Life Changing Quotes by Lord Krishna on Karma and Destiny from the Bhagavad Gita
Shri Krishna’s teachings in the Bhagavad Gita are timeless and transformative. Among the most profound are his revelations on karma (action) and destiny (fate)—topics that have puzzled even the greatest minds across ages. Is our destiny fixed? Can we change our fate through our actions? What is the role of free will in our lives?
Let’s explore the most powerful quotes from the Bhagavad Gita where Shri Krishna uncovers the divine truths of karma and destiny. Along with these teachings, we’ll reflect on real stories from the Mahabharata, Ramayana, Puranas, and the lives of saints that bring these verses to life.
1. “You have the right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions.”
— Bhagavad Gita 2.47
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This verse is perhaps the most quoted teaching of Shri Krishna on karma. He advises Arjuna to focus on his actions, not the outcomes. The results are not in our control—they are governed by divine laws and karma.
🌊 King Bhagirath & the Ganga: A Story of Karma vs. Destiny
For generations, the Sagara dynasty carried the burden of a curse: the souls of Bhagirath’s ancestors remained unrested because their ashes had not been sanctified by the waters of the celestial Ganga.
- Many kings before Bhagirath performed sacrifices, austerities, and prayers—but the descent of Ganga did not happen.
- These kings acted righteously, but the destined result did not yet unfold.
- Then came Bhagirath, who also performed intense penance, step by step:
- First to Brahma to allow Ganga’s descent.
- Then to Shiva to hold her furious flow.
- Finally, he led Ganga to the exact spot where his ancestors’ ashes lay.
After immense perseverance, the result manifested—not because of one action, but due to the accumulated karmas over generations and Bhagirath’s unwavering faith and selfless devotion.
How This Reflects Karma & Destiny
- Karma (Action): Bhagirath did everything in his control—effort, prayer, perseverance, service to his ancestors. He did not sit idle, thinking, "If it's destined, it will happen."
- Destiny (Prarabdha): The result was not immediate. His ancestors’ karma and the timing of divine grace had to align. Only when the collective karmic accounts matured did the fruit appear.
This story teaches us that:
🌱 Effort is in our hands (karma). Outcome is not.
🌤️ Results unfold at the right time as per divine order (destiny).
Had Bhagirath clung to results or grown impatient like many before him, Ganga might never have descended. His greatness lay in selfless action, not the outcome.
🌼 Modern Relevance: Let Go of Result Anxiety
In life:
- We prepare well for an exam but don’t control the paper.
- We raise a child with care but can’t dictate their future.
- We strive for spiritual growth but can’t demand quick realization.
As Krishna says—act without attachment, with trust in divine justice and timing.
"Destiny determines the fruit,
Karma determines whether you deserve it."
So, don’t confuse lack of immediate results with failure. Keep acting like Bhagirath—with humility, faith, and detachment—and in time, your efforts will bear fruit, whether seen or unseen.
2. “Be steadfast in yoga, O Arjuna. Perform your duty and abandon all attachment to success or failure.”
— Bhagavad Gita 2.48
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This verse speaks of equanimity. Real karma yogis perform their duties with full enthusiasm but do not waver based on external outcomes.
Story: Saint Eknath and the Spitting Man
Saint Eknath was once spat on by a man over 100 times while returning from a holy bath. Calmly, he returned to the river and bathed again, showing no anger. Eventually, the man was transformed by Eknath’s steadiness.
🪔 Lesson: True karma yoga means remaining unmoved by insult or praise. When one is connected to divine purpose, outer circumstances don’t disturb inner peace.
3. “One who performs their duty without attachment, surrendering the results unto the Supreme God, is not affected by sinful action, as the lotus leaf is untouched by water.”
— Bhagavad Gita 5.10
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Shri Krishna compares such a person to a lotus—in the water, but untouched by it. The secret is detachment with devotion.
Bhishma Pitamah on the Bed of Arrows:
Bhishma fulfilled his sacred duty to protect Hastinapur, even though it meant opposing the Pandavas, whom he loved dearly. Despite fighting on the Kaurava side, Bhishma surrendered his fate to Lord Krishna, patiently waiting for the divine moment to leave his body. His unwavering devotion and surrender kept him free from ego and sin, even in the turmoil of war.
Shabri’s Pure Devotion:
Shabri, a humble tribal woman and devotee of Lord Rama, lived in a forest ashram under Sage Matanga’s guidance. She carefully collected berries to offer to Rama, tasting each one first to ensure only the sweetest reached Him. Though such an act might be viewed as impure by orthodox standards, Rama accepted her offerings wholeheartedly, recognizing the purity of her loving surrender over ritual formality.
🪔 Lesson: Both Bhishma and Shabri exemplify the essence of Bhagavad Gita 5.10. When actions are offered to the Divine with detachment and pure love—free from ego, pride, or concern for external judgments—one remains spiritually untouched, just like the lotus leaf remains untouched by water amidst its surroundings. This surrender brings true purity and peace even in life’s greatest challenges.
4. “The soul is neither born, nor does it die at any time... it is unborn, eternal, ever-existing and primeval.”
— Bhagavad Gita 2.20
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This teaching helps us see the bigger picture. Destiny relates to the body and circumstances, but we are souls, not the body. Karma binds the soul only when we act out of selfish desire.
Story: Nachiketa’s Dispassion in the Katha Upanishad
Though not from the Gita, Nachiketa’s tale is often cited by saints. He rejected worldly gifts from Yama and chose the knowledge of the soul’s immortality.
🪔 Lesson: Realizing that we are eternal souls liberates us from the illusion of fate being absolute. We can shape our destiny by evolving spiritually.
5. “Those who are motivated only by desire for the fruits of action are miserable, for they are constantly anxious about the results.”
— Bhagavad Gita 2.49
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Anxiety comes from clinging to outcomes. When we act selflessly, peace follows.
Story: Arjuna’s Confusion on the Battlefield
Initially, Arjuna was gripped by anxiety—what if he kills loved ones? What if he loses? But when he surrendered to Krishna, clarity returned.
🪔 Lesson: When we shift focus from what we get to why we act, we move from anxiety to inner peace.
6. “A person is said to be elevated in yoga when they have renounced all desires and remain unaffected by results—whether good or bad.”
— Bhagavad Gita 6.4
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The highest yogi is one who is free from inner cravings. He acts without emotional disturbance.
Story: Mirabai’s Unshakable Devotion
Mirabai, despite royal comforts, renounced everything for Krishna. Poisoned and threatened, she remained blissful in bhakti.
🪔 Lesson: Destiny may test us, but if we remain rooted in love and surrender, karma becomes a path to liberation.
7. “According to one’s faith, one becomes what they believe.”
— Bhagavad Gita 17.3
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Translation (Swami Mukundananda’s Commentary):
"The faith of all humans conforms to the nature of their mind. All people possess faith, and whatever the nature of their faith, that is verily what they are."
Faith: The Shaper of Karma and Destiny
In this profound verse, Shri Krishna reveals the subtle yet powerful force that shapes our actions, and in turn, our destiny—faith (shraddha). It is not just what we do externally, but what we believe internally that defines us. Our karma (actions) arise from our beliefs, and these actions shape our destiny.
Whether we succeed, fail, rise, or fall—much depends on the quality and focus of our faith. This is why two people performing the same outward action may experience vastly different results: because their intentions and faith behind those actions differ.
The Story of Dhruva: The Boy Who Rewrote His Destiny
Dhruva was the son of King Uttanapada and his queen Suniti. However, his stepmother Suruchi favored her own son and harshly insulted Dhruva, telling him he could only sit on his father's lap if he were born from her womb.
Hurt and humiliated, young Dhruva, merely five years old, resolved to seek God directly and earn a higher position—one even his stepmother couldn’t deny. His mother gently advised him that only Lord Vishnu could grant such a boon. Taking her words to heart, Dhruva left the palace and journeyed into the forest.
There, he performed intense austerities and single-pointed meditation upon Vishnu. Despite his tender age and physical hardships, his unshakable faith moved the cosmos.
After months of tapasya, Lord Vishnu personally appeared before him, granting him the boon not just of a kingdom, but an eternal seat as the Dhruva Nakshatra (Pole Star)—a celestial position of permanence and stability.
🪔 Lesson: Belief Rewrites Destiny
Dhruva’s story is the embodiment of Bhagavad Gita 17.3. He had every reason to believe he was helpless—a rejected child from a secondary queen. But instead of letting his circumstances define him, his deep, pure faith in the Lord reshaped his karmic trajectory.
It teaches us that no matter our external limitations or past karma, our faith, intention, and spiritual resolve can uplift us beyond what we imagine possible.
🔁 Karma, Faith, and Destiny — The Interplay
- Karma is what we do.
- Faith is what drives those actions.
- Destiny is the result of repeated actions, built over time.
What Shri Krishna emphasizes is: when our faith is aligned with truth and divinity, our karma becomes purer, and our destiny is uplifted.
So while our past karma might bind us, our present faith can liberate us. That’s the transformative power of shraddha.
🧘♀️ Application in Modern Life
In today’s world, when we feel rejected, unseen, or discouraged—like Dhruva—we often fall into self-doubt. But this verse reminds us that our true identity is shaped not by circumstances, but by the strength of our convictions.
👉 Want to manifest a higher purpose?
👉 Want to transcend negative karma?
👉 Want to rise beyond obstacles?
Then cultivate deep faith in God, unwavering focus, and pure actions. Like Dhruva, your life will shine as a guiding light for others.
8. “Whatever happened, happened for the good. Whatever is happening, is happening for the good. Whatever will happen, will also happen for the good.”
(Though this quote is popularly attributed to the Gita, it is more a summary of its essence rather than a direct verse.)
Story: King Harishchandra’s Ordeal
Stripped of his kingdom and family, Harishchandra stood firm in truth. Eventually, divine grace restored everything.
🪔 Lesson: If we trust in God and remain steadfast in dharma, even misfortune turns into spiritual blessing.
9. “Whenever dharma declines and adharma rises, I descend.”
— Bhagavad Gita 4.7
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This verse reminds us that whenever righteousness (dharma) is threatened by unrighteousness (adharma), the Divine incarnates to restore cosmic balance. While our destiny unfolds according to karma, divine intervention is always near to protect those who uphold dharma.
Story: The Manifestation of Lord Narsimha
In the ancient scriptures, the demon king Hiranyakashipu persecuted the devotees of Lord Vishnu and declared himself invincible, defying all cosmic laws. His own son, Prahlada, remained a steadfast devotee of Vishnu despite his father’s wrath. When Hiranyakashipu tried to kill Prahlada multiple times, each attempt failed because of divine protection.
Finally, to protect Prahlada and uphold dharma, Lord Vishnu manifested as Narsimha—half man, half lion—breaking all conventional rules of time, place, and method. He appeared at twilight, on the threshold, neither inside nor outside, and slew the demon, restoring righteousness.
🪔 Lesson: The story of Narsimha teaches us that divine help is assured when one stands firmly for dharma. Even when destiny seems grim and adharma appears to dominate, God’s intervention is triggered by unwavering faith and righteousness. Fate bends in favor of those who uphold truth and justice.
10. “One who sees inaction in action and action in inaction is intelligent among men.”
— Bhagavad Gita 4.18
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This paradox explains karma at its highest level. Even if one appears to act, if ego and desire are absent, such action binds not.
Story: Saint Ramakrishna’s Teachings
He taught that a realized soul may appear to work but is inwardly detached. Like an actor, he plays his role without being trapped by it.
🪔 Lesson: When the ego is absent, actions do not create binding karma. This is true freedom.
Conclusion: Can We Change Our Destiny?
Yes—and no. The present is shaped by past karma, but how we respond now creates the future. Shri Krishna’s message is clear: act with dharma, surrender the results, and keep God in the center.
Even if fate seems tough, like in the lives of Arjuna, Harishchandra, or Dhruva, our devotion, attitude, and actions can transform it.
📿 Call to Action:
🪔 Are you ready to shift from anxiety to inner power by applying Krishna’s wisdom?
💬 Share this blog with someone navigating tough times.
🎧 Watch Swami Mukundananda’s lectures on Karma and Destiny for deeper insights.
📘 Visit holy-bhagavad-gita.org to explore these verses in depth.
FAQs on Law of Karma & Destiny
1. What does Shri Krishna say about karma and destiny in the Bhagavad Gita?
Lord Krishna explains that karma (our actions) is the true architect of destiny. Through disciplined action without attachment, one rises beyond fate. See BG 2.47
2. How can we overcome bad karma according to Shri Krishna?
By surrendering to God and performing righteous action without selfish desire, bad karma can be neutralized. BG 9.22
3. How does detachment from results affect our karma?
Detachment helps reduce the binding effect of karma because acting without selfish desire or expectation prevents new karmic debts from forming. This is the essence of karma yoga. (See Bhagavad Gita 5.10 Link)
4. What role does surrender play in destiny and karma?
Surrendering the fruits of actions to the Divine aligns our will with cosmic order. This surrender purifies karma and eases the journey beyond the cycle of birth and death. (See Bhagavad Gita 18.66 Link)
5. Can we completely overcome destiny by practicing karma yoga?
Yes. By performing selfless actions without attachment to results (karma yoga), we transcend the binding effects of destiny and karma, ultimately achieving liberation. (See Bhagavad Gita 2.50 Link)
6. How do Krishna’s teachings reconcile free will and fate?
Krishna explains that while destiny provides the framework of life, free will allows individuals to choose actions consciously. Our karma accumulates based on these choices, influencing destiny but not absolutely determining it. (See Bhagavad Gita 3.9 Link)
✅ List of References
- Bhagavad Gita – Full Text with Translation
- Mahabharat Story of Arjuna and Karma Yoga
- Ramayan Insights: Hanuman’s Karma through Bhakti
- Story of Eknath Maharaj and Destiny
- Tulsidas’s unwavering bhakti as karma yoga
- Swami Vivekananda’s Karma Yoga Teachings
- Gajendra Moksha – Total Surrender
- BG 2.47 – Action without Attachment
- BG 3.16 – Cosmic Order and Karma
- BG 18.66 – Supreme Surrender