्ञार्थात्कर्मणोऽन्यत्र लोकोऽयं कर्मबन्धनः । तदर्थं कर्म कौन्तेय मुक्तसङ्गः समाचर । yajñārthāt karmaṇo 'nyatra loko 'yaṃ karmabandhanaḥ; tadarthaṃ karma kaunteya muktasaṅgaḥ samācara. Bhagavad Gītā 3.9
- My viewUnit 2 · Labour Welfare
Why an employer gives back and the one who takes without giving
Read it in its chapter“The gods, pleased by sacrifice, will give you the enjoyments you desire. One who enjoys what they have given without giving in return is a thief.” इष्टान्भोगान्हि वो देवा दास्यन्ते यज्ञभाविताः । तैर्दत्तानप्रदायैभ्यो यो भुङ्क्ते स्तेन एव सः । iṣṭān bhogān hi vo devā dāsyante yajñabhāvitāḥ; tair dattān apradāyaibhyo yo bhuṅkte stena eva saḥ. Bhagavad Gītā 3.12
Cite this page
- APA
Veda Verse. (2026, October 25). Bhagavad Gītā: what it is, and the passages we quote. https://myvedaverse.in/learn/texts/bhagavad-gita
- MLA
“Bhagavad Gītā: what it is, and the passages we quote.” Veda Verse, 25 Oct. 2026, myvedaverse.in/learn/texts/bhagavad-gita.
- Chicago
Veda Verse. “Bhagavad Gītā: what it is, and the passages we quote.” Last modified October 25, 2026. https://myvedaverse.in/learn/texts/bhagavad-gita.
Check the form your course asks for. The date is when this page's content last changed.