Quotes on Anxiety from Bhagavad Gita
What if anxiety was optional? Find game-changing calm quotes from the Bhagavad Gita you never tried.
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Anxiety grips us all. That racing heart before a big presentation. The sleepless nights worrying about tomorrow. The constant what-ifs that plague our minds. If you're searching for ancient wisdom to calm your modern anxieties, the Bhagavad Gita offers profound insights that have guided seekers for thousands of years.
In this collection, we explore powerful quotes from the Bhagavad Gita that directly address anxiety, worry, and mental unrest. These aren't just philosophical musings - they're practical teachings that Lord Krishna shared with Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, when Arjuna himself was paralyzed by anxiety about the future. Each quote reveals a different facet of understanding and overcoming anxiety, from the impermanence of situations to the power of focused action.
We'll examine 12 transformative quotes that speak to the anxious mind, unpacking their Sanskrit origins, exploring their deeper meanings, and discovering how these timeless teachings apply to our daily struggles with worry and fear.
"The contacts between the senses and the sense objects give rise to happiness and distress. These are like winter and summer seasons. They arise from sense perception, and one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed." - Lord Krishna
This quote strikes at the heart of what makes anxiety so overwhelming - our belief that our current feelings will last forever.
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
मात्रास्पर्शास्तु कौन्तेय शीतोष्णसुखदुःखदाः।आगमापायिनोऽनित्यास्तांस्तितिक्षस्व भारत॥
English Translation:
The contacts between the senses and the sense objects give rise to happiness and distress. These are like winter and summer seasons. They arise from sense perception, and one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed.
Lord Krishna uses a brilliant metaphor here. Just as we don't panic when winter arrives because we know spring will follow, we shouldn't let anxiety consume us.
Think about it. When you're in the middle of an anxiety attack, it feels eternal. Your mind convinces you this feeling will never end. But Lord Krishna reminds us that all sensations - pleasant or unpleasant - are temporary visitors.
The word 'agamapayino' in Sanskrit literally means 'coming and going'. Your anxiety isn't a permanent resident. It's a temporary guest.
The key instruction here is 'titiksasva' - learn to tolerate. Not suppress. Not fight. Tolerate.
This isn't about becoming emotionally numb. It's about developing the strength to witness your anxiety without being swept away by it. Like standing in the rain without running for shelter, knowing the sun will shine again.
When anxiety strikes, remember this quote. Your current state is as temporary as today's weather. This too shall pass.
"You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty." - Lord Krishna
Perhaps no other quote from the Bhagavad Gita addresses performance anxiety as directly as this one.
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन।मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि॥
English Translation:
You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty.
Most of our anxiety stems from obsessing over outcomes. Will I get the promotion? Will they like me? What if I fail?
Lord Krishna cuts through this mental noise with surgical precision. You control your actions, not their results. Period.
This isn't fatalism. It's freedom. When you stop strangling yourself with outcome expectations, you actually perform better. Athletes call it 'being in the zone'. Psychologists call it 'flow state'. Lord Krishna called it karma yoga thousands of years ago.
The paradox here is beautiful. By surrendering control over results, you gain control over your peace of mind.
Think of a pianist obsessing over audience reactions versus one lost in the music. Who plays better? Who enjoys the experience more?
This quote doesn't advocate laziness. It advocates intelligent action. Do your best, then let go. Your anxiety about results doesn't improve them - it only robs you of present peace.
"One who is not disturbed in mind even amidst the threefold miseries or elated when there is happiness, and who is free from attachment, fear and anger, is called a sage of steady mind." - Lord Krishna
Here, Lord Krishna paints a portrait of what life looks like beyond anxiety's grip.
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
दुःखेष्वनुद्विग्नमनाः सुखेषु विगतस्पृहः।वीतरागभयक्रोधः स्थितधीर्मुनिरुच्यते॥
English Translation:
One who is not disturbed in mind even amidst the threefold miseries or elated when there is happiness, and who is free from attachment, fear and anger, is called a sage of steady mind.
Notice the connection Lord Krishna makes. Anxiety, fear, and anger all spring from the same source - attachment.
When you're attached to a specific outcome, anxiety is inevitable. You fear losing what you have or not getting what you want. This fear breeds anxiety, which often morphs into anger when things don't go your way.
The 'threefold miseries' mentioned here refer to problems from your own mind and body, from others, and from natural calamities. A steady mind remains unshaken by all three.
This isn't about becoming a robot. It's about finding your center.
Lord Krishna describes someone who experiences life fully but isn't controlled by experiences. They feel sadness without drowning in it. They enjoy happiness without clinging to it.
This state - called 'sthitaprajna' or steady wisdom - is achievable. It's not reserved for cave-dwelling monks. It's the birthright of every human willing to practice detachment from the emotional rollercoaster.
"The mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O Krishna, and to subdue it, I think, is more difficult than controlling the wind." - Arjuna
Finally, someone admits what we're all thinking! Even Arjuna, the greatest warrior of his time, struggled with mental control.
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
चञ्चलं हि मनः कृष्ण प्रमाथि बलवद् दृढम्।तस्याहं निग्रहं मन्ये वायोरिव सुदुष्करम्॥
English Translation:
The mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O Krishna, and to subdue it, I think, is more difficult than controlling the wind.
If Arjuna - who could shoot arrows with his eyes closed - found mind control harder than controlling wind, we can stop beating ourselves up.
Your anxiety isn't a character flaw. It's the nature of the untrained mind. The Sanskrit word 'chanchalam' means restless, like a monkey jumping from branch to branch. Sound familiar?
This quote gives us permission to acknowledge the difficulty without feeling defeated. Yes, the mind is strong. Yes, it's turbulent. Now what?
Arjuna's honesty here is refreshing. He doesn't pretend mind control is easy. He compares it to controlling wind - essentially calling it impossible.
This matters because anxiety often brings shame. "Why can't I just calm down?" we ask ourselves. Arjuna's words remind us that even the most accomplished humans struggle with mental turbulence.
Recognizing the challenge is the first step to overcoming it. You're not weak for having anxiety. You're human.
"The mind is restless and difficult to restrain, but it can be controlled by constant practice and detachment." - Lord Krishna
Lord Krishna doesn't dismiss Arjuna's concern. He validates it, then offers hope.
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
असंयतात्मना योगो दुष्प्राप इति मे मतिः।वश्यात्मना तु यतता शक्योऽवाप्तुमुपायतः॥
English Translation:
The mind is restless and difficult to restrain, but it can be controlled by constant practice and detachment.
The Sanskrit word 'abhyasa' means repeated practice. Not perfect practice. Repeated practice.
Every time you notice your anxiety and return to breath, that's practice. Every time you catch yourself spiraling and pause, that's practice. It's not about never feeling anxious. It's about developing the skill to work with anxiety when it arises.
Lord Krishna pairs practice with 'vairagya' - detachment. Not cold indifference, but healthy non-attachment to thoughts and feelings that fuel anxiety.
The key word here is 'can'. The mind CAN be controlled. Not might be. Can be.
Lord Krishna acknowledges the difficulty but guarantees the possibility. With the right approach - consistent practice and detachment - anyone can develop mental mastery.
This isn't a quick fix. It's a path. But knowing the path exists changes everything. Your anxiety isn't your destiny. It's your starting point.
"A person who is not disturbed by the incessant flow of desires - that enter like rivers into the ocean, which is ever being filled but is always still - can alone achieve peace, and not the person who strives to satisfy such desires." - Lord Krishna
This profound ocean metaphor reveals how to remain peaceful despite life's constant demands.
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
आपूर्यमाणमचलप्रतिष्ठं समुद्रमापः प्रविशन्ति यद्वत्।तद्वत्कामा यं प्रविशन्ति सर्वे स शान्तिमाप्नोति न कामकामी॥
English Translation:
A person who is not disturbed by the incessant flow of desires - that enter like rivers into the ocean, which is ever being filled but is always still - can alone achieve peace, and not the person who strives to satisfy such desires.
Rivers constantly pour into the ocean, yet the ocean remains unchanged. It doesn't overflow. It doesn't get agitated.
Your mind can be like this ocean. Thoughts, worries, and desires flow in constantly. But you don't have to be disturbed by every mental wave. The ocean accepts all rivers without losing its essential stillness.
This isn't about stopping thoughts - that's like trying to stop rivers. It's about developing ocean-like depth and stability.
The person chasing every desire is like someone trying to dam every river. Exhausting and impossible.
Anxiety often comes from trying to control or satisfy every mental demand. "I must solve this NOW!" "I can't feel this way!" But Lord Krishna suggests a different approach - be the ocean, not the dam.
Let thoughts and feelings flow through you without disturbing your depths. This is true peace - not the absence of mental activity, but stability despite it.
"Shutting out all external sense objects, keeping the eyes and vision concentrated between the two eyebrows, suspending the inward and outward breaths within the nostrils - thus controlling the mind, senses and intelligence, the transcendentalist aiming at liberation becomes free from desire, fear and anger." - Lord Krishna
Here, Lord Krishna provides a practical technique for immediate anxiety relief.
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
स्पर्शान्कृत्वा बहिर्बाह्यांश्चक्षुश्चैवान्तरे भ्रुवोः।प्राणापानौ समौ कृत्वा नासाभ्यन्तरचारिणौ॥यतेन्द्रियमनोबुद्धिर्मुनिर्मोक्षपरायणः।विगतेच्छाभयक्रोधो यः सदा मुक्त एव सः॥
English Translation:
Shutting out all external sense objects, keeping the eyes and vision concentrated between the two eyebrows, suspending the inward and outward breaths within the nostrils - thus controlling the mind, senses and intelligence, the transcendentalist aiming at liberation becomes free from desire, fear and anger.
Notice how Lord Krishna links breath control directly to freedom from fear - a core component of anxiety.
When anxiety strikes, your breath becomes shallow and rapid. This quote suggests reversing the process. Control your breath, control your mind. The specific technique mentioned - equalizing inward and outward breaths - is remarkably similar to what modern anxiety therapists recommend.
The focus between eyebrows isn't mystical mumbo-jumbo. It's a practical anchor point that prevents your mind from wandering into anxious territories.
This isn't just philosophy - it's a panic button for anxiety attacks.
Lord Krishna provides specific, actionable steps. Close your eyes. Focus on your breath. Concentrate on a single point. These aren't just spiritual practices; they're emergency tools for overwhelming moments.
The promise is clear: master these techniques, and you become 'free from desire, fear and anger'. Not tomorrow. Not after years of practice. Right now, in this moment, freedom is available through conscious breathing.
"Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear." - Lord Krishna
In this climactic quote, Lord Krishna offers the ultimate antidote to anxiety.
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
सर्वधर्मान्परित्यज्य मामेकं शरणं व्रज।अहं त्वां सर्वपापेभ्यो मोक्षयिष्यामि मा शुचः॥
English Translation:
Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.
The final words - "ma shuchah" (do not fear) - directly address anxiety at its core.
Most anxiety comes from trying to control everything ourselves. We juggle responsibilities, worry about consequences, fear making mistakes. Lord Krishna suggests a radical solution: surrender the whole burden.
This isn't about becoming irresponsible. It's about recognizing a higher intelligence at work and trusting it. Like a child sleeping peacefully in a moving car, trusting the parent driving.
The word 'sarva' means all. Not some worries. All worries.
This total surrender isn't weakness - it's the ultimate strength. It takes tremendous courage to admit you can't control everything and trust a higher power. But this surrender brings the deepest peace possible.
When you truly internalize this message, anxiety loses its grip. What is there to fear when you're under divine protection? What is there to worry about when the cosmic intelligence has your back?
"Being freed from attachment, fear and anger, being fully absorbed in Me and taking refuge in Me, many, many persons in the past became purified by knowledge of Me - and thus they all attained transcendental love for Me." - Lord Krishna
This quote reveals how spiritual knowledge directly dissolves anxiety and fear.
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
वीतरागभयक्रोधा मन्मया मामुपाश्रिताः।बहवो ज्ञानतपसा पूता मद्भावमागताः॥
English Translation:
Being freed from attachment, fear and anger, being fully absorbed in Me and taking refuge in Me, many, many persons in the past became purified by knowledge of Me - and thus they all attained transcendental love for Me.
Lord Krishna mentions 'jnana-tapasa' - the austerity of knowledge. This isn't academic knowledge but experiential understanding of your true nature.
When you truly know who you are - not this temporary body-mind complex but the eternal soul - what is there to fear? Death? It's just changing clothes. Loss? You never truly owned anything. Failure? It's just another experience for the eternal you.
This knowledge isn't intellectual. It's a living realization that transforms your entire relationship with anxiety.
The phrase 'bahavo' means many. Not a chosen few. Many have walked this path successfully.
You're not the first to struggle with anxiety, and you won't be the last to overcome it. Lord Krishna assures us that countless souls have transcended fear through spiritual refuge. Their success is your possibility.
The destination isn't just freedom from anxiety - it's transcendental love. When fear leaves, love rushes in to fill the space.
"To those who are constantly devoted and who worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me. I carry what they lack and preserve what they have." - Lord Krishna
This deeply comforting quote addresses the security concerns underlying much of our anxiety.
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जनाः पर्युपासते।तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम्॥
English Translation:
To those who are constantly devoted and who worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me. I carry what they lack and preserve what they have.
The term 'yoga-kshemam' is powerful. Yoga means acquiring what you don't have. Kshema means protecting what you do have.
How much anxiety stems from these two concerns? "Will I get what I need?" and "Will I lose what I have?" Lord Krishna promises to handle both for those who surrender to Him.
This isn't a blank check for laziness. It's assurance that when you focus on your spiritual path, material needs get handled by a higher intelligence.
The key requirement is 'ananya' - undivided attention. Not occasional remembrance when trouble strikes, but constant connection.
This constancy doesn't mean abandoning worldly duties. It means maintaining awareness of the divine while performing them. Like background music that colors everything without interrupting anything.
When this connection becomes steady, anxiety about provision vanishes. You're partnered with the source of all abundance. What could possibly be lacking?
"He by whom no one is put into difficulty and who is not disturbed by anyone, who is steady in happiness and distress, is dear to Me." - Lord Krishna
This quote presents a beautiful reciprocal relationship - freedom from anxiety and not causing anxiety in others.
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
यस्मान्नोद्विजते लोको लोकान्नोद्विजते च यः।हर्षामर्षभयोद्वेगैर्मुक्तो यः स च मे प्रियः॥
English Translation:
He by whom no one is put into difficulty and who is not disturbed by anyone, who is steady in happiness and distress, is dear to Me.
Anxiety is contagious. When you're anxious, you spread that energy to others. When you're peaceful, you become a calming presence.
Lord Krishna values those who break this cycle. They neither generate anxiety nor absorb it from others. They're like shock absorbers in society's emotional system.
This isn't about being antisocial. It's about being so centered that you lift others up rather than being pulled down.
The phrase 'udvega-mukta' means free from agitation. Not just managing anxiety, but transcending it entirely.
This freedom comes from emotional independence. Others' moods don't dictate yours. Circumstances don't control your inner state. You've found an unshakeable center that external storms can't reach.
This is Lord Krishna's definition of spiritual maturity - being a source of peace rather than disturbance in this anxious world.
"Do not yield to unmanliness, O son of Pritha. It does not befit you. Give up this petty weakness of heart and arise, O vanquisher of enemies!" - Lord Krishna
Sometimes we need tough love, and Lord Krishna delivers it here to the anxiety-paralyzed Arjuna.
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
क्लैब्यं मा स्म गमः पार्थ नैतत्त्वय्युपपद्यते।क्षुद्रं हृदयदौर्बल्यं त्यक्त्वोत्तिष्ठ परन्तप॥
English Translation:
Do not yield to unmanliness, O son of Pritha. It does not befit you. Give up this petty weakness of heart and arise, O vanquisher of enemies!
Lord Krishna doesn't coddle Arjuna's anxiety. He calls it 'klaibyam' - impotence or unmanliness. Harsh? Maybe. Necessary? Absolutely.
Sometimes anxiety becomes our excuse for inaction. We hide behind it, avoiding life's challenges. Lord Krishna refuses to enable this. He reminds Arjuna - and us - of our true strength.
This isn't toxic positivity. It's a wake-up call. You're stronger than your anxiety. Stop identifying with weakness when strength is your nature.
The command 'uttishtha' means arise. Not 'try to get up' or 'think about standing'. ARISE.
Lord Krishna calls anxiety 'hridaya-daurbalyam' - weakness of heart. It's not your true nature but a temporary affliction. Like dust on a mirror, it obscures but doesn't destroy your inherent power.
Sometimes the most compassionate thing is refusing to validate our self-imposed limitations. This quote gives permission to be strong, to reject anxiety's narrative about who we are.
After exploring these profound quotes on anxiety from the Bhagavad Gita, several transformative insights emerge for anyone seeking peace in our anxious age:
These timeless teachings from the Bhagavad Gita offer not just philosophical comfort but practical pathways to transcend anxiety and discover the unshakeable peace that is our true nature.
Anxiety grips us all. That racing heart before a big presentation. The sleepless nights worrying about tomorrow. The constant what-ifs that plague our minds. If you're searching for ancient wisdom to calm your modern anxieties, the Bhagavad Gita offers profound insights that have guided seekers for thousands of years.
In this collection, we explore powerful quotes from the Bhagavad Gita that directly address anxiety, worry, and mental unrest. These aren't just philosophical musings - they're practical teachings that Lord Krishna shared with Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, when Arjuna himself was paralyzed by anxiety about the future. Each quote reveals a different facet of understanding and overcoming anxiety, from the impermanence of situations to the power of focused action.
We'll examine 12 transformative quotes that speak to the anxious mind, unpacking their Sanskrit origins, exploring their deeper meanings, and discovering how these timeless teachings apply to our daily struggles with worry and fear.
"The contacts between the senses and the sense objects give rise to happiness and distress. These are like winter and summer seasons. They arise from sense perception, and one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed." - Lord Krishna
This quote strikes at the heart of what makes anxiety so overwhelming - our belief that our current feelings will last forever.
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
मात्रास्पर्शास्तु कौन्तेय शीतोष्णसुखदुःखदाः।आगमापायिनोऽनित्यास्तांस्तितिक्षस्व भारत॥
English Translation:
The contacts between the senses and the sense objects give rise to happiness and distress. These are like winter and summer seasons. They arise from sense perception, and one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed.
Lord Krishna uses a brilliant metaphor here. Just as we don't panic when winter arrives because we know spring will follow, we shouldn't let anxiety consume us.
Think about it. When you're in the middle of an anxiety attack, it feels eternal. Your mind convinces you this feeling will never end. But Lord Krishna reminds us that all sensations - pleasant or unpleasant - are temporary visitors.
The word 'agamapayino' in Sanskrit literally means 'coming and going'. Your anxiety isn't a permanent resident. It's a temporary guest.
The key instruction here is 'titiksasva' - learn to tolerate. Not suppress. Not fight. Tolerate.
This isn't about becoming emotionally numb. It's about developing the strength to witness your anxiety without being swept away by it. Like standing in the rain without running for shelter, knowing the sun will shine again.
When anxiety strikes, remember this quote. Your current state is as temporary as today's weather. This too shall pass.
"You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty." - Lord Krishna
Perhaps no other quote from the Bhagavad Gita addresses performance anxiety as directly as this one.
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन।मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि॥
English Translation:
You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entitled to the fruits of action. Never consider yourself the cause of the results of your activities, and never be attached to not doing your duty.
Most of our anxiety stems from obsessing over outcomes. Will I get the promotion? Will they like me? What if I fail?
Lord Krishna cuts through this mental noise with surgical precision. You control your actions, not their results. Period.
This isn't fatalism. It's freedom. When you stop strangling yourself with outcome expectations, you actually perform better. Athletes call it 'being in the zone'. Psychologists call it 'flow state'. Lord Krishna called it karma yoga thousands of years ago.
The paradox here is beautiful. By surrendering control over results, you gain control over your peace of mind.
Think of a pianist obsessing over audience reactions versus one lost in the music. Who plays better? Who enjoys the experience more?
This quote doesn't advocate laziness. It advocates intelligent action. Do your best, then let go. Your anxiety about results doesn't improve them - it only robs you of present peace.
"One who is not disturbed in mind even amidst the threefold miseries or elated when there is happiness, and who is free from attachment, fear and anger, is called a sage of steady mind." - Lord Krishna
Here, Lord Krishna paints a portrait of what life looks like beyond anxiety's grip.
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
दुःखेष्वनुद्विग्नमनाः सुखेषु विगतस्पृहः।वीतरागभयक्रोधः स्थितधीर्मुनिरुच्यते॥
English Translation:
One who is not disturbed in mind even amidst the threefold miseries or elated when there is happiness, and who is free from attachment, fear and anger, is called a sage of steady mind.
Notice the connection Lord Krishna makes. Anxiety, fear, and anger all spring from the same source - attachment.
When you're attached to a specific outcome, anxiety is inevitable. You fear losing what you have or not getting what you want. This fear breeds anxiety, which often morphs into anger when things don't go your way.
The 'threefold miseries' mentioned here refer to problems from your own mind and body, from others, and from natural calamities. A steady mind remains unshaken by all three.
This isn't about becoming a robot. It's about finding your center.
Lord Krishna describes someone who experiences life fully but isn't controlled by experiences. They feel sadness without drowning in it. They enjoy happiness without clinging to it.
This state - called 'sthitaprajna' or steady wisdom - is achievable. It's not reserved for cave-dwelling monks. It's the birthright of every human willing to practice detachment from the emotional rollercoaster.
"The mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O Krishna, and to subdue it, I think, is more difficult than controlling the wind." - Arjuna
Finally, someone admits what we're all thinking! Even Arjuna, the greatest warrior of his time, struggled with mental control.
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
चञ्चलं हि मनः कृष्ण प्रमाथि बलवद् दृढम्।तस्याहं निग्रहं मन्ये वायोरिव सुदुष्करम्॥
English Translation:
The mind is restless, turbulent, obstinate and very strong, O Krishna, and to subdue it, I think, is more difficult than controlling the wind.
If Arjuna - who could shoot arrows with his eyes closed - found mind control harder than controlling wind, we can stop beating ourselves up.
Your anxiety isn't a character flaw. It's the nature of the untrained mind. The Sanskrit word 'chanchalam' means restless, like a monkey jumping from branch to branch. Sound familiar?
This quote gives us permission to acknowledge the difficulty without feeling defeated. Yes, the mind is strong. Yes, it's turbulent. Now what?
Arjuna's honesty here is refreshing. He doesn't pretend mind control is easy. He compares it to controlling wind - essentially calling it impossible.
This matters because anxiety often brings shame. "Why can't I just calm down?" we ask ourselves. Arjuna's words remind us that even the most accomplished humans struggle with mental turbulence.
Recognizing the challenge is the first step to overcoming it. You're not weak for having anxiety. You're human.
"The mind is restless and difficult to restrain, but it can be controlled by constant practice and detachment." - Lord Krishna
Lord Krishna doesn't dismiss Arjuna's concern. He validates it, then offers hope.
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
असंयतात्मना योगो दुष्प्राप इति मे मतिः।वश्यात्मना तु यतता शक्योऽवाप्तुमुपायतः॥
English Translation:
The mind is restless and difficult to restrain, but it can be controlled by constant practice and detachment.
The Sanskrit word 'abhyasa' means repeated practice. Not perfect practice. Repeated practice.
Every time you notice your anxiety and return to breath, that's practice. Every time you catch yourself spiraling and pause, that's practice. It's not about never feeling anxious. It's about developing the skill to work with anxiety when it arises.
Lord Krishna pairs practice with 'vairagya' - detachment. Not cold indifference, but healthy non-attachment to thoughts and feelings that fuel anxiety.
The key word here is 'can'. The mind CAN be controlled. Not might be. Can be.
Lord Krishna acknowledges the difficulty but guarantees the possibility. With the right approach - consistent practice and detachment - anyone can develop mental mastery.
This isn't a quick fix. It's a path. But knowing the path exists changes everything. Your anxiety isn't your destiny. It's your starting point.
"A person who is not disturbed by the incessant flow of desires - that enter like rivers into the ocean, which is ever being filled but is always still - can alone achieve peace, and not the person who strives to satisfy such desires." - Lord Krishna
This profound ocean metaphor reveals how to remain peaceful despite life's constant demands.
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
आपूर्यमाणमचलप्रतिष्ठं समुद्रमापः प्रविशन्ति यद्वत्।तद्वत्कामा यं प्रविशन्ति सर्वे स शान्तिमाप्नोति न कामकामी॥
English Translation:
A person who is not disturbed by the incessant flow of desires - that enter like rivers into the ocean, which is ever being filled but is always still - can alone achieve peace, and not the person who strives to satisfy such desires.
Rivers constantly pour into the ocean, yet the ocean remains unchanged. It doesn't overflow. It doesn't get agitated.
Your mind can be like this ocean. Thoughts, worries, and desires flow in constantly. But you don't have to be disturbed by every mental wave. The ocean accepts all rivers without losing its essential stillness.
This isn't about stopping thoughts - that's like trying to stop rivers. It's about developing ocean-like depth and stability.
The person chasing every desire is like someone trying to dam every river. Exhausting and impossible.
Anxiety often comes from trying to control or satisfy every mental demand. "I must solve this NOW!" "I can't feel this way!" But Lord Krishna suggests a different approach - be the ocean, not the dam.
Let thoughts and feelings flow through you without disturbing your depths. This is true peace - not the absence of mental activity, but stability despite it.
"Shutting out all external sense objects, keeping the eyes and vision concentrated between the two eyebrows, suspending the inward and outward breaths within the nostrils - thus controlling the mind, senses and intelligence, the transcendentalist aiming at liberation becomes free from desire, fear and anger." - Lord Krishna
Here, Lord Krishna provides a practical technique for immediate anxiety relief.
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
स्पर्शान्कृत्वा बहिर्बाह्यांश्चक्षुश्चैवान्तरे भ्रुवोः।प्राणापानौ समौ कृत्वा नासाभ्यन्तरचारिणौ॥यतेन्द्रियमनोबुद्धिर्मुनिर्मोक्षपरायणः।विगतेच्छाभयक्रोधो यः सदा मुक्त एव सः॥
English Translation:
Shutting out all external sense objects, keeping the eyes and vision concentrated between the two eyebrows, suspending the inward and outward breaths within the nostrils - thus controlling the mind, senses and intelligence, the transcendentalist aiming at liberation becomes free from desire, fear and anger.
Notice how Lord Krishna links breath control directly to freedom from fear - a core component of anxiety.
When anxiety strikes, your breath becomes shallow and rapid. This quote suggests reversing the process. Control your breath, control your mind. The specific technique mentioned - equalizing inward and outward breaths - is remarkably similar to what modern anxiety therapists recommend.
The focus between eyebrows isn't mystical mumbo-jumbo. It's a practical anchor point that prevents your mind from wandering into anxious territories.
This isn't just philosophy - it's a panic button for anxiety attacks.
Lord Krishna provides specific, actionable steps. Close your eyes. Focus on your breath. Concentrate on a single point. These aren't just spiritual practices; they're emergency tools for overwhelming moments.
The promise is clear: master these techniques, and you become 'free from desire, fear and anger'. Not tomorrow. Not after years of practice. Right now, in this moment, freedom is available through conscious breathing.
"Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear." - Lord Krishna
In this climactic quote, Lord Krishna offers the ultimate antidote to anxiety.
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
सर्वधर्मान्परित्यज्य मामेकं शरणं व्रज।अहं त्वां सर्वपापेभ्यो मोक्षयिष्यामि मा शुचः॥
English Translation:
Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions. Do not fear.
The final words - "ma shuchah" (do not fear) - directly address anxiety at its core.
Most anxiety comes from trying to control everything ourselves. We juggle responsibilities, worry about consequences, fear making mistakes. Lord Krishna suggests a radical solution: surrender the whole burden.
This isn't about becoming irresponsible. It's about recognizing a higher intelligence at work and trusting it. Like a child sleeping peacefully in a moving car, trusting the parent driving.
The word 'sarva' means all. Not some worries. All worries.
This total surrender isn't weakness - it's the ultimate strength. It takes tremendous courage to admit you can't control everything and trust a higher power. But this surrender brings the deepest peace possible.
When you truly internalize this message, anxiety loses its grip. What is there to fear when you're under divine protection? What is there to worry about when the cosmic intelligence has your back?
"Being freed from attachment, fear and anger, being fully absorbed in Me and taking refuge in Me, many, many persons in the past became purified by knowledge of Me - and thus they all attained transcendental love for Me." - Lord Krishna
This quote reveals how spiritual knowledge directly dissolves anxiety and fear.
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
वीतरागभयक्रोधा मन्मया मामुपाश्रिताः।बहवो ज्ञानतपसा पूता मद्भावमागताः॥
English Translation:
Being freed from attachment, fear and anger, being fully absorbed in Me and taking refuge in Me, many, many persons in the past became purified by knowledge of Me - and thus they all attained transcendental love for Me.
Lord Krishna mentions 'jnana-tapasa' - the austerity of knowledge. This isn't academic knowledge but experiential understanding of your true nature.
When you truly know who you are - not this temporary body-mind complex but the eternal soul - what is there to fear? Death? It's just changing clothes. Loss? You never truly owned anything. Failure? It's just another experience for the eternal you.
This knowledge isn't intellectual. It's a living realization that transforms your entire relationship with anxiety.
The phrase 'bahavo' means many. Not a chosen few. Many have walked this path successfully.
You're not the first to struggle with anxiety, and you won't be the last to overcome it. Lord Krishna assures us that countless souls have transcended fear through spiritual refuge. Their success is your possibility.
The destination isn't just freedom from anxiety - it's transcendental love. When fear leaves, love rushes in to fill the space.
"To those who are constantly devoted and who worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me. I carry what they lack and preserve what they have." - Lord Krishna
This deeply comforting quote addresses the security concerns underlying much of our anxiety.
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जनाः पर्युपासते।तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम्॥
English Translation:
To those who are constantly devoted and who worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me. I carry what they lack and preserve what they have.
The term 'yoga-kshemam' is powerful. Yoga means acquiring what you don't have. Kshema means protecting what you do have.
How much anxiety stems from these two concerns? "Will I get what I need?" and "Will I lose what I have?" Lord Krishna promises to handle both for those who surrender to Him.
This isn't a blank check for laziness. It's assurance that when you focus on your spiritual path, material needs get handled by a higher intelligence.
The key requirement is 'ananya' - undivided attention. Not occasional remembrance when trouble strikes, but constant connection.
This constancy doesn't mean abandoning worldly duties. It means maintaining awareness of the divine while performing them. Like background music that colors everything without interrupting anything.
When this connection becomes steady, anxiety about provision vanishes. You're partnered with the source of all abundance. What could possibly be lacking?
"He by whom no one is put into difficulty and who is not disturbed by anyone, who is steady in happiness and distress, is dear to Me." - Lord Krishna
This quote presents a beautiful reciprocal relationship - freedom from anxiety and not causing anxiety in others.
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
यस्मान्नोद्विजते लोको लोकान्नोद्विजते च यः।हर्षामर्षभयोद्वेगैर्मुक्तो यः स च मे प्रियः॥
English Translation:
He by whom no one is put into difficulty and who is not disturbed by anyone, who is steady in happiness and distress, is dear to Me.
Anxiety is contagious. When you're anxious, you spread that energy to others. When you're peaceful, you become a calming presence.
Lord Krishna values those who break this cycle. They neither generate anxiety nor absorb it from others. They're like shock absorbers in society's emotional system.
This isn't about being antisocial. It's about being so centered that you lift others up rather than being pulled down.
The phrase 'udvega-mukta' means free from agitation. Not just managing anxiety, but transcending it entirely.
This freedom comes from emotional independence. Others' moods don't dictate yours. Circumstances don't control your inner state. You've found an unshakeable center that external storms can't reach.
This is Lord Krishna's definition of spiritual maturity - being a source of peace rather than disturbance in this anxious world.
"Do not yield to unmanliness, O son of Pritha. It does not befit you. Give up this petty weakness of heart and arise, O vanquisher of enemies!" - Lord Krishna
Sometimes we need tough love, and Lord Krishna delivers it here to the anxiety-paralyzed Arjuna.
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
क्लैब्यं मा स्म गमः पार्थ नैतत्त्वय्युपपद्यते।क्षुद्रं हृदयदौर्बल्यं त्यक्त्वोत्तिष्ठ परन्तप॥
English Translation:
Do not yield to unmanliness, O son of Pritha. It does not befit you. Give up this petty weakness of heart and arise, O vanquisher of enemies!
Lord Krishna doesn't coddle Arjuna's anxiety. He calls it 'klaibyam' - impotence or unmanliness. Harsh? Maybe. Necessary? Absolutely.
Sometimes anxiety becomes our excuse for inaction. We hide behind it, avoiding life's challenges. Lord Krishna refuses to enable this. He reminds Arjuna - and us - of our true strength.
This isn't toxic positivity. It's a wake-up call. You're stronger than your anxiety. Stop identifying with weakness when strength is your nature.
The command 'uttishtha' means arise. Not 'try to get up' or 'think about standing'. ARISE.
Lord Krishna calls anxiety 'hridaya-daurbalyam' - weakness of heart. It's not your true nature but a temporary affliction. Like dust on a mirror, it obscures but doesn't destroy your inherent power.
Sometimes the most compassionate thing is refusing to validate our self-imposed limitations. This quote gives permission to be strong, to reject anxiety's narrative about who we are.
After exploring these profound quotes on anxiety from the Bhagavad Gita, several transformative insights emerge for anyone seeking peace in our anxious age:
These timeless teachings from the Bhagavad Gita offer not just philosophical comfort but practical pathways to transcend anxiety and discover the unshakeable peace that is our true nature.