Love Lessons from the Bhagavad Gita to Fix Any Relationship Problem

Riya Kumari | Dec 17, 2024, 12:46 IST
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Nobody really knows what they’re doing. We’re all just flailing around, sending risky texts, overthinking emoji choices, and Googling “what does it mean when they say they need space?” like there’s a formula for this madness. But here’s the plot twist: what if the answers weren’t in your BFF’s DMs or a TikTok tarot reading but buried in a centuries-old scripture? Stay with me here—because the Bhagavad Gita, of all things, might just have the cheat codes to surviving modern love
Let me tell you a story. Picture this: it’s a Tuesday afternoon, and I’m sitting in my pajamas—the ones with the avocado print because, clearly, I’m aspirational even in loungewear—scrolling through Instagram. Amidst all the engagement rings and Bali honeymoon reels, my mom sends me a WhatsApp message: “You should read the Bhagavad Gita. Lots of lessons about life.” Life? Sure. But love? I couldn’t help but wonder—what could a 5,000-year-old text possibly have to say about swiping right, relationship anxiety, or decoding a text that says “K.” Spoiler: Turns out, a lot.

Lesson 1: Let Go of Expectations

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"Karmany evadhikaraste, ma phaleshu kadachana."
(You have the right to perform your duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions.) — Chapter 2, Verse 47
Okay, Krishna didn’t mean, "Slide into their DMs without expecting a response," but it’s kind of the same vibe. Love, according to the Gita, isn’t about obsessing over the results. It’s about showing up, giving it your best, and not losing your mind over whether they reply with a heart emoji or the dreaded thumbs-up. Translation? Stop doing things just to get validation. Send the good morning text because you mean it, not because you’re hoping for an invite to Sunday brunch with their parents. Relationships crumble under the weight of expectations. Krishna knew this. Now you do too.

Lesson 2: Avoid the Trap of Attachment

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"Dhyayato vishayan pumsah sangas tesupajayate, sangat sanjayate kamah, kamat krodho’bhijayate."
(Dwelling on objects of the senses creates attachment; from attachment arises desire, and from desire, anger is born.) — Chapter 2, Verse 62
Oh, the clinginess. The overthinking. The 87 mental drafts of “Should I ask him why he liked his ex’s photo from 2017?” Krishna warns Arjuna—and by extension, us—about the vicious cycle of attachment. You’re not in love; you’re addicted to the idea of someone completing you like a lost puzzle piece. Pro tip from Krishna: Stop orbiting around someone else’s sun. You’re a star, too. Don’t lose your shine just because you’re busy chasing theirs. The Gita reminds us that love isn’t about possession; it’s about liberation—for both you and the other person.

Lesson 3: Balance in Love
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"Yuktaharaviharasya, yuktacestasya karmasu, yuktasvapnavabodhasya, yogo bhavati duhkhaha."
(He who is moderate in eating, recreation, work, sleep, and wakefulness can mitigate all sorrows through yoga.) — Chapter 6, Verse 16
Krishna is all about moderation. No binge-eating ice cream after a breakup, no starving yourself to fit into a revenge dress. Applied to love, this is about balance—between giving and taking, vulnerability and boundaries, Netflixing together and spending a Friday night apart. So, yes, go ahead and write that five-paragraph love letter. But also, let them initiate the next coffee date. It’s not about keeping score; it’s about keeping your sanity. Love thrives in a space where both people feel seen, valued, and free to be themselves.

Lesson 4: Trust the Universe’s Plan

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"Prakriteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah, ahankara-vimudhatma kartaham iti manyate."
(All actions are performed by the modes of material nature, but a deluded soul considers itself the doer.) — Chapter 3, Verse 27
This one hits hard. When you’re ghosted or your “happily ever after” fizzles into a “happily never,” it’s tempting to spiral into self-blame. What did I do wrong? Was it my playlist? Did I laugh too hard at my own jokes? (Spoiler: Never possible.) Krishna’s take? You’re not in control of everything. Love isn’t a checklist. You’re not the director of this cosmic romcom; you’re just a player. So stop beating yourself up and trust that what’s meant for you won’t miss you. Sometimes, the universe has plans bigger than your imagination. Let go, and let it unfold.

Lesson 5: Conquer Overthinking with Self-Awareness

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Couple meditation

"Uddhared atmanatmanam, natmanam avasadayet; atmaiva hy atmano bandhuh, atmaiva ripur atmanah."
(One must elevate oneself by one’s own mind, not degrade oneself. The mind is both a friend and an enemy.) — Chapter 6, Verse 5
Ladies and gentlemen, let’s talk about overthinking. “Why hasn’t he texted back?” “Did she mean ‘cute’ as in adorable or ‘cute’ as in baby duck cute?” Your mind can be your bestie—the kind that hypes you up for date night—or your worst enemy, dragging you into the abyss of imaginary worst-case scenarios. The Gita’s wisdom? Learn to tame your mind. Meditation helps. So does journaling. Quieting the noise inside your head allows you to hear the truth in your heart. And in the end, that’s what guides you to love that’s real and meaningful.

Lesson 6: Cultivate Inner Happiness

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Gamer couple

"Bahya-sparsesv asaktatma vindaty atmani yat sukham, sa brahma-yoga-yuktatma sukham akshayam asnute."
(One whose happiness is within, whose peace is within, and whose light is within, that yogi attains eternal bliss.) — Chapter 5, Verse 21
Listen, we’ve all fallen for the idea that love will make us happy. That finding “The One” will finally fill that nagging void. But Krishna? He’s not buying it. Real happiness isn’t about another person; it’s about you. Your peace, your passions, your Saturday mornings spent dancing in your avocado PJs. Before you start searching for a soulmate, maybe try being your own first. Love isn’t about two halves making a whole; it’s about two wholes choosing to share their lives. The Gita reminds us that the love we seek in others is often a reflection of the love we’ve cultivated within ourselves.