Chapter 4, Verse 7 · Divine Incarnation
यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत ।अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम् ॥
Yadā yadā hi dharmasya glānir bhavati BhārataAbhyutthānam adharmasya tadātmānaṃ sṛjāmy aham
Whenever there is a decline in righteousness, O Arjuna, and a rise of unrighteousness — then I manifest Myself.
Chapter 4, Verse 8 · Purpose of Avatar
परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम् ।धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय सम्भवामि युगे युगे ॥
Paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṃ vināśāya ca duṣkṛtāmDharma-saṃsthāpanārthāya sambhavāmi yuge yuge
To protect the righteous, to destroy the wicked, and to reestablish dharma — I take birth age after age.
Chapter 4, Verse 11 · All Paths Lead to God
ये यथा मां प्रपद्यन्ते तांस्तथैव भजाम्यहम् ।मम वर्त्मानुवर्तन्ते मनुष्याः पार्थ सर्वशः ॥
Ye yathā māṃ prapadyante tāṃs tathaiva bhajāmy ahamMama vartmānuvartante manuṣyāḥ Pārtha sarvaśaḥ
As all surrender to Me, I reward them accordingly. Everyone follows My path in all respects, O son of Pritha.
Chapter 4, Verse 34 · The Importance of a Guru
तद्विद्धि प्रणिपातेन परिप्रश्नेन सेवया ।उपदेक्ष्यन्ति ते ज्ञानं ज्ञानिनस्तत्त्वदर्शिनः ॥
Tad viddhi praṇipātena paripraśnena sevayāUpadekṣyanti te jñānaṃ jñāninas tattva-darśinaḥ
Learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him with humility and render service. The self-realised souls can impart knowledge to you because they have seen the truth.
Chapter 4, Verse 38 · Knowledge as Purifier
न हि ज्ञानेन सदृशं पवित्रमिह विद्यते ।तत्स्वयं योगसंसिद्धः कालेनात्मनि विन्दति ॥
Na hi jñānena sadṛśaṃ pavitram iha vidyateTat svayaṃ yoga-saṃsiddhaḥ kālenātmani vindati
In this world there is nothing as purifying as spiritual knowledge. One who is perfected in yoga finds this within himself in due time.
Chapter 4, Verse 1 · The Ancient Lineage of Knowledge
श्रीभगवानुवाच ।इमं विवस्वते योगं प्रोक्तवानहमव्ययम् ।विवस्वान्मनवे प्राह मनुरिक्ष्वाकवेऽब्रवीत् ॥
Śrī Bhagavān uvācaImaṃ vivasvate yogaṃ proktavān aham avyayamVivasvān manave prāha manur ikṣvākave'bravīt
The Supreme Lord said: I taught this imperishable yoga to the Sun-god Vivasvan, who taught it to Manu, who in turn instructed it to Ikshvaku.
Chapter 4, Verse 18 · Action and Inaction — The Mystery
कर्मण्यकर्म यः पश्येदकर्मणि च कर्म यः ।स बुद्धिमान्मनुष्येषु स युक्तः कृत्स्नकर्मकृत् ॥
Karmaṇy akarma yaḥ paśyed akarmaṇi ca karma yaḥSa buddhimān manuṣyeṣu sa yuktaḥ kṛtsna-karma-kṛt
One who sees inaction in action and action in inaction — that person is wise among humans, engaged in all kinds of action, yet is in the transcendental position.
Chapter 4, Verse 33 · Knowledge as the Highest Sacrifice
श्रेयान्द्रव्यमयाद्यज्ञाज्ज्ञानयज्ञः परन्तप ।सर्वं कर्माखिलं पार्थ ज्ञाने परिसमाप्यते ॥
Śreyān dravya-mayād yajñāj jñāna-yajñaḥ parantapaSarvaṃ karmākhilaṃ Pārtha jñāne parisamāpyate
O vanquisher of enemies, the sacrifice of knowledge is far superior to the sacrifice of material things. All actions in their entirety culminate in knowledge.