Sankhya Yoga
सांख्ययोगः
The Yoga of Eternal Knowledge & Self-Realization
Lord Krishna reveals the eternal, indestructible nature of the Atman (Soul), instructs Arjuna in Nishkama Karma Yoga (selfless duty without attachment to fruits), and describes the attributes of a Sthitaprajna (person of steady wisdom).
అధ్యాయం 2 శ్లోకాలు
72 శ్లోకాలు లభ్యంतं तथा कृपयाविष्टमश्रुपूर्णाकुलेक्षणम् | विषीदन्तमिदं वाक्यमुवाच मधुसूदनः ||२-१||
Sanjaya said To him who was thus overcome with pity and who was despondent, with eyes full of tears and agitated, Madhusudana (the destroyer of Madhu) or Krishna spoke these words.
कुतस्त्वा कश्मलमिदं विषमे समुपस्थितम् | अनार्यजुष्टमस्वर्ग्यमकीर्तिकरमर्जुन ||२-२||
The Blessed Lord said Whence is this perilous strait come upon thee, this dejection which is unworthy of you, disgraceful, and which will close the gates of heaven upon you, O Arjuna?
क्लैब्यं मा स्म गमः पार्थ नैतत्त्वय्युपपद्यते | क्षुद्रं हृदयदौर्बल्यं त्यक्त्वोत्तिष्ठ परन्तप ||२-३||
Yield not to impotence, O Arjuna, son of Pritha. It does not befit thee. Cast off this mean weakness of the heart! Stand up, O scorcher of the foes!
कथं भीष्ममहं सङ्ख्ये द्रोणं च मधुसूदन | इषुभिः प्रतियोत्स्यामि पूजार्हावरिसूदन ||२-४||
Arjuna said How, O Madhusudana, shall I fight in battle with arrows against Bhishma and Drona, who are fit to be worshipped, O destroyer of enemies?
गुरूनहत्वा हि महानुभावान् श्रेयो भोक्तुं भैक्ष्यमपीह लोके | हत्वार्थकामांस्तु गुरूनिहैव भुञ्जीय भोगान् रुधिरप्रदिग्धान् ||२-५||
Better it is, indeed, in this world to accept alms than to slay the most noble teachers. But if I kill them, even in this world all my enjoyments of wealth and fulfilled desires will be stained with (their) blood.
न चैतद्विद्मः कतरन्नो गरीयो यद्वा जयेम यदि वा नो जयेयुः | यानेव हत्वा न जिजीविषामस्- तेऽवस्थिताः प्रमुखे धार्तराष्ट्राः ||२-६||
I can hardly tell which will be better, that we should coner them or that they should coner us. Even the sons of Dhritarashtra, after slaying whom we do not wish to live, stand facing us.
कार्पण्यदोषोपहतस्वभावः पृच्छामि त्वां धर्मसम्मूढचेताः | यच्छ्रेयः स्यान्निश्चितं ब्रूहि तन्मे शिष्यस्तेऽहं शाधि मां त्वां प्रपन्नम् ||२-७||
My heart is overpowered by the taint of pity; my mind is confused as to duty. I ask Thee: Tell me decisively what is good for me. I am Thy disciple. Instruct me who has taken refuge in Thee.
न हि प्रपश्यामि ममापनुद्याद् यच्छोकमुच्छोषणमिन्द्रियाणाम् | अवाप्य भूमावसपत्नमृद्धं राज्यं सुराणामपि चाधिपत्यम् ||२-८||
I do not see that it would remove this sorrow that burns up my senses, even if I should attain prosperous and unrivalled dominion on earth or lordship over the gods.
एवमुक्त्वा हृषीकेशं गुडाकेशः परन्तप | न योत्स्य इति गोविन्दमुक्त्वा तूष्णीं बभूव ह ||२-९||
Sanjaya said Having spoken thus to Hrishikesha (the Lord of the senses), Arjuna (the coneror of sleep), the destroyer of foes, said to Krishna, "I will not fight" and became silent.
तमुवाच हृषीकेशः प्रहसन्निव भारत | सेनयोरुभयोर्मध्ये विषीदन्तमिदं वचः ||२-१०||
To him who was despondent in the midst of the two armies, Krishna, as if smiling, O Bharata, spoke these words.
భగవద్గీత గురించి తరచుగా అడిగే ప్రశ్నలు
What is the core message of the Bhagavad Gita for modern daily life?
The fundamental message of the Bhagavad Gita is Nishkama Karma—performing one's prescribed duties with complete diligence and enthusiasm, while remaining unattached to the outcome, success, or failure. In modern daily life, this teaching frees individuals from anxiety, chronic stress, and fear of judgment by shifting the focus entirely to excellence of effort in the present moment rather than obsessive worry over future results.
What are the four primary paths of Yoga explained in the Gita?
The Gita harmonizes four major spiritual disciplines (Yogas) to suit different human temperaments: • Karma Yoga (The Yoga of Action): Selfless service dedicated to the Divine without personal desire for rewards. • Bhakti Yoga (The Yoga of Devotion): Loving surrender, prayer, chanting, and meditation on the Supreme Lord. • Jnana Yoga (The Yoga of Knowledge): Analytical inquiry and discernment between the eternal soul and the temporary physical body. • Dhyana/Raja Yoga (The Yoga of Meditation): Mental stillness, breath mastery, and focused contemplation on the inner self.
What does 'Karmanye Vadhikaraste Ma Phaleshu Kadachana' (Gita 2.47) mean?
Verse 2.47 is one of the most famous shlokas in the Gita: 'कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन । मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि ॥'. It means: 'You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are never entitled to the fruits of your actions. Never let the fruits of action be your motive, nor let your attachment be to inaction.' This profound aphorism teaches that while action is within human control, outcomes are governed by cosmic laws, time, and external factors. Focusing on the work itself leads to peace, whereas obsessing over rewards causes grief.
What is the Gita's teaching on the Immortal Soul (Atman) in Chapter 2?
In Chapter 2 (Sankhya Yoga), Lord Krishna explains that the physical body is mortal and constantly changing through childhood, youth, and old age, but the conscious soul (Atman) is eternal, indestructible, and unchangeable. As stated in verse 2.22 and 2.23, just as a person discards worn-out garments and puts on new ones, the soul casts off old bodies and takes on new ones at death. Weapons cannot cleave the soul, fire cannot burn it, water cannot wet it, and wind cannot wither it.