O Lord who are above illusion, save me from the illusion that I am above illusion
Bhagavad Gita 18.40 na tad asti pṛthivyāṁ vā divi deveṣu vā punaḥ sattvaṁ prakṛti-jair muktaṁ yad ebhiḥ syāt tribhir guṇaiḥ No being on this earthly [...]
Protect me not just from the pleasures that seduce but also from those that sedate
Bhagavad Gita 18.39 yat agre cānubandhe ca sukhaṁ mohanam ātmanaḥ nidrālasyapramādotthaṁ tat tāmasam udāhṛtam From start to end, it makes the soul numb, And leaves [...]
Help me realize passion’s deception before indulgence, not after indulgence
Bhagavad Gita 18.38 viṣayendriya-saṁyogād yat tad agre ’mṛtopamam pariṇāme viṣam iva tat sukhaṁ rājasaṁ smṛtam Born from senses meeting sense-objects dear, “This is nectar”—so [...]
Lead me through the poison of inner cleansing to the nectar of inner cherishing
Bhagavad Gita 18.37 yat tad agre viṣam iva pariṇāme ’mṛtopamam tat sukhaṁ sāttvikaṁ proktam ātma-buddhi-prasāda-jam That which first tastes like poison bitter, But is [...]
Lead me to the happiness that ends distress, not to the happiness that ends in distress
Bhagavad Gita 18.36 sukhaṁ tv idānīṁ tri-vidhaṁ śṛṇu me bharatarṣabha abhyāsād ramate yatra duḥkhāntaṁ ca nigacchati Now, O best of Bharatas, hear, Of threefold [...]
Let the misdirection of my determination inspire its redirection to you
Bhagavad Gita 18.35 yayā svapnaṁ bhayaṁ śokaṁ viṣādaṁ madam eva ca na vimuñcati durmedhā dhṛtiḥ sā pārtha tāmasī That determination, dark and blind, Clings [...]
Make me determined to not just pursue the desirable but also determine what is truly desirable
Bhagavad Gita 18.34 yayā tu dharma-kāmārthān dhṛtyā dhārayate ’rjuna prasaṅgena phalākāṅkṣī dhṛtiḥ sā pārtha rājasī That determination which holds on tight, To pleasure and [...]
Please deepen my determination with devotion and strengthen my devotion with determination
Bhagavad Gita 18.33 dhṛtyā yayā dhārayate manaḥ-prāṇendriya-kriyāḥ yogenāvyabhicāriṇyā dhṛtiḥ sā pārtha sāttvikī That determination which sustains; Mind, life-breath, senses—all it restrains; Through yoga practice [...]
Protect me from chasing the cause of my dissatisfaction as its cure
Bhagavad Gita 18.32 adharmaṁ dharmam iti yā manyate tamasāvṛtā sarvārthān viparītāṁś ca buddhiḥ sā pārtha tāmasī Shrouded in darkness, it takes wrong for right, [...]
When my conception is full of holes, may your compassion make it whole
Bhagavad Gita 18.31 yayā dharmam adharmaṁ ca kāryaṁ cākāryam eva ca ayathāvat prajānāti buddhiḥ sā pārtha rājasī It sees dimly: what dharma is, what [...]
Illuminate my intelligence to seek what will elevate and liberate
Bhagavad Gita 18.30 pravṛttiṁ ca nivṛttiṁ ca kāryākārye bhayābhaye bandhaṁ mokṣaṁ ca yā vetti buddhiḥ sā pārtha sāttvikī What inclination’s to be followed, what [...]
Lead me to work that strengthens my purpose and deepens my peace
Bhagavad Gita 18.25 anubandhaṁ kṣayaṁ hiṁsām anapekṣya ca pauruṣam mohād ārabhyate karma yat tat tāmasam ucyate Action begun in delusion’s night, Without concern for [...]
Let my work integrate me with the whole, not fragment me from the whole
Bhagavad Gita 18.24 yat tu kāmepsunā karma sāhaṅkāreṇa vā punaḥ kriyate bahulāyāsaṁ tad rājasam udāhṛtam Action done for selfish gain, Or driven by ego’s [...]
Let me work for contributing, free from craving and complaining
Bhagavad Gita 18.23 niyataṁ saṅga-rahita arāga-dveṣataḥ kṛtam aphala-prepsunā karma yat tat sāttvikam ucyate Duty done, with no attachment consuming, Rising about craving and complaining; [...]
Please free me when my conviction that I know convicts me to ignorance
Bhagavad Gita 18.22 yat tu kṛtsna-vad ekasmin kārye saktam ahaitukam atattvārtha-vad alpaṁ ca tat tāmasam udāhṛtam That knowledge clings to one small part, As [...]
Let my perception and passion be directed and devoted to you
Bhagavad Gita 18.21 pṛthaktvena tu yaj jñāna nānā-bhāvān pṛthag-vidhān vetti sarveṣu bhūteṣu taj jñānaṁ viddhi rājasam That perception sees each form apart, As separate [...]
Grant me the perception that sees the unity underlying diversity
Bhagavad Gita 18.20 sarva-bhūteṣu yenaikaṁ bhāvam avyayam īkṣate avibhaktaṁ vibhakteṣu taj jñānaṁ viddhi sāttvikam That perception sees one truth in all, Imperishable, though in [...]
Help me marry the mystical with the methodical
Bhagavad Gita 18.16 tatraivaṁ sati kartāram ātmānaṁ kevalaṁ tu yaḥ paśyaty akṛta-buddhitvān na sa paśyati durmatiḥ When causes five shape every deed, Yet one [...]
Help me see my part in my achievements holistically, not fragmentally
Bhagavad Gita 18.14 adhiṣṭhānaṁ tathā kartā karaṇaṁ ca pṛthag-vidham vividhāś ca pṛthak ceṣṭā daivaṁ caivātra pañcamam The environment, the soul, the senses with talent, [...]
Help me focus on my kama (desires), not on my karma (the factors that bring results)
Bhagavad Gita 18.12 aniṣṭam iṣṭaṁ miśraṁ ca tri-vidhaṁ karmaṇaḥ phalam bhavaty atyāgināṁ pretya na tu sannyāsināṁ kvacit Unwanted, wanted, mixed—results arise, Threefold fruits of [...]
Help me see my capacity for activity as a blessing to be cherished, not a burden to be cast away
Bhagavad Gita 18.11 na hi deha-bhṛtā śakyaṁ tyaktuṁ karmāṇy aśeṣataḥ yas tu karma-phala-tyāgī sa tyāgīty abhidhīyate Impossible it is to cease all action, While [...]