Bhagavad Gita on stress
The Gita is spoken on a battlefield, minutes before a war. It is a text about staying clear under pressure. These verses describe the person who can stand in the middle of it all: like a lotus leaf that water does not cling to, like an ocean that rivers keep filling and never disturb.
Skip to the verse for your situation ↓6 verses from the Gita
- Bhagavad Gita 2.14 · Krishna
Heat and cold, pleasure and pain come and go. Endure them.
मात्रास्पर्शास्तु कौन्तेय शीतोष्णसुखदुःखदाः । आगमापायिनोऽनित्यास्तांस्तितिक्षस्व भारत ॥
“Contacts with the senses, O son of Kunti, bring heat and cold, pleasure and pain. They come and go; they are impermanent. Endure them, O Bharata.”
हे कुन्तीनन्दन इन्द्रियोंके जो विषय जड पदार्थ हैं, वो तो शीत अनुकूलता और उष्ण प्रतिकूलता के द्वारा सुख और दुःख देनेवाले हैं तथा आनेजानेवाले और अनित्य हैं । हे भरतवंशोद्भव अर्जुन उनको तुम सहन करो ॥
You do not have to be ruled by every sensation. Calm endurance gives you room to choose wisely.
Meaning and commentary → - Bhagavad Gita 5.10 · Krishna
Act without clinging, like a lotus leaf untouched by water.
ब्रह्मण्याधाय कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा करोति यः । लिप्यते न स पापेन पद्मपत्रमिवाम्भसा ॥
“One who offers actions to Brahman, renounces attachment, and acts is not stained by wrongdoing, just as a lotus leaf is untouched by water.”
जो भक्तियोगी सम्पूर्ण कर्मोंको भगवान् में अर्पण करके और आसक्तिका त्याग करके कर्म करता है, वह जलसे कमलके पत्तेकी तरह पापसे लिप्त नहीं होता ॥
There is relief in acting fully without carrying the weight of ownership.
Meaning and commentary → - Bhagavad Gita 2.70 · Krishna
Desires flow in like rivers into the ocean, and it stays still.
आपूर्यमाणमचलप्रतिष्ठंसमुद्रमापः प्रविशन्ति यद्वत् । तद्वत्कामा यं प्रविशन्ति सर्वेस शान्तिमाप्नोति न कामकामी ॥
“As rivers flow into the sea and the sea remains steady, so desires may enter a disciplined person without disturbing inner peace. The person who wants pleasures does not find peace.”
जैसे सम्पूर्ण नदियोंका जल चारों ओरसे जलद्वारा परिपूर्ण समुद्रमें आकर मिलता है, पर समुद्र अपनी मर्यादामें अचल प्रतिष्ठित रहता है ऐसे ही सम्पूर्ण भोगपदार्थ जिस संयमी मनुष्य को विकार उत्पन्न किये बिना ही उसको प्राप्त होते हैं, वही मनुष्य परमशान्तिको प्राप्त होता है, भोगोंकी कामनावाला नहीं ॥
You do not have to fight every desire; you can let it move through without letting it steer you.
Meaning and commentary → - Bhagavad Gita 6.17 · Krishna
Balance in eating, sleeping, work and rest ends sorrow.
युक्ताहारविहारस्य युक्तचेष्टस्य कर्मसु । युक्तस्वप्नावबोधस्य योगो भवति दुःखहा ॥
“Yoga that destroys suffering comes from balanced eating, balanced activity, balanced work, and balanced sleep and waking.”
दुःखोंका नाश करनेवाला योग तो यथायोग्य आहार और विहार करनेवालेका, कर्मोंमें यथायोग्य चेष्टा करनेवालेका तथा यथायोग्य सोने और जागनेवालेका ही सिद्ध होता है ॥
Inner steadiness starts with ordinary habits, not with forcing the mind.
Meaning and commentary → - Bhagavad Gita 2.48 · Krishna
Evenness of mind is yoga.
योगस्थः कुरु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा धनञ्जय । सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योः समो भूत्वा समत्वं योग उच्यते ॥
“O Dhananjaya, perform actions while established in yoga, abandoning attachment. Remain equal in success and failure, for equanimity is called yoga.”
हे धनञ्जय तू आसक्तिका त्याग करके सिद्धिअसिद्धिमें सम होकर योगमें स्थित हुआ कर्मोंको कर क्योंकि समत्व ही योग कहा जाता है ॥
You can stay calm without stopping action. Inner balance makes effort cleaner and less painful.
Meaning and commentary → - Bhagavad Gita 18.66 · Krishna
Krishna’s last word: set it all down and take refuge. Do not grieve.
सर्वधर्मान्परित्यज्य मामेकं शरणं व्रज । अहं त्वा सर्वपापेभ्यो मोक्षयिष्यामि मा शुचः ॥
“Abandon all duties and take refuge in Me alone. I will free you from all wrongdoing; do not grieve.”
सम्पूर्ण धर्मोंका आश्रय छोड़कर तू केवल मेरी शरणमें आ जा । मैं तुझे सम्पूर्ण पापोंसे मुक्त कर दूँगा, चिन्ता मत कर ॥
There is relief in surrendering what you cannot finally control.
Meaning and commentary →