Quotes on Patience from Bhagavad Gita
What if patience paid off? Find game-changing endurance quotes from the Bhagavad Gita you never practiced.
%20(2).webp)
Have you ever wondered why some people seem to wait calmly while others lose their cool at the smallest delay? The Bhagavad Gita offers profound wisdom on patience that goes beyond just "waiting nicely." It reveals patience as a spiritual strength that transforms how we face life's challenges.
In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore 15 powerful quotes from the Bhagavad Gita that illuminate the true nature of patience. From Lord Krishna's teachings about steady wisdom to His insights on enduring difficulties, these verses show us how patience becomes a pathway to inner peace. We'll discover why patience isn't passive waiting but an active practice of faith and understanding.
Whether you're dealing with daily frustrations or major life transitions, these ancient teachings offer practical wisdom that remains startlingly relevant today. Let's journey through these transformative quotes and uncover how the Bhagavad Gita's timeless guidance can help us cultivate unshakeable patience in our modern lives.
"The contacts of the senses with their objects give rise to happiness and distress. These are like winter and summer. They come and go and are temporary. Therefore, O Arjuna, endure them." - Lord Krishna
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
मात्रास्पर्शास्तु कौन्तेय शीतोष्णसुखदुःखदाः।आगमापायिनोऽनित्यास्तांस्तितिक्षस्व भारत।।2.14।।
English Translation:
The contacts of the senses with the sense objects give rise to happiness and distress. These are like winter and summer, O son of Kunti. They come and go and are impermanent. Therefore, endure them, O Bharata.
This quote appears early in the Bhagavad Gita when Arjuna faces his greatest crisis on the battlefield of Chapter 2. Lord Krishna uses a simple but powerful metaphor that anyone can understand.
Just as we don't panic when winter arrives because we know spring will follow, Lord Krishna teaches us to view our troubles with the same understanding. This comparison isn't random.
Think about how you prepare for winter. You don't curse the cold or try to stop it. You simply wear warmer clothes and wait. The same patience should apply to life's difficulties. When problems arise, we often forget they're temporary. We act as if the current pain will last forever.
But Lord Krishna reminds us that everything passes. The promotion you didn't get, the relationship that ended, the illness you're facing - these are seasons of life. Your patience isn't about being passive. It's about understanding the nature of change itself.
The word "titiksha" in Sanskrit means more than just patience. It means bearing difficulties without being disturbed.
This isn't about becoming emotionless. You still feel cold in winter and heat in summer. Similarly, you'll still feel joy and sorrow. The difference lies in how you respond. When you understand that experiences are temporary visitors, you stop clinging to pleasure or running from pain.
Lord Krishna addresses Arjuna as "Bharata" - descendant of the great king Bharata. This reminds us that patience is a noble quality, worthy of our highest heritage. Whether facing minor annoyances or major crises, this quote teaches us to stand firm like a mountain while storms pass by.
"O best among men, the person who is not disturbed by happiness and distress and is steady in both is certainly eligible for liberation." - Lord Krishna
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
यं हि न व्यथयन्त्येते पुरुषं पुरुषर्षभ।समदुःखसुखं धीरं सोऽमृतत्वाय कल्पते।।2.15।।
English Translation:
O best among men, the person whom these do not disturb, who is the same in happiness and distress, who is wise - such a person is fit for immortality.
Building on the previous teaching, Lord Krishna now reveals the ultimate reward of patience. This quote from Verse 2.15 shows us what happens when we master the art of endurance.
Lord Krishna calls this quality "sama-duhkha-sukham" - being equal in joy and sorrow. This doesn't mean you become a robot.
Imagine a tree in different seasons. In spring, it blooms. In autumn, it sheds leaves. But its roots remain steady throughout. This is the patience Lord Krishna describes. You participate in life fully, experiencing all emotions, but your inner core stays undisturbed.
Most of us are like small boats on the ocean, tossed by every wave of emotion. Good news sends us soaring. Bad news crushes us. But the person of steady wisdom is like a great ship. The waves still come, but they can't overturn such a vessel. This stability comes from understanding that both praise and criticism, success and failure, are temporary waves on the ocean of life.
The word "amritatvaya" means eligibility for immortality or liberation. This is the highest promise in spiritual life.
Lord Krishna isn't talking about physical immortality. He's pointing to something deeper - freedom from the cycle of mental suffering. When you develop true patience, you break free from the tyranny of circumstances. You discover an inner peace that external events cannot touch.
This quote also honors human potential by addressing Arjuna as "purusharshaba" - best among men. It reminds us that developing patience isn't about becoming weak or passive. It's about rising to our highest capability. Every time you choose patience over reaction, you step closer to this immortal state of consciousness.
"Gradually, step by step, one should become situated in trance by means of intelligence sustained by conviction, and the mind should be fixed on the Self alone and should think of nothing else." - Lord Krishna
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
शनैः शनैरुपरमेद् बुद्ध्या धृतिगृहीतया।आत्मसंस्थं मनः कृत्वा न किञ्चिदपि चिन्तयेत्।।6.25।।
English Translation:
Little by little, one should attain quietude by the intellect held in firmness; having made the mind established in the Self, one should not think of anything.
In Chapter 6, Lord Krishna teaches meditation. This quote from Verse 6.25 reveals a crucial secret - spiritual progress requires patience with ourselves.
The phrase "shanaih shanaih" means slowly, gradually. Lord Krishna repeats it for emphasis.
We live in an instant world. Fast food, instant messages, quick results. But Lord Krishna reminds us that some things cannot be rushed. Just as you cannot pull a plant to make it grow faster, you cannot force spiritual development. The mind has wandered for years, maybe lifetimes. Expecting it to become still overnight is like expecting to run a marathon without training.
This teaching liberates us from spiritual impatience. How often do we try meditation for a week and give up because we don't see results? Lord Krishna says: be patient with yourself. Every moment you bring your wandering mind back is a victory. Progress happens in tiny steps, not giant leaps.
The word "dhriti" means firmness or steadiness, held by the intellect. This is patience at its deepest level.
Think of training a puppy. You don't get angry when it wanders off. You gently bring it back, again and again. Lord Krishna asks us to treat our mind with the same patient firmness. The mind will wander - that's its nature. Your job is to guide it back without frustration.
This quote also reveals that patience isn't just waiting. It's an active practice of returning to center. Each time you notice your mind has drifted and bring it back, you strengthen your patience muscle. Over time, what seemed impossible becomes natural. The mind that once raced like a wild horse learns to rest in peace.
"One who is not envious but is a kind friend to all living entities, who does not think himself a proprietor and is free from false ego, who is equal in both happiness and distress, who is tolerant, always satisfied, self-controlled, and engaged in devotional service with determination, his mind and intelligence fixed on Me - such a devotee of Mine is very dear to Me." - Lord Krishna
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
अद्वेष्टा सर्वभूतानां मैत्रः करुण एव च।निर्ममो निरहंकारः समदुःखसुखः क्षमी।।12.13।।संतुष्टः सततं योगी यतात्मा दृढनिश्चयः।मय्यर्पितमनोबुद्धिर्यो मद्भक्तः स मे प्रियः।।12.14।।
English Translation:
He who hates no creature, who is friendly and compassionate to all, who is free from attachment and egoism, balanced in pleasure and pain, and forgiving, ever content, steady in meditation, self-controlled, possessed of firm conviction, with mind and intellect dedicated to Me - he, My devotee, is dear to Me.
These verses from Chapter 12 paint a complete picture of a patient soul. Lord Krishna lists many qualities, but notice how patience weaves through them all.
The Sanskrit word "kshami" means forgiving or tolerant. This shows us that patience and forgiveness are twins.
When someone hurts us, impatience wants immediate revenge. But Lord Krishna says His dear devotees are different. They understand that everyone makes mistakes. They remember their own imperfections. This understanding naturally leads to patience with others' faults.
Think about how you treat a child learning to walk. You don't get angry when they fall. You encourage them to try again. Lord Krishna asks us to see all beings with such patient eyes. When we realize everyone is learning and growing at their own pace, patience becomes natural. We stop demanding perfection from others because we see they're on their own journey.
"Santushtah satatam" means always satisfied. This is patience with life itself.
Most of us live in constant want. We're impatient for the next achievement, the next pleasure, the next milestone. But Lord Krishna describes His dear devotees as always content. This doesn't mean they lack ambition. It means they're patient with divine timing.
These souls work with dedication but without desperate urgency. They trust that what's meant for them will come at the right time. This contentment isn't laziness - notice Lord Krishna also mentions firm determination. It's about doing your best while patiently accepting results. Such people become like deep lakes - peaceful on the surface even while life flows through them.
"The Supreme Lord said: Fearlessness, purification of one's existence, cultivation of spiritual knowledge, charity, self-control, performance of sacrifice, study of the Vedas, austerity, simplicity, nonviolence, truthfulness, freedom from anger, renunciation, tranquility, aversion to faultfinding, compassion for all living entities, freedom from covetousness, gentleness, modesty, steady determination, vigor, forgiveness, fortitude, cleanliness, and freedom from envy and from the passion for honor - these transcendental qualities belong to godly men endowed with divine nature." - Lord Krishna
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
अभयं सत्त्वसंशुद्धिर्ज्ञानयोगव्यवस्थितिः।दानं दमश्च यज्ञश्च स्वाध्यायस्तप आर्जवम्।।16.1।।अहिंसा सत्यमक्रोधस्त्यागः शान्तिरपैशुनम्।दया भूतेष्वलोलुप्त्वं मार्दवं ह्रीरचापलम्।।16.2।।तेजः क्षमा धृतिः शौचमद्रोहो नातिमानिता।भवन्ति सम्पदं दैवीमभिजातस्य भारत।।16.3।।
English Translation:
The Blessed Lord said: Fearlessness, purity of heart, steadfastness in knowledge and yoga, charity, control of the senses, sacrifice, study of scriptures, austerity and straightforwardness, harmlessness, truth, absence of anger, renunciation, peacefulness, absence of crookedness, compassion towards beings, non-covetousness, gentleness, modesty, absence of fickleness, boldness, forgiveness, fortitude, purity, absence of hatred, absence of pride - these belong to the one born for a divine state, O Bharata.
In Chapter 16, Lord Krishna lists divine qualities. Notice how many relate to patience - forgiveness, freedom from anger, tranquility, and fortitude.
Lord Krishna uses three words that directly relate to patience: "kshama" (forgiveness), "dhriti" (fortitude), and "akrodha" (freedom from anger).
This tells us patience isn't just a nice trait - it's divine. When you practice patience, you align with cosmic qualities. Think about nature. The sun doesn't hurry to rise. Rivers don't rush to reach the ocean in anger. They flow with patient persistence. Lord Krishna says humans with divine nature share this quality.
These verses also show that patience doesn't exist alone. It comes bundled with other noble qualities. You can't be truly patient while harboring violence in your heart. You can't claim patience while constantly finding faults in others. Real patience emerges from a transformed consciousness that sees divinity everywhere.
The word "tejas" means vigor or strength, paired here with patience-related qualities.
Many people think patience means weakness. Lord Krishna destroys this myth. He lists patience alongside fearlessness and vigor. True patience requires tremendous inner strength. Anyone can lose their temper - that's easy. But standing firm in tranquility when provoked? That takes real power.
This quote from Verse 16.3 addresses Arjuna as "Bharata," reminding him of his noble lineage. Similarly, when we practice patience, we connect with our highest spiritual heritage. We're not just controlling anger or waiting quietly. We're manifesting divine qualities that place us among the spiritually evolved souls.
"One whose mind remains undisturbed in the midst of misery, who does not crave for pleasure, and who is free from attachment, fear and anger, is called a sage of steady wisdom." - Lord Krishna
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
दुःखेष्वनुद्विग्नमनाः सुखेषु विगतस्पृहः।वीतरागभयक्रोधः स्थितधीर्मुनिरुच्यते।।2.56।।
English Translation:
He whose mind is not shaken by adversity, who does not hanker after pleasures, and is free from attachment, fear and anger, is called a sage of steady wisdom.
Lord Krishna continues His teaching about the wise person in Verse 2.56. This quote specifically addresses how patience manifests during life's toughest moments.
The phrase "duhkheshu anudvigna-manah" means a mind unshaken in misery. This is patience at its most challenging test.
It's easy to be patient when life goes smoothly. The real test comes during crisis. When illness strikes, when loved ones leave, when dreams shatter - that's when patience matters most. Lord Krishna doesn't say the wise person doesn't feel pain. He says their mind remains unshaken.
Picture a lighthouse during a storm. Waves crash against it. Wind howls around it. But it stands firm, continuing to shine its light. This is the patient soul during adversity. They feel the full force of life's storms but maintain their inner stability. Their patience isn't denial of pain but acceptance of reality without mental turbulence.
"Vigata-sprhah" means free from hankering or intense desire. This reveals a deep connection between patience and contentment.
Impatience often springs from desire. We want something so badly that waiting becomes torture. But the sage of steady wisdom has conquered this restlessness. They still have preferences, but not desperate cravings. This freedom from intense desire naturally creates patience.
Lord Krishna also mentions freedom from attachment, fear, and anger - the three thieves of patience. Attachment makes us impatient to hold onto pleasant experiences. Fear makes us impatient to escape potential threats. Anger arises when reality doesn't match our timeline. The wise person, free from these three, discovers natural patience that needs no effort.
"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
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
आपूर्यमाणमचलप्रतिष्ठं समुद्रमापः प्रविशन्ति यद्वत्।तद्वत्कामा यं प्रविशन्ति सर्वे स शान्तिमाप्नोति न कामकामी।।2.70।।
English Translation:
As the waters of different rivers enter the ocean, which is full yet maintains its stillness, similarly, one who remains undisturbed despite the flow of desires attains peace, not one who strives to satisfy desires.
This beautiful metaphor from Verse 2.70 gives us one of the most profound images of patience in the Bhagavad Gita.
Lord Krishna compares the patient soul to the ocean. Rivers constantly flow into it, but the ocean remains unchanged.
Think about this image. Every day, millions of gallons pour into the ocean from countless rivers. Yet the ocean doesn't overflow or become agitated. It receives everything with the same vast patience. This is how Lord Krishna asks us to meet life's experiences.
Desires, thoughts, and experiences flow into our consciousness like rivers. Most of us are like small ponds - even a little stream disturbs our peace. But the person established in patience becomes ocean-like. Success or failure, praise or blame, pleasure or pain - all enter their vast consciousness without creating waves. They receive everything with the same serene depth.
The ocean's stillness isn't passive. It's a dynamic equilibrium maintained despite constant inflow.
This teaches us that patience isn't about blocking out life. The ocean doesn't build dams to stop rivers. It receives them all while maintaining its essential nature. Similarly, true patience means fully experiencing life while keeping inner stillness.
Lord Krishna contrasts this with the "kama-kami" - one who chases desires. Such people are never patient because they're always running after the next want. But the ocean-like soul has discovered something profound. They've found a fullness within that no external river can increase or diminish. From this fullness comes unshakeable patience.
"He who is satisfied with whatever comes by chance, who is free from duality and does not envy, who is steady in both success and failure, is never entangled, even while performing actions." - Lord Krishna
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
यदृच्छालाभसन्तुष्टो द्वन्द्वातीतो विमत्सरः।समः सिद्धावसिद्धौ च कृत्वापि न निबध्यते।।4.22।।
English Translation:
Content with what comes to him without effort, free from the pairs of opposites and envy, steady in success and failure, though acting, he is not bound.
In Chapter 4, Lord Krishna reveals how patience operates in daily life through this powerful verse.
"Yadrccha-labha-santushta" means satisfied with whatever comes by chance. This is radical patience.
We spend so much energy trying to control outcomes. We plan, worry, and stress about making things happen our way. But Lord Krishna points to a different path. He speaks of souls who work sincerely but remain patient with whatever results come.
This doesn't mean being lazy or careless. These people still act and work. But they've developed patience with the unpredictable nature of results. Sometimes hard work brings success, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes good things come without effort. They accept this mystery with patient contentment, knowing that forces beyond human control shape outcomes.
"Dvandva-atita" means beyond dualities - heat and cold, pleasure and pain, success and failure.
Most of our impatience comes from preferring one side of life's dualities. We're impatient for summer during winter, for success during struggle. But Lord Krishna describes beings who've transcended this constant wanting and rejecting.
They've discovered that life includes both sides of every coin. Instead of impatiently waiting for only the pleasant side, they patiently accept the whole. This quote from Verse 4.22 also mentions freedom from envy. When you're patient with your own journey, you stop comparing with others. You understand everyone has their own timing, their own path.
"Humility, pridelessness, non-violence, tolerance, simplicity, approaching a bonafide spiritual master, cleanliness, steadiness, self-control..." - Lord Krishna
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
अमानित्वमदम्भित्वमहिंसा क्षान्तिरार्जवम्।आचार्योपासनं शौचं स्थैर्यमात्मविनिग्रहः।।13.7।।
English Translation:
Humility, unpretentiousness, non-injury, forgiveness, uprightness, service of the teacher, purity, steadfastness, self-control.
In Chapter 13, Lord Krishna lists qualities that lead to true knowledge. Among them, He specifically mentions "kshanti" - tolerance or patience.
Lord Krishna places patience (kshanti) among the fundamental qualities for gaining wisdom. This isn't accidental.
Learning requires patience. Whether studying scriptures or understanding life's lessons, impatience blocks true comprehension. Think about how children learn. They ask the same questions repeatedly. They make the same mistakes. Patient teachers understand this is how learning happens.
Spiritual knowledge especially demands patience. Unlike worldly information you can memorize quickly, wisdom unfolds slowly. It requires patient practice, repeated contemplation, and gradual transformation. Those who want instant enlightenment often give up. But those with patience discover that each day of practice adds another drop to their ocean of understanding.
Notice how Lord Krishna begins with humility (amanitvam) and includes patience in the same list.
Pride and impatience are best friends. Proud people think they deserve immediate results, instant respect, quick success. But humble souls understand they're students in life's vast university. This humility naturally creates patience.
The quote from Verse 13.7 also mentions approaching a spiritual teacher. This requires tremendous patience. Real teachers don't give you everything at once. They test your sincerity, teach according to your capacity, and wait for your readiness. Impatient students hop from teacher to teacher, never going deep. Patient students stay the course and receive profound treasures.
"Being purified by his intelligence and controlling the mind with determination, giving up the objects of sense gratification, being freed from attachment and hatred, one who lives in a secluded place, who eats little, who controls his body, mind and power of speech, who is always in trance and is detached, free from false ego, false strength, false pride, lust, anger, and acceptance of material things, free from false proprietorship, and peaceful - such a person is certainly elevated to the position of self-realization." - Lord Krishna
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
बुद्ध्या विशुद्धया युक्तो धृत्यात्मानं नियम्य च।शब्दादीन्विषयांस्त्यक्त्वा रागद्वेषौ व्युदस्य च।।18.51।।विविक्तसेवी लघ्वाशी यतवाक्कायमानसः।ध्यानयोगपरो नित्यं वैराग्यं समुपाश्रितः।।18.52।।अहंकारं बलं दर्पं कामं क्रोधं परिग्रहम्।विमुच्य निर्ममः शान्तो ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते।।18.53।।
English Translation:
Endowed with a pure intellect, controlling the self by firmness, relinquishing sound and other objects and abandoning both hatred and attraction, dwelling in solitude, eating little, with speech, body and mind controlled, always engaged in meditation, cultivating dispassion, forsaking egoism, violence, pride, lust, anger and possessions, free from the notion of "mine" and peaceful - such a one is fit for becoming Brahman.
Near the end of the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna describes the final stages of spiritual perfection. Notice how patience permeates every aspect.
The word "dhritya" (with determination) appears again, showing patience's role in self-control.
Lord Krishna describes a comprehensive spiritual lifestyle. Each element requires patience - controlling senses, eating moderately, dwelling in solitude, maintaining meditation. None of these happen overnight. They demand patient, persistent practice.
Think about "laghu-ashi" - eating little. This isn't about starving but about patient moderation. In our instant-gratification culture, we eat the moment we feel hungry. But spiritual aspirants patiently distinguish between need and greed. They eat to live, not live to eat. This simple practice teaches patience that extends to all areas of life.
The verses culminate with "shanta" - peaceful. This is patience's ultimate fruit.
Look at the journey described. From controlling the mind to abandoning ego, from giving up anger to becoming free from possessiveness - each step requires patient work. You can't force these transformations. Like fruit ripening on a tree, they happen in their own time with patient cultivation.
These verses from Chapter 18 show that patience isn't just one quality among many. It's the thread that holds the entire spiritual path together. Whether you're beginning with sense control or reaching for final liberation, patience remains your constant companion. Without it, spiritual life becomes a frustrating struggle. With it, even difficult practices become joyful steps toward freedom.
"Those who are free from anger and all material desires, who are self-realized, self-disciplined and constantly endeavoring for perfection, are assured of liberation in the Supreme in the very near future." - Lord Krishna
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
कामक्रोधवियुक्तानां यतीनां यतचेतसाम्।अभितो ब्रह्मनिर्वाणं वर्तते विदितात्मनाम्।।5.26।।
English Translation:
To those self-controlled ascetics who are free from desire and anger, who have controlled their thoughts and have realized the Self, Brahma-nirvana exists on all sides.
In Verse 5.26, Lord Krishna makes a powerful promise to those who master patience by conquering anger.
"Kama-krodha-viyuktanam" - free from desire and anger. Lord Krishna pairs these two because they're patience's greatest enemies.
Anger is impatience in its most destructive form. When things don't go our way quickly enough, anger explodes. It's the ultimate loss of patience. But Lord Krishna speaks of souls who've conquered this inner enemy completely.
How do they do it? Through understanding. They realize anger never speeds up solutions - it only clouds judgment. They see that most triggers for anger are trivial in the grand scheme. This perspective brings natural patience. Instead of reacting with fury when stuck in traffic, they use the time for reflection. Instead of exploding when insulted, they consider the pain driving the other person's behavior.
"Abhito brahma-nirvanam" - liberation exists on all sides. This is an extraordinary statement.
For most, liberation seems distant, requiring tremendous effort. But for those who've mastered patience through conquering anger, Lord Krishna says liberation surrounds them. Why? Because patience itself is a form of liberation.
Think about it. What enslaves us more than our reactions? Anger chains us to others' actions. Impatience imprisons us in time's grip. But patient souls have broken these chains. They've discovered freedom not in some distant future but in this very moment. Their patience has created an inner space where peace reigns regardless of outer circumstances.
"Austerity of the body consists in worship of the Supreme Lord, the brahmanas, the spiritual master, and superiors like the father and mother, and in cleanliness, simplicity, celibacy and nonviolence." - Lord Krishna
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
देवद्विजगुरुप्राज्ञपूजनं शौचमार्जवम्।ब्रह्मचर्यमहिंसा च शारीरं तप उच्यते।।17.14।।
English Translation:
Worship of the gods, the twice-born, teachers and the wise, purity, straightforwardness, celibacy and non-injury - these are called the austerities of the body.
In Chapter 17, Lord Krishna describes different types of austerity. This verse reveals how patience manifests in physical discipline.
Every austerity mentioned here requires patience. "Brahmacharya" (celibacy or self-control) especially demands patient restraint.
In our instant-pleasure society, physical discipline seems outdated. But Lord Krishna reminds us that the body is our first field of patience practice. Can you patiently sit in meditation when your legs complain? Can you patiently maintain cleanliness when you're tired? Can you patiently serve elders when you'd rather relax?
These seem like small things, but they build patience muscles. Each time you choose discipline over impulse, you strengthen your capacity for patience. The body wants immediate comfort. Training it to wait, to endure, to serve - this creates a patience that extends to all life areas.
"Ahimsa" - non-violence - is patience in action. Violence springs from impatience.
When we can't wait for others to understand, we force. When we can't tolerate different opinions, we attack. But non-violence requires supreme patience. It means waiting for hearts to open rather than breaking them open. It means patiently enduring others' aggression without retaliation.
This quote from Verse 17.14 shows that patience isn't just mental - it's deeply physical. Every act of bodily restraint, every moment of physical service, every choice of gentleness over force builds our patience reserves. Through patient physical discipline, we prepare the body to be a fit temple for the patient soul.
"Intelligence, knowledge, freedom from doubt and delusion, forgiveness, truthfulness, control of the senses, control of the mind, happiness and distress, birth, death, fear, fearlessness, nonviolence, equanimity, satisfaction, austerity, charity, fame and infamy - all these various qualities of living beings are created by Me alone." - Lord Krishna
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
बुद्धिर्ज्ञानमसम्मोहः क्षमा सत्यं दमः शमः।सुखं दुःखं भवोऽभावो भयं चाभयमेव च।।10.4।।अहिंसा समता तुष्टिस्तपो दानं यशोऽयशः।भवन्ति भावा भूतानां मत्त एव पृथग्विधाः।।10.5।।
English Translation:
Intelligence, knowledge, non-delusion, forgiveness, truth, self-restraint, calmness, happiness, pain, birth, death, fear, fearlessness, non-injury, equanimity, satisfaction, austerity, charity, fame and infamy - these different qualities of beings arise from Me alone.
In Chapter 10, Lord Krishna reveals that patience itself is His creation, His gift to humanity.
Lord Krishna lists "kshama" (forgiveness/patience) among the fundamental qualities He creates. This changes everything.
We often think we must manufacture patience through effort. But Lord Krishna reveals it already exists within us as His gift. Like a seed waiting for water, patience lies dormant in every heart. Our spiritual practice simply awakens what He has already planted.
This understanding transforms our approach. Instead of struggling to create patience, we learn to uncover it. Through meditation, through practice, through surrender, we remove the impatience that covers our natural patient nature. Every soul carries this divine gift - we need only unwrap it.
Lord Krishna mentions both happiness and distress, fear and fearlessness, fame and infamy as His creations.
This teaches profound patience with life's opposites. If both joy and sorrow come from the Divine, why be impatient for one over the other? If both success and failure are His gifts, why not receive both with equal patience?
The verse from Verse 10.5 lists equanimity (samata) right after non-violence. This shows that patience creates balance. When we understand all qualities and experiences come from the same divine source, patience becomes natural. We stop rushing toward pleasure and running from pain. We learn to dance with both, knowing they're partners in the divine choreography of life.
As we complete this journey through Lord Krishna's teachings on patience, let's gather the golden threads that run through all these verses.
The Bhagavad Gita reveals patience not as passive waiting but as dynamic spiritual strength. Here are the essential insights:
Lord Krishna's teachings show us that patience isn't about gritting our teeth through difficulty. It's about understanding our place in the cosmic dance, trusting divine timing, and maintaining inner joy regardless of outer circumstances. This ancient wisdom remains startlingly relevant, offering us a path to peace in our impatient age.
Have you ever wondered why some people seem to wait calmly while others lose their cool at the smallest delay? The Bhagavad Gita offers profound wisdom on patience that goes beyond just "waiting nicely." It reveals patience as a spiritual strength that transforms how we face life's challenges.
In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore 15 powerful quotes from the Bhagavad Gita that illuminate the true nature of patience. From Lord Krishna's teachings about steady wisdom to His insights on enduring difficulties, these verses show us how patience becomes a pathway to inner peace. We'll discover why patience isn't passive waiting but an active practice of faith and understanding.
Whether you're dealing with daily frustrations or major life transitions, these ancient teachings offer practical wisdom that remains startlingly relevant today. Let's journey through these transformative quotes and uncover how the Bhagavad Gita's timeless guidance can help us cultivate unshakeable patience in our modern lives.
"The contacts of the senses with their objects give rise to happiness and distress. These are like winter and summer. They come and go and are temporary. Therefore, O Arjuna, endure them." - Lord Krishna
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
मात्रास्पर्शास्तु कौन्तेय शीतोष्णसुखदुःखदाः।आगमापायिनोऽनित्यास्तांस्तितिक्षस्व भारत।।2.14।।
English Translation:
The contacts of the senses with the sense objects give rise to happiness and distress. These are like winter and summer, O son of Kunti. They come and go and are impermanent. Therefore, endure them, O Bharata.
This quote appears early in the Bhagavad Gita when Arjuna faces his greatest crisis on the battlefield of Chapter 2. Lord Krishna uses a simple but powerful metaphor that anyone can understand.
Just as we don't panic when winter arrives because we know spring will follow, Lord Krishna teaches us to view our troubles with the same understanding. This comparison isn't random.
Think about how you prepare for winter. You don't curse the cold or try to stop it. You simply wear warmer clothes and wait. The same patience should apply to life's difficulties. When problems arise, we often forget they're temporary. We act as if the current pain will last forever.
But Lord Krishna reminds us that everything passes. The promotion you didn't get, the relationship that ended, the illness you're facing - these are seasons of life. Your patience isn't about being passive. It's about understanding the nature of change itself.
The word "titiksha" in Sanskrit means more than just patience. It means bearing difficulties without being disturbed.
This isn't about becoming emotionless. You still feel cold in winter and heat in summer. Similarly, you'll still feel joy and sorrow. The difference lies in how you respond. When you understand that experiences are temporary visitors, you stop clinging to pleasure or running from pain.
Lord Krishna addresses Arjuna as "Bharata" - descendant of the great king Bharata. This reminds us that patience is a noble quality, worthy of our highest heritage. Whether facing minor annoyances or major crises, this quote teaches us to stand firm like a mountain while storms pass by.
"O best among men, the person who is not disturbed by happiness and distress and is steady in both is certainly eligible for liberation." - Lord Krishna
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
यं हि न व्यथयन्त्येते पुरुषं पुरुषर्षभ।समदुःखसुखं धीरं सोऽमृतत्वाय कल्पते।।2.15।।
English Translation:
O best among men, the person whom these do not disturb, who is the same in happiness and distress, who is wise - such a person is fit for immortality.
Building on the previous teaching, Lord Krishna now reveals the ultimate reward of patience. This quote from Verse 2.15 shows us what happens when we master the art of endurance.
Lord Krishna calls this quality "sama-duhkha-sukham" - being equal in joy and sorrow. This doesn't mean you become a robot.
Imagine a tree in different seasons. In spring, it blooms. In autumn, it sheds leaves. But its roots remain steady throughout. This is the patience Lord Krishna describes. You participate in life fully, experiencing all emotions, but your inner core stays undisturbed.
Most of us are like small boats on the ocean, tossed by every wave of emotion. Good news sends us soaring. Bad news crushes us. But the person of steady wisdom is like a great ship. The waves still come, but they can't overturn such a vessel. This stability comes from understanding that both praise and criticism, success and failure, are temporary waves on the ocean of life.
The word "amritatvaya" means eligibility for immortality or liberation. This is the highest promise in spiritual life.
Lord Krishna isn't talking about physical immortality. He's pointing to something deeper - freedom from the cycle of mental suffering. When you develop true patience, you break free from the tyranny of circumstances. You discover an inner peace that external events cannot touch.
This quote also honors human potential by addressing Arjuna as "purusharshaba" - best among men. It reminds us that developing patience isn't about becoming weak or passive. It's about rising to our highest capability. Every time you choose patience over reaction, you step closer to this immortal state of consciousness.
"Gradually, step by step, one should become situated in trance by means of intelligence sustained by conviction, and the mind should be fixed on the Self alone and should think of nothing else." - Lord Krishna
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
शनैः शनैरुपरमेद् बुद्ध्या धृतिगृहीतया।आत्मसंस्थं मनः कृत्वा न किञ्चिदपि चिन्तयेत्।।6.25।।
English Translation:
Little by little, one should attain quietude by the intellect held in firmness; having made the mind established in the Self, one should not think of anything.
In Chapter 6, Lord Krishna teaches meditation. This quote from Verse 6.25 reveals a crucial secret - spiritual progress requires patience with ourselves.
The phrase "shanaih shanaih" means slowly, gradually. Lord Krishna repeats it for emphasis.
We live in an instant world. Fast food, instant messages, quick results. But Lord Krishna reminds us that some things cannot be rushed. Just as you cannot pull a plant to make it grow faster, you cannot force spiritual development. The mind has wandered for years, maybe lifetimes. Expecting it to become still overnight is like expecting to run a marathon without training.
This teaching liberates us from spiritual impatience. How often do we try meditation for a week and give up because we don't see results? Lord Krishna says: be patient with yourself. Every moment you bring your wandering mind back is a victory. Progress happens in tiny steps, not giant leaps.
The word "dhriti" means firmness or steadiness, held by the intellect. This is patience at its deepest level.
Think of training a puppy. You don't get angry when it wanders off. You gently bring it back, again and again. Lord Krishna asks us to treat our mind with the same patient firmness. The mind will wander - that's its nature. Your job is to guide it back without frustration.
This quote also reveals that patience isn't just waiting. It's an active practice of returning to center. Each time you notice your mind has drifted and bring it back, you strengthen your patience muscle. Over time, what seemed impossible becomes natural. The mind that once raced like a wild horse learns to rest in peace.
"One who is not envious but is a kind friend to all living entities, who does not think himself a proprietor and is free from false ego, who is equal in both happiness and distress, who is tolerant, always satisfied, self-controlled, and engaged in devotional service with determination, his mind and intelligence fixed on Me - such a devotee of Mine is very dear to Me." - Lord Krishna
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
अद्वेष्टा सर्वभूतानां मैत्रः करुण एव च।निर्ममो निरहंकारः समदुःखसुखः क्षमी।।12.13।।संतुष्टः सततं योगी यतात्मा दृढनिश्चयः।मय्यर्पितमनोबुद्धिर्यो मद्भक्तः स मे प्रियः।।12.14।।
English Translation:
He who hates no creature, who is friendly and compassionate to all, who is free from attachment and egoism, balanced in pleasure and pain, and forgiving, ever content, steady in meditation, self-controlled, possessed of firm conviction, with mind and intellect dedicated to Me - he, My devotee, is dear to Me.
These verses from Chapter 12 paint a complete picture of a patient soul. Lord Krishna lists many qualities, but notice how patience weaves through them all.
The Sanskrit word "kshami" means forgiving or tolerant. This shows us that patience and forgiveness are twins.
When someone hurts us, impatience wants immediate revenge. But Lord Krishna says His dear devotees are different. They understand that everyone makes mistakes. They remember their own imperfections. This understanding naturally leads to patience with others' faults.
Think about how you treat a child learning to walk. You don't get angry when they fall. You encourage them to try again. Lord Krishna asks us to see all beings with such patient eyes. When we realize everyone is learning and growing at their own pace, patience becomes natural. We stop demanding perfection from others because we see they're on their own journey.
"Santushtah satatam" means always satisfied. This is patience with life itself.
Most of us live in constant want. We're impatient for the next achievement, the next pleasure, the next milestone. But Lord Krishna describes His dear devotees as always content. This doesn't mean they lack ambition. It means they're patient with divine timing.
These souls work with dedication but without desperate urgency. They trust that what's meant for them will come at the right time. This contentment isn't laziness - notice Lord Krishna also mentions firm determination. It's about doing your best while patiently accepting results. Such people become like deep lakes - peaceful on the surface even while life flows through them.
"The Supreme Lord said: Fearlessness, purification of one's existence, cultivation of spiritual knowledge, charity, self-control, performance of sacrifice, study of the Vedas, austerity, simplicity, nonviolence, truthfulness, freedom from anger, renunciation, tranquility, aversion to faultfinding, compassion for all living entities, freedom from covetousness, gentleness, modesty, steady determination, vigor, forgiveness, fortitude, cleanliness, and freedom from envy and from the passion for honor - these transcendental qualities belong to godly men endowed with divine nature." - Lord Krishna
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
अभयं सत्त्वसंशुद्धिर्ज्ञानयोगव्यवस्थितिः।दानं दमश्च यज्ञश्च स्वाध्यायस्तप आर्जवम्।।16.1।।अहिंसा सत्यमक्रोधस्त्यागः शान्तिरपैशुनम्।दया भूतेष्वलोलुप्त्वं मार्दवं ह्रीरचापलम्।।16.2।।तेजः क्षमा धृतिः शौचमद्रोहो नातिमानिता।भवन्ति सम्पदं दैवीमभिजातस्य भारत।।16.3।।
English Translation:
The Blessed Lord said: Fearlessness, purity of heart, steadfastness in knowledge and yoga, charity, control of the senses, sacrifice, study of scriptures, austerity and straightforwardness, harmlessness, truth, absence of anger, renunciation, peacefulness, absence of crookedness, compassion towards beings, non-covetousness, gentleness, modesty, absence of fickleness, boldness, forgiveness, fortitude, purity, absence of hatred, absence of pride - these belong to the one born for a divine state, O Bharata.
In Chapter 16, Lord Krishna lists divine qualities. Notice how many relate to patience - forgiveness, freedom from anger, tranquility, and fortitude.
Lord Krishna uses three words that directly relate to patience: "kshama" (forgiveness), "dhriti" (fortitude), and "akrodha" (freedom from anger).
This tells us patience isn't just a nice trait - it's divine. When you practice patience, you align with cosmic qualities. Think about nature. The sun doesn't hurry to rise. Rivers don't rush to reach the ocean in anger. They flow with patient persistence. Lord Krishna says humans with divine nature share this quality.
These verses also show that patience doesn't exist alone. It comes bundled with other noble qualities. You can't be truly patient while harboring violence in your heart. You can't claim patience while constantly finding faults in others. Real patience emerges from a transformed consciousness that sees divinity everywhere.
The word "tejas" means vigor or strength, paired here with patience-related qualities.
Many people think patience means weakness. Lord Krishna destroys this myth. He lists patience alongside fearlessness and vigor. True patience requires tremendous inner strength. Anyone can lose their temper - that's easy. But standing firm in tranquility when provoked? That takes real power.
This quote from Verse 16.3 addresses Arjuna as "Bharata," reminding him of his noble lineage. Similarly, when we practice patience, we connect with our highest spiritual heritage. We're not just controlling anger or waiting quietly. We're manifesting divine qualities that place us among the spiritually evolved souls.
"One whose mind remains undisturbed in the midst of misery, who does not crave for pleasure, and who is free from attachment, fear and anger, is called a sage of steady wisdom." - Lord Krishna
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
दुःखेष्वनुद्विग्नमनाः सुखेषु विगतस्पृहः।वीतरागभयक्रोधः स्थितधीर्मुनिरुच्यते।।2.56।।
English Translation:
He whose mind is not shaken by adversity, who does not hanker after pleasures, and is free from attachment, fear and anger, is called a sage of steady wisdom.
Lord Krishna continues His teaching about the wise person in Verse 2.56. This quote specifically addresses how patience manifests during life's toughest moments.
The phrase "duhkheshu anudvigna-manah" means a mind unshaken in misery. This is patience at its most challenging test.
It's easy to be patient when life goes smoothly. The real test comes during crisis. When illness strikes, when loved ones leave, when dreams shatter - that's when patience matters most. Lord Krishna doesn't say the wise person doesn't feel pain. He says their mind remains unshaken.
Picture a lighthouse during a storm. Waves crash against it. Wind howls around it. But it stands firm, continuing to shine its light. This is the patient soul during adversity. They feel the full force of life's storms but maintain their inner stability. Their patience isn't denial of pain but acceptance of reality without mental turbulence.
"Vigata-sprhah" means free from hankering or intense desire. This reveals a deep connection between patience and contentment.
Impatience often springs from desire. We want something so badly that waiting becomes torture. But the sage of steady wisdom has conquered this restlessness. They still have preferences, but not desperate cravings. This freedom from intense desire naturally creates patience.
Lord Krishna also mentions freedom from attachment, fear, and anger - the three thieves of patience. Attachment makes us impatient to hold onto pleasant experiences. Fear makes us impatient to escape potential threats. Anger arises when reality doesn't match our timeline. The wise person, free from these three, discovers natural patience that needs no effort.
"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
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
आपूर्यमाणमचलप्रतिष्ठं समुद्रमापः प्रविशन्ति यद्वत्।तद्वत्कामा यं प्रविशन्ति सर्वे स शान्तिमाप्नोति न कामकामी।।2.70।।
English Translation:
As the waters of different rivers enter the ocean, which is full yet maintains its stillness, similarly, one who remains undisturbed despite the flow of desires attains peace, not one who strives to satisfy desires.
This beautiful metaphor from Verse 2.70 gives us one of the most profound images of patience in the Bhagavad Gita.
Lord Krishna compares the patient soul to the ocean. Rivers constantly flow into it, but the ocean remains unchanged.
Think about this image. Every day, millions of gallons pour into the ocean from countless rivers. Yet the ocean doesn't overflow or become agitated. It receives everything with the same vast patience. This is how Lord Krishna asks us to meet life's experiences.
Desires, thoughts, and experiences flow into our consciousness like rivers. Most of us are like small ponds - even a little stream disturbs our peace. But the person established in patience becomes ocean-like. Success or failure, praise or blame, pleasure or pain - all enter their vast consciousness without creating waves. They receive everything with the same serene depth.
The ocean's stillness isn't passive. It's a dynamic equilibrium maintained despite constant inflow.
This teaches us that patience isn't about blocking out life. The ocean doesn't build dams to stop rivers. It receives them all while maintaining its essential nature. Similarly, true patience means fully experiencing life while keeping inner stillness.
Lord Krishna contrasts this with the "kama-kami" - one who chases desires. Such people are never patient because they're always running after the next want. But the ocean-like soul has discovered something profound. They've found a fullness within that no external river can increase or diminish. From this fullness comes unshakeable patience.
"He who is satisfied with whatever comes by chance, who is free from duality and does not envy, who is steady in both success and failure, is never entangled, even while performing actions." - Lord Krishna
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
यदृच्छालाभसन्तुष्टो द्वन्द्वातीतो विमत्सरः।समः सिद्धावसिद्धौ च कृत्वापि न निबध्यते।।4.22।।
English Translation:
Content with what comes to him without effort, free from the pairs of opposites and envy, steady in success and failure, though acting, he is not bound.
In Chapter 4, Lord Krishna reveals how patience operates in daily life through this powerful verse.
"Yadrccha-labha-santushta" means satisfied with whatever comes by chance. This is radical patience.
We spend so much energy trying to control outcomes. We plan, worry, and stress about making things happen our way. But Lord Krishna points to a different path. He speaks of souls who work sincerely but remain patient with whatever results come.
This doesn't mean being lazy or careless. These people still act and work. But they've developed patience with the unpredictable nature of results. Sometimes hard work brings success, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes good things come without effort. They accept this mystery with patient contentment, knowing that forces beyond human control shape outcomes.
"Dvandva-atita" means beyond dualities - heat and cold, pleasure and pain, success and failure.
Most of our impatience comes from preferring one side of life's dualities. We're impatient for summer during winter, for success during struggle. But Lord Krishna describes beings who've transcended this constant wanting and rejecting.
They've discovered that life includes both sides of every coin. Instead of impatiently waiting for only the pleasant side, they patiently accept the whole. This quote from Verse 4.22 also mentions freedom from envy. When you're patient with your own journey, you stop comparing with others. You understand everyone has their own timing, their own path.
"Humility, pridelessness, non-violence, tolerance, simplicity, approaching a bonafide spiritual master, cleanliness, steadiness, self-control..." - Lord Krishna
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
अमानित्वमदम्भित्वमहिंसा क्षान्तिरार्जवम्।आचार्योपासनं शौचं स्थैर्यमात्मविनिग्रहः।।13.7।।
English Translation:
Humility, unpretentiousness, non-injury, forgiveness, uprightness, service of the teacher, purity, steadfastness, self-control.
In Chapter 13, Lord Krishna lists qualities that lead to true knowledge. Among them, He specifically mentions "kshanti" - tolerance or patience.
Lord Krishna places patience (kshanti) among the fundamental qualities for gaining wisdom. This isn't accidental.
Learning requires patience. Whether studying scriptures or understanding life's lessons, impatience blocks true comprehension. Think about how children learn. They ask the same questions repeatedly. They make the same mistakes. Patient teachers understand this is how learning happens.
Spiritual knowledge especially demands patience. Unlike worldly information you can memorize quickly, wisdom unfolds slowly. It requires patient practice, repeated contemplation, and gradual transformation. Those who want instant enlightenment often give up. But those with patience discover that each day of practice adds another drop to their ocean of understanding.
Notice how Lord Krishna begins with humility (amanitvam) and includes patience in the same list.
Pride and impatience are best friends. Proud people think they deserve immediate results, instant respect, quick success. But humble souls understand they're students in life's vast university. This humility naturally creates patience.
The quote from Verse 13.7 also mentions approaching a spiritual teacher. This requires tremendous patience. Real teachers don't give you everything at once. They test your sincerity, teach according to your capacity, and wait for your readiness. Impatient students hop from teacher to teacher, never going deep. Patient students stay the course and receive profound treasures.
"Being purified by his intelligence and controlling the mind with determination, giving up the objects of sense gratification, being freed from attachment and hatred, one who lives in a secluded place, who eats little, who controls his body, mind and power of speech, who is always in trance and is detached, free from false ego, false strength, false pride, lust, anger, and acceptance of material things, free from false proprietorship, and peaceful - such a person is certainly elevated to the position of self-realization." - Lord Krishna
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
बुद्ध्या विशुद्धया युक्तो धृत्यात्मानं नियम्य च।शब्दादीन्विषयांस्त्यक्त्वा रागद्वेषौ व्युदस्य च।।18.51।।विविक्तसेवी लघ्वाशी यतवाक्कायमानसः।ध्यानयोगपरो नित्यं वैराग्यं समुपाश्रितः।।18.52।।अहंकारं बलं दर्पं कामं क्रोधं परिग्रहम्।विमुच्य निर्ममः शान्तो ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते।।18.53।।
English Translation:
Endowed with a pure intellect, controlling the self by firmness, relinquishing sound and other objects and abandoning both hatred and attraction, dwelling in solitude, eating little, with speech, body and mind controlled, always engaged in meditation, cultivating dispassion, forsaking egoism, violence, pride, lust, anger and possessions, free from the notion of "mine" and peaceful - such a one is fit for becoming Brahman.
Near the end of the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna describes the final stages of spiritual perfection. Notice how patience permeates every aspect.
The word "dhritya" (with determination) appears again, showing patience's role in self-control.
Lord Krishna describes a comprehensive spiritual lifestyle. Each element requires patience - controlling senses, eating moderately, dwelling in solitude, maintaining meditation. None of these happen overnight. They demand patient, persistent practice.
Think about "laghu-ashi" - eating little. This isn't about starving but about patient moderation. In our instant-gratification culture, we eat the moment we feel hungry. But spiritual aspirants patiently distinguish between need and greed. They eat to live, not live to eat. This simple practice teaches patience that extends to all areas of life.
The verses culminate with "shanta" - peaceful. This is patience's ultimate fruit.
Look at the journey described. From controlling the mind to abandoning ego, from giving up anger to becoming free from possessiveness - each step requires patient work. You can't force these transformations. Like fruit ripening on a tree, they happen in their own time with patient cultivation.
These verses from Chapter 18 show that patience isn't just one quality among many. It's the thread that holds the entire spiritual path together. Whether you're beginning with sense control or reaching for final liberation, patience remains your constant companion. Without it, spiritual life becomes a frustrating struggle. With it, even difficult practices become joyful steps toward freedom.
"Those who are free from anger and all material desires, who are self-realized, self-disciplined and constantly endeavoring for perfection, are assured of liberation in the Supreme in the very near future." - Lord Krishna
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
कामक्रोधवियुक्तानां यतीनां यतचेतसाम्।अभितो ब्रह्मनिर्वाणं वर्तते विदितात्मनाम्।।5.26।।
English Translation:
To those self-controlled ascetics who are free from desire and anger, who have controlled their thoughts and have realized the Self, Brahma-nirvana exists on all sides.
In Verse 5.26, Lord Krishna makes a powerful promise to those who master patience by conquering anger.
"Kama-krodha-viyuktanam" - free from desire and anger. Lord Krishna pairs these two because they're patience's greatest enemies.
Anger is impatience in its most destructive form. When things don't go our way quickly enough, anger explodes. It's the ultimate loss of patience. But Lord Krishna speaks of souls who've conquered this inner enemy completely.
How do they do it? Through understanding. They realize anger never speeds up solutions - it only clouds judgment. They see that most triggers for anger are trivial in the grand scheme. This perspective brings natural patience. Instead of reacting with fury when stuck in traffic, they use the time for reflection. Instead of exploding when insulted, they consider the pain driving the other person's behavior.
"Abhito brahma-nirvanam" - liberation exists on all sides. This is an extraordinary statement.
For most, liberation seems distant, requiring tremendous effort. But for those who've mastered patience through conquering anger, Lord Krishna says liberation surrounds them. Why? Because patience itself is a form of liberation.
Think about it. What enslaves us more than our reactions? Anger chains us to others' actions. Impatience imprisons us in time's grip. But patient souls have broken these chains. They've discovered freedom not in some distant future but in this very moment. Their patience has created an inner space where peace reigns regardless of outer circumstances.
"Austerity of the body consists in worship of the Supreme Lord, the brahmanas, the spiritual master, and superiors like the father and mother, and in cleanliness, simplicity, celibacy and nonviolence." - Lord Krishna
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
देवद्विजगुरुप्राज्ञपूजनं शौचमार्जवम्।ब्रह्मचर्यमहिंसा च शारीरं तप उच्यते।।17.14।।
English Translation:
Worship of the gods, the twice-born, teachers and the wise, purity, straightforwardness, celibacy and non-injury - these are called the austerities of the body.
In Chapter 17, Lord Krishna describes different types of austerity. This verse reveals how patience manifests in physical discipline.
Every austerity mentioned here requires patience. "Brahmacharya" (celibacy or self-control) especially demands patient restraint.
In our instant-pleasure society, physical discipline seems outdated. But Lord Krishna reminds us that the body is our first field of patience practice. Can you patiently sit in meditation when your legs complain? Can you patiently maintain cleanliness when you're tired? Can you patiently serve elders when you'd rather relax?
These seem like small things, but they build patience muscles. Each time you choose discipline over impulse, you strengthen your capacity for patience. The body wants immediate comfort. Training it to wait, to endure, to serve - this creates a patience that extends to all life areas.
"Ahimsa" - non-violence - is patience in action. Violence springs from impatience.
When we can't wait for others to understand, we force. When we can't tolerate different opinions, we attack. But non-violence requires supreme patience. It means waiting for hearts to open rather than breaking them open. It means patiently enduring others' aggression without retaliation.
This quote from Verse 17.14 shows that patience isn't just mental - it's deeply physical. Every act of bodily restraint, every moment of physical service, every choice of gentleness over force builds our patience reserves. Through patient physical discipline, we prepare the body to be a fit temple for the patient soul.
"Intelligence, knowledge, freedom from doubt and delusion, forgiveness, truthfulness, control of the senses, control of the mind, happiness and distress, birth, death, fear, fearlessness, nonviolence, equanimity, satisfaction, austerity, charity, fame and infamy - all these various qualities of living beings are created by Me alone." - Lord Krishna
Full Verse in Sanskrit:
बुद्धिर्ज्ञानमसम्मोहः क्षमा सत्यं दमः शमः।सुखं दुःखं भवोऽभावो भयं चाभयमेव च।।10.4।।अहिंसा समता तुष्टिस्तपो दानं यशोऽयशः।भवन्ति भावा भूतानां मत्त एव पृथग्विधाः।।10.5।।
English Translation:
Intelligence, knowledge, non-delusion, forgiveness, truth, self-restraint, calmness, happiness, pain, birth, death, fear, fearlessness, non-injury, equanimity, satisfaction, austerity, charity, fame and infamy - these different qualities of beings arise from Me alone.
In Chapter 10, Lord Krishna reveals that patience itself is His creation, His gift to humanity.
Lord Krishna lists "kshama" (forgiveness/patience) among the fundamental qualities He creates. This changes everything.
We often think we must manufacture patience through effort. But Lord Krishna reveals it already exists within us as His gift. Like a seed waiting for water, patience lies dormant in every heart. Our spiritual practice simply awakens what He has already planted.
This understanding transforms our approach. Instead of struggling to create patience, we learn to uncover it. Through meditation, through practice, through surrender, we remove the impatience that covers our natural patient nature. Every soul carries this divine gift - we need only unwrap it.
Lord Krishna mentions both happiness and distress, fear and fearlessness, fame and infamy as His creations.
This teaches profound patience with life's opposites. If both joy and sorrow come from the Divine, why be impatient for one over the other? If both success and failure are His gifts, why not receive both with equal patience?
The verse from Verse 10.5 lists equanimity (samata) right after non-violence. This shows that patience creates balance. When we understand all qualities and experiences come from the same divine source, patience becomes natural. We stop rushing toward pleasure and running from pain. We learn to dance with both, knowing they're partners in the divine choreography of life.
As we complete this journey through Lord Krishna's teachings on patience, let's gather the golden threads that run through all these verses.
The Bhagavad Gita reveals patience not as passive waiting but as dynamic spiritual strength. Here are the essential insights:
Lord Krishna's teachings show us that patience isn't about gritting our teeth through difficulty. It's about understanding our place in the cosmic dance, trusting divine timing, and maintaining inner joy regardless of outer circumstances. This ancient wisdom remains startlingly relevant, offering us a path to peace in our impatient age.