Bhagavad Gita Quotes in English: 15 Shlokas with Meaning

The best Bhagavad Gita quotes in English are not just lines to admire, they are a way to live. Below are 15 of the most famous shlokas, each with its Sanskrit and a clear meaning, grouped into four themes, karma, the soul, devotion and dharma, so the one you need today is easy to find. Where a full explanation exists, a link takes you to the complete verse.

Bhagavad Gita quotes about karma

The Gita's central teaching: act fully, release the fruit.

कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन।

karmaṇy-evādhikāras te mā phaleṣhu kadāchana

You have a right to your action alone, never to its fruit. Do not make the fruit your motive, and do not fall into inaction either. → Full meaning of karmanye vadhikaraste

योगस्थः कुरु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा धनञ्जय।

yoga-sthaḥ kuru karmāṇi saṅgaṁ tyaktvā dhanañjaya

Established in yoga, do your work, letting go of attachment, even-minded in success and failure. This evenness of mind is yoga. → Full meaning of samatvam yoga uchyate

बुद्धियुक्तो जहातीह उभे सुकृतदुष्कृते।

buddhi-yukto jahātīha ubhe sukṛita-duṣhkṛite

One steady in wisdom casts off both good and bad deeds here itself. So devote yourself to yoga, for yoga is skill in action. → Full meaning of yogah karmasu kaushalam

ध्यायतो विषयान्पुंसः सङ्गस्तेषूपजायते।

dhyāyato viṣhayān puṁsaḥ saṅgas teṣhūpajāyate

Dwelling on the objects of the senses breeds attachment; from attachment comes desire, and from desire, anger. Where the mind lingers, it is pulled.

Krishna's quotes on the soul and death

The Gita's second pillar: you are not the body, but the deathless soul.

न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचिन्नायं भूत्वा भविता वा न भूयः।

na jāyate mriyate vā kadāchin nāyaṁ bhūtvā bhavitā vā na bhūyaḥ

The soul is never born and never dies. Unborn, eternal and ancient, it is not slain when the body is slain. → Full meaning of na hanyate hanyamane sharire

वासांसि जीर्णानि यथा विहाय नवानि गृह्णाति नरोऽपराणि।

vāsāṁsi jīrṇāni yathā vihāya navāni gṛihṇāti naro ’parāṇi

As a person sheds worn-out clothes and puts on new ones, so the soul sheds worn-out bodies and enters new ones. Death ends the body, not you.

नैनं छिन्दन्ति शस्त्राणि नैनं दहति पावकः।

nainaṁ chhindanti śhastrāṇi nainaṁ dahati pāvakaḥ

Weapons cannot cut the soul, fire cannot burn it, water cannot wet it, and wind cannot dry it. The soul is indestructible.

विहाय कामान्यः सर्वान्पुमांश्चरति निःस्पृहः।

vihāya kāmān yaḥ sarvān pumāṁśh charati niḥspṛihaḥ

The one who gives up all desires and moves through life free of longing, without "mine" and without ego, attains true peace. → Full meaning of vihaya kaman yah

Bhagavad Gita quotes on devotion and surrender

पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं यो मे भक्त्या प्रयच्छति।

patraṁ puṣhpaṁ phalaṁ toyaṁ yo me bhaktyā prayachchhati

Whoever offers Me a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water with true devotion, that offering of a pure heart I accept. The gift's size does not matter, the love does. → Full meaning of patram pushpam phalam toyam

मन्मना भव मद्भक्तो मद्याजी मां नमस्कुरु।

man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru

Fix your mind on Me, be devoted to Me, worship Me, and bow to Me. United in this way, you will come to Me. → Full meaning of manmana bhava mad bhakto

सर्वधर्मान्परित्यज्य मामेकं शरणं व्रज।

sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śharaṇaṁ vraja

Abandon all other supports and take refuge in Me alone. I will free you from all sins; do not fear.

Krishna's promise: dharma and the avatar

यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत।

yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati bhārata

Whenever dharma declines and adharma rises, I manifest Myself. This is not chance, but the eternal order of creation. → Full meaning of yada yada hi dharmasya

परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम्।

paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ vināśhāya cha duṣhkṛitām

To protect the good, to remove the wicked, and to re-establish dharma, I appear age after age. → Full meaning of paritranaya sadhunam

Live these quotes, don't only read them

The Gita's words change you only when they are repeated and settled in the mind. Pick one shloka or a name of God and chant it daily, keeping count on our free naam jap counter with a 108-bead mala. You can also read these verses in Hindi with meaning.