Top News

Modern life tricks us into believing stress is unique to our era of endless notifications, deadlines, and global uncertainty. But millennia ago, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, the Bhagavad Gita spoke directly to the anxious mind, the trembling heart, and the wavering resolve.

Krishna’s teachings to Arjuna are not merely lofty philosophy — they are practical antidotes for the restlessness that creeps in when life spins out of control. Each shloka is like a lamp in the darkness of confusion, fear, and overwhelm.

Here are 5 powerful shlokas from the Gita to hold onto when your mind is clouded by stress, with the wisdom they reveal.
1. Adversity Is Temporary — Tolerate It
“मात्रास्पर्शास्तु कौन्तेय शीतोष्णसुखदुःखदाः।
आगमापायिनोऽनित्यास्तांस्तितिक्षस्व भारत॥”
(Bhagavad Gita 2.14)

“Contacts of the senses with objects give rise to cold and heat, pleasure and pain. These come and go; they are impermanent. Therefore, O Bharata, endure them.”
Krishna begins by making stress look smaller than it feels. He reminds us that all mental discomfort — like physical sensations — has a beginning and an end. Stress feels endless only because we attach our identity to it. When you recognise its transitory nature, your mind gains the courage to bear it without panic. This stoic tolerance is not suppression, but understanding the fleeting nature of all experiences.
2. Detach From the Fruits of Your Actions
“कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन।
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि॥”
(Bhagavad Gita 2.47)
“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.”

A core cause of stress is our obsession with results. We imagine every action must yield the outcome we desire. Krishna liberates the mind by separating action from expectation. When you focus on the work itself, without constantly calculating success or failure, your energy flows freely. The present moment becomes your place of power, not your fears of the future.
3. Steady Your Mind — Like a Flame Unmoved “यथा दीपो निवातस्थो नेङ्गते सोपमा स्मृता।
योगिनो यतचित्तस्य युञ्जतो योगमात्मनः॥”
(Bhagavad Gita 6.19)

“As a lamp in a windless place does not flicker — such is the comparison for the disciplined mind of a yogi practicing self-realisation.”

A stressed mind flickers constantly — pulled by worry, anger, and desires. Krishna’s imagery of a steady flame is a reminder of the goal: inner stillness. Through practice, the mind can be trained to remain unshaken despite life’s gusts. Cultivating one-pointed focus, mindful breathing, or silent reflection helps recreate that windless space within, where stress cannot find fuel to grow.
4. The Wise Remain Equal in Happiness and Distress “दुःखेष्वनुद्विग्नमनाः सुखेषु विगतस्पृहः।
वीतरागभयक्रोधः स्थितधीर्मुनिरुच्यते॥”
(Bhagavad Gita 2.56)
“One who is not disturbed by distress, who is not attached to happiness, and who is free from attachment, fear, and anger, is called a sage of steady wisdom.”

Stress often arises when we cling too tightly to what pleases us and push away what we dislike. Krishna describes the person of stable wisdom: undisturbed by sorrow, unattached to pleasure, and free from fear or anger. Such equanimity is not emotional coldness; it is the clear understanding that both joy and sorrow are passing states. Cultivating this equal vision softens stress, because you no longer see discomfort as an enemy, but as part of a larger flow.
5. Offer Everything to Me — Let Go of Burden
“सर्वधर्मान्परित्यज्य मामेकं शरणं व्रज।
अहं त्वां सर्वपापेभ्यो मोक्षयिष्यामि मा शुचः॥”
(Bhagavad Gita 18.66)

“Abandon all varieties of dharma and surrender unto Me alone. I shall liberate you from all sinful reactions; do not fear.”

When stress feels unbearable, Krishna’s final promise is radical surrender. Let go of the illusion that you alone carry the weight of the world. Surrender here does not mean resignation or passivity — it means trusting that a higher order holds the universe together. By offering the burden of worry to the divine, the mind frees itself from the grip of relentless anxiety. Faith becomes a shelter from the storm.
Why These Shlokas Matter Today In our age of productivity hacks and mental health apps, Krishna’s timeless wisdom still stands firm: stress is not just about what we face, but how our mind relates to it. The Gita does not promise a life free of challenges — even Arjuna was asked to fight his greatest fears. But it shows us how to meet those fears with a mind anchored in truth, detachment, and surrender.

Remember: the Gita is not merely a book of verses. It is a conversation between your fearful mind and the divine wisdom within you. Whenever stress threatens to consume you, open any one of these shlokas. Sit quietly with its words. Let its meaning sink beneath the surface noise.
A Final Thought In a world that sells you a million ways to escape stress — bingeing, numbing, distracting — the Gita invites you to see stress clearly, endure it patiently, act wisely, and surrender deeply. Krishna’s words are not about escaping life, but embracing it with a mind so steady that no storm can uproot your inner flame.

When your mind wavers, repeat these verses like a mantra. With every repetition, they become more than words — they become the calm within you, the strength that carries you forward.

May the Gita’s eternal light steady your mind, ease your burdens, and remind you that no moment of darkness is too great for the wisdom you hold within