The most powerful Bhagwad Gita shlokas for Karma Yogi / Students

In the book Songs of the Mist,  the mysterious Monk takes the protagonist Ashutosh along with him in his journey across Himalaya. During these wanderings, he used to breakout into singing some songs, which as he explained to Ashutosh is based on the teachings of Bhagwad Gita.  The 3rd Song‬ is about the most powerful Shlokas of Bhagwad Gita from Chapter 3 in which Lord Krishna talks about Karma Yoga.

In the shloka 33, Krishna talks about the natural tendency of a person to do things according their nature (prakriti), so what can one gain by repressing those sense desires born out of ones own nature… but then Lord Krishna goes on to say in the next Shloka 34, that the naturally experienced desires and its fulfilment, should not control us.

Window of opportunity

The mysterious Monk explains the process of Karma Yogi, to overcome these natural tendencies to Ashutosh, as he says…

“There is a small gap (window of opportunity) between the subconscious desire and the subsequent action (karma) to acquire that sense object. This is where a you as a Karma Yogi or a Seeker has to focus. This is where all meditation, practice of abstinence, filtering our thoughts, choosing positive thoughts etc. works, because this momentary gap alone, which is in between transition from subconscious desire to action, is controllable.” – The Monk

Bhagwad Gita Chapter 3 Verse 33

सदृशं चेष्टते स्वस्या: प्रकृतेर्ज्ञानवानपि |

प्रकृतिं यान्ति भूतानि निग्रह: किं करिष्यति || 33||

sadṛiśhaṁ cheṣhṭate svasyāḥ prakṛiter jñānavān api

prakṛitiṁ yānti bhūtāni nigrahaḥ kiṁ kariṣhyati

Even wise people act according to their natures, for all living beings are propelled by their natural tendencies. What will one gain by repression?

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Bhagwad Gita Chapter 3 Verse 34

इन्द्रियस्येन्द्रियस्यार्थे रागद्वेषौ व्यवस्थितौ |

तयोर्न वशमागच्छेत्तौ ह्यस्य परिपन्थिनौ || 34||

indriyasyendriyasyārthe rāga-dveṣhau vyavasthitau

tayor na vaśham āgachchhet tau hyasya paripanthinau

The senses naturally experience attachment and aversion to the sense objects, but do not be controlled by them, for they are way-layers and foes.

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NOTE from the Author: Only 2 songs of the mysterious monks are published in the book, all 9 songs are going to be published soon…