Bhagavad Gita Summary and Message

We are dedicating the month of December to the Bhagavad Gita in celebration of Gita Jayanti.

Summary of the Bhagavad Gita

It is extremely difficult, and perhaps presumptuous, to offer a summary of a work as important as the Bhagavad Gita. However, two summaries of the Bhagavad Gita in English and Bhagavad Gita in Hindi are made available for those who want or need the message of the Gita in fast-food style. This summary highlights the salient message(s) and theme(s) of this primary treatise of Hinduism. We hope you enjoy the same and share with your friends and families!

  • Change is the law of the universe. What you think of as death, is indeed life.
  • This body is not yours, neither are you of the body.
  • Dedicate your being to God. He is the one to be ultimately relied upon.
  • What did you bring with you, which you think you have lost?
  • Why do you worry without cause? Whom do you fear without reason? Who can kill you? The soul is neither born, nor does it die!

Central Message of the Bhagavad Gita

The central message of the Gita (available with Translation and Audio ) is made famous by the central theme in Chapter 2, Verse 47:

Karmanye Vaadhika-raste, Maa Phaleshu Kadachana
Maa karma-phala-hetur-bhoorma, MaTe sangostwakarmini.

कर्मण्ये वाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन, मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते संगोस्त्वकर्मणि ।

A brief audio version of the above shloka is also available below.

Audio – Karmanye Vaadhika-raste, Maa Phaleshu Kadachana

Your right is to work only, but never to its fruits.
Let not the fruits of action be thy motive,
Nor let thy attachment be to inaction. This famous verse contains the essential principle of disinterestedness or detachment. It also contains a warning not to use detachment as an excuse for inaction. This alone is the secret of all real achievements. Lord Krishna is perhaps advising Arjuna on the art of living an inspired life!

The next article will discuss some more shlokas (sayings) related to karma-yoga (the yoga of work) from the Gita – stay tuned!

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So how has the Bhagavad Gita impacted your life? Or are you just getting started with this wonderful book? Please share with fellow readers in the comments. Thanks!

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