In the grand tapestry of the Mahabharat, where war drums echoed, hearts were conflicted, and destinies teetered on the edge of right and wrong, Lord Krishna emerged as the divine charioteer of wisdom. His words in the Bhagavad Gita are not bound by time or culture—they hold relevance even today, especially in times of moral ambiguity and difficult decisions.

Here are 10 profound quotes by Lord Krishna, paired with epic stories and timeless lessons to help guide decision-making in our own lives.

1. Bhagavad Gita 2.47

Verse:
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन |
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि || 47 ||

Transliteration:
karmaṇy-evādhikāras te mā phaleṣhu kadāchana
mā karma-phala-hetur bhūr mā te saṅgo ’stvakarmaṇi

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

Story from the Mahabharata: Arjuna and the Virat Yudh

During the thirteenth year of the Pandavas’ exile, they were to live in incognito to fulfill the terms of their agreement with the Kauravas. If discovered, they would have to repeat the exile for another 13 years.

The Pandavas chose the kingdom of Matsya ruled by King Virat to hide their identities. Arjuna assumed the guise of Brihannala, a eunuch and dance teacher to the princess Uttara.

Towards the end of the exile, the Kauravas attacked Matsya, hoping to lure the Pandavas out and thus force them into another exile. The main army had gone elsewhere, so there was no one to defend the city except Prince Uttarakumar, an inexperienced and frightened youth.

When Uttarakumar set out to face the massive Kaurava army, his courage melted away. It was then that Brihannala (Arjuna) revealed his true identity to Uttarakumar and offered to fight in his place.

Despite knowing that victory was uncertain, and even revealing himself could risk the exile’s success, Arjuna focused solely on his duty as a kshatriya. He said:

"It is not for me to judge victory or defeat. I must act as a warrior, uphold dharma, and protect the kingdom that has given us shelter."

Arjuna single-handedly defeated the Kaurava army, showcasing not just valor but detachment from outcomes. He was not attached to praise, fear of exposure, or the result of battle—only to the duty assigned to him by dharma.

Lesson Learned:

True success lies in detached action. Arjuna’s faith and focus on righteous action without craving for results illustrates how we too must uphold our duties—at work, in relationships, or during adversity—without obsessing over success or failure.

As Bhagavan Krishna teaches, do your best, leave the rest.

2. Bhagavad Gita 3.19

Verse:
तस्मादसक्तः सततं कार्यं कर्म समाचर |
असक्तो ह्याचरन्कर्म परमाप्नोति पूरुषः || 19 ||

Transliteration:
tasmād asaktaḥ satataṁ kāryaṁ karma samāchara
asakto hy ācharan karma param āpnoti pūruṣhaḥ

Meaning: Therefore, without being attached to the fruits of activities, one should act as a matter of duty, for by working without attachment one attains the Supreme.

The Story: Lord Ram's Selfless Acceptance of Exile

Background: The Crown Prince of Ayodhya

Lord Ram, the eldest son of King Dasharath and Queen Kaushalya, was the epitome of virtue and righteousness. He was beloved by the people of Ayodhya for his noble conduct, humility, and unwavering adherence to dharma. When Dasharath decided to coronate Ram as the king of Ayodhya, there was immense joy across the kingdom.

However, in the backdrop loomed a promise Dasharath had made years ago to his youngest wife, Kaikeyi. During a battle, when she had once saved his life, he had offered her two boons of her choice. Kaikeyi, instigated by her maid Manthara and driven by fear of losing her position in the palace, decided to claim those boons just as Ram was about to be crowned.

Her first demand: Ram should be exiled to the forest for 14 years.
Her second: Her own son Bharat should be installed as king in his place.

This unexpected betrayal shattered King Dasharath. Bound by his promise, he was helpless. The decision lay heavy on his heart, and he collapsed under grief.

Ram's Noble Response

When Lord Ram heard about Kaikeyi’s demands, he showed no resistance, no anger, and no sorrow. He bowed respectfully to his stepmother and gracefully accepted the exile, stating that upholding dharma and honoring his father's word was his foremost duty.

He did not argue that the throne was rightfully his. He did not question the injustice of the situation. Instead, he prepared himself with a serene smile, donned simple clothes, and set out to the forest, accompanied by his devoted wife Sita and loyal brother Lakshman.

Even when the citizens of Ayodhya cried in protest and begged him to stay, Ram remained steadfast. His sense of duty transcended personal desire, demonstrating the essence of karma yoga as described in the Gita.

Lesson Learned

Lord Ram’s life exemplifies Bhagavad Gita 3.19, where Lord Krishna teaches Arjun the importance of performing one’s duties without attachment to rewards. Ram could have rebelled or at least questioned the injustice done to him. But his eyes were set not on the throne, but on righteousness and selfless service to dharma.

He did not act to gain power or recognition. He acted purely to uphold his father’s honor and fulfill the promise, even at the cost of personal hardship. His actions were a sacrifice offered to the Divine, free from ego and expectation.

Such niṣkāma karma (action without desire for results) purifies the soul and strengthens character, ultimately leading one closer to God.

3. Bhagavad Gita 4.7–8

Verse:
यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत |
अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदाऽअत्मानं सृजाम्यहम् || 7 ||

परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम् |
धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय सम्भवामि युगे युगे || 8 ||

Transliteration:
yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati bhārata
abhyutthānam adharmasya tadātmānaṁ sṛijāmy aham

paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṁ vināśhāya cha duṣhkṛitām
dharma-saṁsthāpanārthāya sambhavāmi yuge yuge

Meaning: Whenever there is a decline in righteousness and a rise in unrighteousness, I manifest Myself. To protect the righteous, annihilate the wicked, and reestablish dharma, I appear millennium after millennium.

Story from Mahabharat: Krishna's incarnation was itself for the protection of dharma. His strategic decisions—from peace negotiations with Duryodhan to forming alliances for the Pandavas—were all steps to restore righteousness.

Lesson: When facing injustice or chaos, remember that standing for dharma, even alone, invokes divine support.

4. Bhagavad Gita 2.70

Verse:
आपूर्यमाणमचलप्रतिष्ठं
समुद्रमापः प्रविशन्ति यद्वत् |
तद्वत्कामा यं प्रविशन्ति सर्वे
स शान्तिमाप्नोति न कामकामी || 70 ||

Transliteration:
āpūryamāṇam achala-pratiṣhṭhaṁ
samudram āpaḥ praviśhanti yadvat
tadvat kāmā yaṁ praviśhanti sarve
sa śhāntim āpnoti na kāma-kāmī

Meaning: As rivers flow into the ocean, which is ever being filled but is always still, so the desires of the self-realized soul enter him, but he is not disturbed. Such a person alone attains peace.

Story: Bhishma Pitamah, who had the power to choose the time of his death, renounced the throne, kingdom, and marriage simply to uphold his father’s promise. He remained calm, like the ocean, despite the flood of desires he could have chosen to indulge.

Lesson: True peace comes from contentment, not from chasing endless desires. Decisions must come from stillness, not restlessness.

5. Bhagavad Gita 6.5

Verse:
उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत् |
आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मनः || 5 ||

Transliteration:
uddhared ātmanātmānaṁ nātmānam avasādayet
ātmaiva hy ātmano bandhur ātmaiva ripur ātmanaḥ

Meaning: One must elevate, not degrade, oneself by one’s own mind. The mind can be the friend and the enemy of the self.

Story: Karna – A Life of Valor Shadowed by Internal Conflict

Karna, one of the most compelling characters in the Mahabharat, was born under extraordinary circumstances. He was the divine son of Kunti and Surya (the Sun God), yet cast away at birth due to social stigma. Raised by a humble charioteer’s family, Karna grew up with the sting of rejection and an identity crisis. His extraordinary potential was constantly overshadowed by questions about his caste and status in society.

Despite these odds, Karna did not give in to despair. He honed his skills, especially archery, with fierce determination. Denied learning from Dronacharya, the royal teacher, Karna approached the great warrior Parashurama, disguising himself as a Brahmin to gain instruction. This in itself was a decision shaped by a lack of self-acceptance, and it eventually brought a curse upon him when Parashurama discovered the truth.

Later, during the archery tournament where he dared to challenge Arjuna, Karna was insulted for his low birth. At that crucial moment, Duryodhan came forward, made him king of Anga, and befriended him. Moved by this generosity, Karna pledged lifelong loyalty to Duryodhan.

But herein lay the turning point.

Even though Karna knew of Duryodhan’s immoral intentions—especially the humiliation of Draupadi and the unjust treatment of the Pandavas—he chose to suppress his own inner wisdom and dharma. His loyalty to Duryodhan became stronger than his own conscience.

Years later, when Kunti revealed to Karna that he was her son, a Pandava by blood, he was torn. She pleaded with him to switch sides, but Karna, trapped in his sense of gratitude and loyalty, refused. He chose to fight against his own brothers, even though he knew the moral cost of doing so.

In the Kurukshetra war, Karna was a formidable warrior, but fate turned against him. His chariot wheel got stuck in the mud, and just as he struggled, Arjuna—prompted by Krishna—took the final shot. Thus, Karna perished, a hero with divine gifts but tragic choices.

💡 Lesson from Karna's Life in Light of Gita 6.5

Karna's story is a powerful illustration of how one's mind can either uplift or destroy oneself. His inner turmoil—fueled by abandonment, rejection, and a constant need for validation—made him vulnerable to poor decisions. He had the wisdom, valor, and opportunity to rise above bitterness, but he allowed past wounds and loyalty to cloud his judgment.

Had Karna followed the essence of Bhagavad Gita 6.5, he would have chosen self-elevation over self-pity. He could have aligned with dharma instead of drowning in misplaced allegiance. Ultimately, his own mind, plagued with insecurity and emotional conflict, became his greatest enemy.

Moral: You are your own best friend or worst enemy. The power to rise or fall lies within your own mind. Choose thoughts and actions that elevate your soul, not degrade it.

6. Bhagavad Gita 18.66

Verse:
सर्वधर्मान्परित्यज्य मामेकं शरणं व्रज |
अहं त्वां सर्वपापेभ्यो मोक्षयिष्यामि मा शुचः || 66 ||

Transliteration:
sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śharaṇaṁ vraja
ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣhayiṣhyāmi mā śhuchaḥ

Meaning: Abandon all varieties of dharma and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.

Story: Draupadi, humiliated in the Kaurava court, finally surrendered to Krishna after all her own efforts failed. In that moment of total surrender, Krishna protected her by making her sari endless.

Lesson: When logic and effort fall short, surrender in faith. Divine intervention is most potent in surrender.

7. Bhagavad Gita 12.13–14

Verse:
अद्वेष्टा सर्वभूतानां मैत्रः करुण एव च |
निर्ममो निरहंकारः समदुःखसुखः क्षमी ||

सन्तुष्टः सततं योगी यतात्मा दृढनिश्चयः |
मय्यर्पितमनोबुद्धिर्यो मद्भक्तः स मे प्रियः ||

Transliteration:
adveṣhṭā sarva-bhūtānāṁ maitraḥ karuṇa eva cha
nirmamo nirahaṅkāraḥ sama-duḥkha-sukhaḥ kṣhamī

santuṣhṭaḥ satataṁ yogī yatātmā dṛiḍha-niśhchayaḥ
mayy arpita-mano-buddhir yo mad-bhaktaḥ sa me priyaḥ

Meaning: He who is free from malice toward others, friendly and compassionate, free from possessiveness and ego, equipoised in pain and pleasure, forgiving, content, self-controlled, and devoted to Me—is very dear to Me.

Story: Lord Krishna loved Sudama, a poor Brahmin, not because of wealth or power, but because of his humility, contentment, and unwavering devotion. When Sudama visited Krishna without asking anything, Krishna showered him with abundance.

Lesson: Character trumps circumstances. Making decisions from humility, not ego, brings divine grace.

8. Bhagavad Gita 4.18

Verse:
कर्मण्यकर्म यः पश्येदकर्मणि च कर्म यः |
स बुद्धिमान्मनुष्येषु स युक्तः कृत्स्नकर्मकृत् || 18 ||

Transliteration:
karmaṇy akarma yaḥ paśhyed akarmaṇi cha karma yaḥ
sa buddhimān manuṣhyeṣhu sa yuktaḥ kṛitsna-karma-kṛit

Meaning: One who sees inaction in action, and action in inaction, is intelligent among men and is in the transcendental position.

Story: In the battle of Kurukshetra, Krishna did not raise weapons. Yet His role as strategist, charioteer, and guide was the pivotal action that turned the tide. His so-called "inaction" was actually the highest service.

Lesson: Sometimes, decisions may appear passive, but they may be deeply purposeful. Evaluate with wisdom.

9. Bhagavad Gita 6.6

Verse:
बन्धुरात्मात्मनस्तस्य येनात्मैवात्मना जितः |
अनात्मनस्तु शत्रुत्वे वर्तेतात्मैव शत्रुवत् || 6 ||

Transliteration:
bandhur ātmātmanas tasya yenātmaivātmanā jitaḥ
anātmanaḥ tu śhatrutve vartetātmaiva śhatru-vat

Meaning: For him who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of friends; but for one who has failed to do so, the mind will remain the greatest enemy.

Story: Dhritarashtra’s failure to control his mind led to favoritism toward Duryodhan. He knew his son was unrighteous, yet did not stop him. His lack of mental discipline led to the destruction of his lineage.

Lesson: Decisions made without mastering the mind will always be skewed. Master your mind, or it will master you.

10. Bhagavad Gita 5.10

Verse:
ब्रह्मण्याधाय कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा करोति यः |
लिप्यते न स पापेन पद्मपत्रमिवाम्भसा || 10 ||

Transliteration:
brahmaṇyādhāya karmāṇi saṅgaṁ tyaktvā karoti yaḥ
lipyate na sa pāpena padma-patram ivāmbhasā

Meaning: One who performs his duty without attachment, surrendering the results unto the Supreme God, is not affected by sinful action, as the lotus leaf is untouched by water.

Story: Hanuman, in the Ramayan, always acted in service of Lord Ram, never out of personal pride. Whether it was finding Sita or burning Lanka, his actions were divine instruments, untouched by ego.

Lesson: Work as a service to the divine, and you remain untouched by worldly impurities.

Call to Action:

Let these timeless stories from Ramayan and Mahabharat be more than just inspiration—make them your way of life. Reflect, apply, and walk the path of dharma, selfless action, and surrender, just as Lord Krishna taught.

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FAQs

1. Why are Krishna's teachings still relevant today?
Because they address the timeless struggles of the human mind—fear, doubt, confusion, ego, and attachment.

2. How can I apply these quotes in daily decision-making?
Use them as guiding principles—perform duty without attachment, surrender outcomes, and act from clarity, not emotion.

3. What if I'm still confused after reading the Gita?
Keep reflecting and seek guidance from enlightened teachers. Understanding deepens with practice and sincerity.

4. Can these teachings be used in business or career decisions?
Yes, Krishna’s teachings are universal. Ethical leadership, detachment from results, and mental discipline benefit all areas of life.

5. Which quote is best for moments of failure?
BG 2.47: Focus on your effort, not the outcome. Failure is a stepping stone when seen through the lens of karma yoga.

References

1. Bhagavad Gita Verses: https://www.holy-bhagavad-gita.org
2. Mahabharat Stories: C. Rajagopalachari’s Mahabharata, Gita Press
3. Ramayan Stories: Valmiki Ramayan and Ramcharitmanas