Lord Arbiter's Key Ideas from Bhagavad-Gita As It Is
by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada

Sanskrit: नैनं छिन्दन्ति शस्त्राणि नैनं दहति पावकः | न चैनं क्लेदयन्त्यापो न शोषयति मारुतः ||

Translation: Weapons cannot cleave him, nor can fire burn him; water cannot wet him, nor can wind dry him.

Description: Lord Krishna explains the indestructible nature of the soul, which transcends physical harm.

Sanskrit: कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन | मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि ||

Translation: 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.

Description: Lord Krishna emphasizes the importance of performing one's duty without attachment to the outcome, promoting selfless action.

Sanskrit: ज्ञानं तेऽहं सविज्ञानमिदं वक्ष्याम्यशेषतः | यज्ज्ञात्वा नेह भूयोऽन्यज्ज्ञातव्यमवशिष्यते ||

Translation: I shall now declare unto you fully this knowledge, both phenomenal and noumenal, by knowing which nothing more remains to be known in this world.

Description: Lord Krishna promises to impart the supreme knowledge that leads to the ultimate truth, eradicating ignorance.

Sanskrit: समोऽहं सर्वभूतेषु न मे द्वेष्योऽस्ति न प्रियः | ये भजन्ति तु मां भक्त्या मयि ते तेषु चाप्यहम् ||

Translation: I am equally present in all beings; there is no one hateful or dear to Me. But those who worship Me with devotion, they are in Me and I in them.

Description: Lord Krishna teaches the equality of all souls before Him and the special connection with those who are devoted.

Sanskrit: यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत | अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम् ||

Translation: Whenever there is a decline in righteousness, O Bharata, and a rise of unrighteousness, then I send forth Myself.

Description: Lord Krishna explains His purpose for incarnation - to restore dharma (righteousness) whenever it declines.

Sanskrit: मन्मना भव मद्भक्तो मद्याजी मां नमस्कुरु | मामेवैष्यसि सत्यं ते प्रतिजाने प्रियोऽसि मे ||

Translation: Fix your mind upon Me, be devoted to Me, sacrifice to Me, bow down to Me. You will come to Me; this is My promise, for you are very dear to Me.

Description: Lord Krishna describes the path of Bhakti Yoga, emphasizing devotion as a means to realize God.

Sanskrit: पश्य मे पार्थ रूपाणि शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः | नानाविधानि दिव्यानि नानावर्णाकृतीनि च ||

Translation: Behold, O Partha, My forms by the hundreds and thousands, diverse, divine, of various colors and shapes.

Description: Lord Krishna reveals His cosmic form, showing Arjuna the vastness and diversity of His divine manifestations.

Sanskrit: सर्वकर्माणि मनसा सन्न्यस्यास्ते सुखं वशी | नवद्वारे पुरे देही नैव कुर्वन्न कर्मणि ||

Translation: Having given up all works in the mind, the embodied soul sits happily, controlling all the senses, within the city of nine gates, not acting or causing action.

Description: Lord Krishna explains the mental renunciation of actions, leading to inner peace.

Sanskrit: द्वौ भूतसर्गौ लोकेऽस्मिन्दैव आसुर एव च | दैवो विस्तरशः प्रोक्त आसुरं पार्थ मे शृणु ||

Translation: There are two types of created beings in this world - the divine and the demoniac. I have already explained the divine at length; now hear from Me about the demoniac, O Partha.

Description: Lord Krishna distinguishes between divine qualities that lead to liberation and demonic tendencies that lead to bondage.