Shree Krishna Quotes for Decision Making in Difficult Times

How to Navigate Life’s Toughest Crossroads with Clarity and Courage from the Bhagavad Gita

Life often throws us into situations where decisions must be made—but clarity feels distant. We overthink, react emotionally, or get paralyzed by fear. Yet more than 5,000 years ago, Shree Krishna taught Arjun the art of wise, courageous decision-making during a moment of moral collapse on the battlefield of Kurukshetra.

The following verses from the Bhagavad Gita, explained through modern examples, help us make choices rooted not in fear or ego—but in clarity, surrender, and soul-alignment.

1. Focus on Your Action, Not the Outcome

Bhagavad Gita 2.47
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“You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions. Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities, nor be attached to inaction.”

This verse is the spiritual foundation for detachment, one of the Gita’s core teachings. In our daily lives, we are often haunted by “what ifs”—what if I fail, what if people reject me, what if I make the wrong move? This fear leads to paralysis or burnout.

Shree Krishna’s message liberates us from that fear: you are only responsible for your effort, not the outcome. Whether you’re studying for an exam, preparing for an interview, or dealing with a personal conflict, your job is to show up with sincerity and dedication. The result is not in your hands. This doesn’t mean you don’t care—it means you don’t cling.

When you act with this kind of detachment, you not only reduce anxiety but also become more efficient and calm. The action becomes its own reward. Your mind remains balanced whether success or failure comes your way.

2. Be Still Like the Ocean Amid the Waves of Desire

Bhagavad Gita 2.70
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“Just as the ocean remains undisturbed by the incessant flow of waters from rivers merging into it, likewise the sage who is unmoved despite the flow of desirable objects all around him attains peace, and not the person who strives to satisfy desires."

This verse beautifully compares a wise person to the ocean. Life constantly brings us streams of desires—validation, security, material pleasures, and emotional highs. These desires are natural. However, allowing them to dictate your decisions leads to restlessness and imbalance.

Imagine being in a situation where you must choose between doing what’s right versus doing what feels immediately satisfying. If you’re driven by impulse, you may regret the decision later. Shree Krishna urges us to develop the quality of interior stillness—to feel the desires but not be consumed by them.

Just like the ocean absorbs the rivers without swelling, you too can remain grounded while navigating pressure, temptation, and urgency. This inner stillness becomes your compass during chaotic times.

3. Do Your Duty Without Selfish Motives

Bhagavad Gita 3.19
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“Therefore, giving up attachment, perform actions as a matter of duty because by working without being attached to the fruits, one attains the Supreme.”

Self-centered motives—whether they’re driven by ego, greed, or fear—often distort decision-making. Have you ever made a choice simply because you wanted praise or feared judgment? That’s the kind of attachment Shree Krishna is warning against.

He teaches us to perform our responsibilities with pure intention, not because we want to impress others or secure rewards, but because it is the right thing to do. When you act from this space, your decisions become cleaner, lighter, and more powerful.

This principle applies to everything—from leadership to relationships. A decision made out of love, service, or fairness carries divine strength. A decision made from insecurity or manipulation only deepens suffering. Detachment from selfish gain purifies the mind.

4. Don’t Let Anger or Pride Drive Your Decisions

Bhagavad Gita 3.37
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“The Supreme Lord said: It is lust alone, which is born of contact with the mode of passion, and later transformed into anger. Know this as the sinful, all-devouring enemy in the world.”

Anger, resentment, and wounded pride are toxic motivators. They make us reactive instead of reflective. Shree Krishna identifies them as our greatest enemies—not outside forces, but internal distortions that cloud our judgment.

This teaching is especially relevant in moments of interpersonal conflict. When you're angry, your mind demands action. You want to retaliate, assert, or cut off. But these emotions, born of unfulfilled desire or inflated ego, lead to harm—for others and for yourself.

Instead, pause. Cool down. Reflect. The wisest decisions are often made when the storm within has settled. Mastery over anger is mastery over chaos.

5. Everything in the Material World is Temporary

Bhagavad Gita 2.22
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“As a person sheds worn-out garments and wears new ones, likewise, at the time of death, the soul casts off its worn-out body and enters a new one.”

The fear of loss—losing a relationship, a job, a home, an identity—can make decisions excruciating. Shree Krishna offers a cosmic perspective: you are not this body, this title, or this possession. You are an eternal soul undergoing temporary experiences.

This helps release attachment. Letting go of something that no longer serves you is not failure—it’s evolution. Just as you wouldn’t cling to worn-out clothes, you don’t have to cling to outdated roles or situations. What’s truly yours will return in a higher form.

Understanding impermanence leads to emotional freedom and better judgment.

6. Surrender the Weight of Confusion to the Divine

Bhagavad Gita 18.66
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“Abandon all varieties of dharmas and simply surrender unto Me alone. I shall liberate you from all sinful reactions; do not fear.”

Sometimes, logic and reasoning fail us. Every option seems flawed, every path uncertain. That’s when Shree Krishna invites us to surrender. This isn’t about passivity—it’s about active trust.

Surrender means making the best possible decision based on dharma and then letting go of anxiety. It means accepting that you are not alone—there is divine guidance at play. When you release the burden, clarity flows. Your job is to choose with humility; God handles the rest.

7. Stay Balanced in Success and Failure

Bhagavad Gita 2.38
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“Fight for the sake of duty, treating alike happiness and distress, loss and gain, victory and defeat. Fulfilling your responsibility in this way, you will never incur sin."

Many people avoid hard decisions because they fear failure. Others chase only what guarantees victory. But Shree Krishna reminds us that both success and failure are part of life—they are not who you are.

Make your decisions from a place of balance, not emotional volatility. When you learn to treat both praise and blame with equanimity, your actions become powerful and fearless. You are no longer a slave to outcomes.

8. Sometimes Inaction is Action, and Vice Versa

Bhagavad Gita 4.18
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“Those who see action in inaction and inaction in action are truly wise amongst humans. Although performing all kinds of actions, they are yogis and masters of all their actions."

This verse highlights the subtlety of wisdom. Sometimes, doing nothing is the best course—especially when impulsive action could create harm. Other times, remaining silent, walking away, or pausing before reacting are powerful decisions, even if they appear inactive.

Shree Krishna encourages us to move from ego-driven “doing” to soul-guided discernment. Real action doesn’t always look dramatic. Stillness, waiting, or redirecting energy inward can be powerful responses when done consciously.

9. Seek Guidance from the Wise

Bhagavad Gita 4.34
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“Learn the Truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him with reverence and render service unto him. Such an enlightened Saint can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the Truth.”

You don’t have to navigate every hard decision alone. Shree Krishna encourages us to seek wisdom from those with clarity—gurus, elders, teachers, or even sacred texts. Not all knowledge comes from within. Sometimes a single question posed to the right person changes everything.

Be humble. Ask sincerely. The Gita itself was born from such a dialogue—Arjun, full of confusion, bowed before Shree Krishna and asked for guidance. You can too.

10. Honor Your True Nature (Svabhava)

Bhagavad Gita 3.33
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“Even wise people act according to their natures, for all living beings are propelled by their natural tendencies. What will one gain by repression?”

One of the biggest mistakes we make is trying to be someone we’re not—choosing paths that please others but betray our true selves. Shree Krishna says: even a wise person follows their nature.

You don’t have to be loud if you’re reflective. You don’t have to chase corporate titles if you’re a creator or nurturer. Decisions aligned with your dharma (your authentic path) bring fulfillment. Those made to impress, fit in, or escape fear bring conflict.

Listen inward. Your soul already knows.

FAQs: Applying Shree Krishna’s Wisdom in Real-Life Decisions

1. How can I stop obsessing over the outcome of a decision I haven’t even made yet?

This is a common source of anxiety. Shree Krishna teaches in 2.47 to focus on your duty, not the result. Obsession over outcomes is a sign of attachment. Reframe your thinking: “What is the next right action I can take right now?” Surrender the long-term outcome to divine will. This keeps you grounded in the present and empowers you to act with clarity.

2. What if I make a wrong decision? Won’t I regret it forever?

Shree Krishna reassures us that no sincere action goes to waste. Even mistakes become lessons if your intention was pure. The soul evolves through experience. Regret binds you to the past; wisdom lets you grow from it. As long as you acted from dharma and not ego, you can trust that even a “wrong” turn may be a redirection to something better.

3. How do I know if I’m acting from ego, fear, or my higher self?

Pause before making a decision and ask:

• Does this action feel aligned or forced?
• Is it rooted in service, peace, and courage—or in control, pride, or anxiety?
  If it feels expansive, quiet, and respectful—it likely comes from the soul. If it’s reactive, prideful, or emotionally charged, it may be ego-driven. Shree Krishna’s teachings sharpen this inner discernment over time.

4. I feel stuck between two equally hard choices. What do I do?

Hard choices often indicate growth is required either way. The question becomes: Which option helps me grow spiritually, emotionally, and ethically—even if it’s uncomfortable? Shree Krishna emphasizes in 2.38 that we must remain even-minded and act out of duty—not out of fear, guilt, or comfort-seeking.

5. How can I tell if I should wait or act immediately?

Turn to 4.18—where Shree Krishna speaks of action within inaction and vice versa. If your urge to act is impulsive, driven by pressure or unresolved emotion, wait. If your desire to wait is rooted in fear or avoidance, act. Learn to pause with purpose, not paralyze yourself with indecision.

6. Why does Shree Krishna keep saying to surrender? Doesn’t that mean giving up?

No. Surrender in the Gita means letting go of the illusion of full control. It’s about acting with your full capacity but releasing emotional dependence on the result. Surrender is spiritual strength. In 18.66, Shree Krishna asks us to offer our confusion to Him—so we can move forward from trust, not torment.

7. I want to make the right decision, but my emotions are all over the place. What can I do?

First, don’t suppress your emotions—honor them. But don’t let them drive your choices either. Journal. Meditate. Speak with someone wise. Emotions are like waves—they pass. Wait for the storm to calm. Shree Krishna consistently emphasizes inner stillness (2.70) as the prerequisite for clarity.

8. How can I tell if my decision aligns with my dharma or duty?

Your dharma is what you’re naturally inclined toward—it matches your skills, temperament, and life stage. In 3.33, Shree Krishna says we must honor our nature. If your decision helps you become a better version of yourself—more honest, calm, and useful—it’s likely aligned with your dharma. If it pushes you to deny your truth or values, it’s likely not.

9. Should I always ask others for advice or make decisions independently?

Both are needed. In 4.34, Shree Krishna encourages approaching the wise with humility. Seeking counsel isn’t weakness—it’s maturity. But the final choice must come from your own heart. Think of advice as a lantern in a foggy path—not a GPS that replaces your inner compass.

10. What prayer can I say to Shree Krishna when I feel confused about what to do?

A simple prayer is:
“Dear Krishna, I surrender my confusion, my fear, and my expectations to You. Please guide my heart to act with wisdom, courage, and love. May I serve You through this decision.”

Chanting Shree Krishna’s names, reading a verse aloud, or even silently repeating “I am guided” can soothe your inner noise. Divine guidance is always available when the heart humbles itself.

References for Further Study

🔹Watch: 1 Key To Always Take The Right Decision In Life - Swami Mukundananda

🔹Bhagavad Gita: The Song of God with Commentary by Swami Mukundananda
🔗Read Online