5 Gita Shlokas to Manage Anxiety in Daily Life
Nidhi | Jul 25, 2025, 11:57 IST
( Image credit : Freepik )
Anxiety can feel overwhelming, but the Bhagavad Gita offers timeless guidance for calming the restless mind. In this article, we explore 5 powerful shlokas from the Gita that teach you how to handle overthinking, reduce fear, and find balance in your daily life. With Krishna’s wisdom, you can learn to act without being consumed by results, let go of what you cannot control, and discover a deeper sense of peace within yourself.
There are days when the mind just will not stop. You wake up already tired, your chest feels heavy, and a thousand thoughts rush in. What if I fail? What if things go wrong? What if I am not enough? Anxiety has a way of making even the strongest feel small.
But this is not new. On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Arjuna, a warrior who had never backed down from a fight, found himself paralyzed by fear, doubt, and overwhelming uncertainty. He could not pick up his bow. He could not breathe. That is when Krishna spoke. And what He said to Arjuna became a timeless guide for calming the restless mind.
The Bhagavad Gita does not simply say do not worry. It teaches how to live with strength in the middle of chaos. It shows us how to act without fear, balance our emotions, steady our thoughts, and release the weight we were never meant to carry alone.
"कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन।
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि॥"
(Bhagavad Gita 2.47)
Krishna teaches that we have control only over our actions, not over the fruits of those actions. This simple but powerful idea strikes at the root of anxiety. Most of our worries come from trying to predict the future or fearing results that have not yet arrived. When we fixate on outcomes, our minds become restless. By shifting our focus to the present task and giving it our best, we free ourselves from the cycle of fear and doubt.
Modern psychology echoes this wisdom. Cognitive behavioral therapy encourages “process-focused thinking,” which reduces stress by directing energy toward what can be done now rather than obsessing over what may happen later. This shloka gives a spiritual and psychological framework for regaining control over our thoughts.
"योगस्थः कुरु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा धनञ्जय।
सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योः समो भूत्वा समत्वं योग उच्यते॥"
(Bhagavad Gita 2.48)
Yoga, Krishna says, is balance. It is the ability to remain steady whether we succeed or fail, gain or lose. This equanimity is essential for managing anxiety. When our emotions swing too far in either direction, life feels unstable and unpredictable. Developing balance helps us stay calm even when circumstances are uncertain.
This teaching aligns with research on emotional regulation. Practices such as mindfulness, deep breathing, and grounding exercises activate parts of the brain that reduce stress responses and promote emotional stability. The Gita’s definition of yoga is a timeless reminder that peace comes not from external circumstances but from inner steadiness.
"असंशयं महाबाहो मनो दुर्निग्रहं चलम्।
अभ्यासेन तु कौन्तेय वैराग्येण च गृह्यते॥"
(Bhagavad Gita 6.35)
Krishna acknowledges what we already know: the mind is restless, wandering, and difficult to control. Yet he also gives the solution. Through consistent practice, known as abhyasa, and detachment, known as vairagya, the mind can be trained and brought to stillness.
This is exactly what modern neuroscience calls neuroplasticity, the ability of the brain to change and adapt through repeated practice. Techniques like meditation, journaling, or simply dedicating a few minutes to mindful breathing can gradually quiet the mind. The Gita assures us that though the work may be challenging, mastery over our thoughts is possible with persistence.
"योगस्थः कुरु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा धनञ्जय।
सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योः समो भूत्वा समत्वं योग उच्यते॥"
(Bhagavad Gita 2.48)
Krishna encourages Arjuna to perform his duties while being firmly rooted in yoga. This means acting with clarity and confidence without being trapped by the fear of failure. One of the biggest triggers for anxiety is the belief that our worth depends entirely on results. When we internalize this teaching, we can act without the pressure of proving ourselves, which in turn reduces the hold of fear on our decisions.
Modern mental health experts often use exposure therapy, where individuals gradually face their fears in a controlled manner. This aligns with Krishna’s message that action, when done with steadiness and without attachment, becomes a path to overcoming fear.
"सर्वधर्मान्परित्यज्य मामेकं शरणं व्रज।
अहं त्वां सर्वपापेभ्यो मोक्षयिष्यामि मा शुचः॥"
(Bhagavad Gita 18.66)
At the heart of anxiety lies the illusion of control. We believe that we must carry the full weight of our lives alone. Krishna counters this by offering a simple yet profound solution: surrender. Letting go does not mean neglecting responsibilities. It means understanding that we are supported by a greater force and that some things are beyond our control.
In modern therapy, this is mirrored in acceptance-based approaches, where people are encouraged to accept what cannot be changed and focus on what truly matters. Krishna’s teaching transforms surrender from an act of weakness into a source of immense inner strength.
Anxiety feels like standing in the middle of a battlefield you never chose. Thoughts rush at you like arrows, fears surround you like enemies, and you wonder if you can even take the next step. That is exactly where Arjuna was — frozen, uncertain, and ready to give up.
And then Krishna spoke.
The Gita does not promise that life will stop throwing its challenges at you. It does not promise that the noise will go away. What it promises is far greater - the strength to stay still in the storm, to breathe in the middle of chaos, and to fight your battles without losing yourself.
You do not need the world to calm down to find peace. You only need to remember that peace begins with you. If Arjuna could find clarity on the field of Kurukshetra, then you can find it in your own daily wars too.
But this is not new. On the battlefield of Kurukshetra, Arjuna, a warrior who had never backed down from a fight, found himself paralyzed by fear, doubt, and overwhelming uncertainty. He could not pick up his bow. He could not breathe. That is when Krishna spoke. And what He said to Arjuna became a timeless guide for calming the restless mind.
The Bhagavad Gita does not simply say do not worry. It teaches how to live with strength in the middle of chaos. It shows us how to act without fear, balance our emotions, steady our thoughts, and release the weight we were never meant to carry alone.
1. Karmanye Vadhikaraste: Focus on Your Duty, Not the Outcome
"कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन।
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि॥"
(Bhagavad Gita 2.47)
Krishna teaches that we have control only over our actions, not over the fruits of those actions. This simple but powerful idea strikes at the root of anxiety. Most of our worries come from trying to predict the future or fearing results that have not yet arrived. When we fixate on outcomes, our minds become restless. By shifting our focus to the present task and giving it our best, we free ourselves from the cycle of fear and doubt.
Modern psychology echoes this wisdom. Cognitive behavioral therapy encourages “process-focused thinking,” which reduces stress by directing energy toward what can be done now rather than obsessing over what may happen later. This shloka gives a spiritual and psychological framework for regaining control over our thoughts.
2. Samatvam Yoga Uchyate: Find Balance in All Situations
Arjuna Had Anxiety Too: What the Gita Teaches Us About Mental Health
( Image credit : Freepik )
सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योः समो भूत्वा समत्वं योग उच्यते॥"
(Bhagavad Gita 2.48)
Yoga, Krishna says, is balance. It is the ability to remain steady whether we succeed or fail, gain or lose. This equanimity is essential for managing anxiety. When our emotions swing too far in either direction, life feels unstable and unpredictable. Developing balance helps us stay calm even when circumstances are uncertain.
This teaching aligns with research on emotional regulation. Practices such as mindfulness, deep breathing, and grounding exercises activate parts of the brain that reduce stress responses and promote emotional stability. The Gita’s definition of yoga is a timeless reminder that peace comes not from external circumstances but from inner steadiness.
3. Mano Durnigraham: Training the Restless Mind
Thought
( Image credit : Pexels )
"असंशयं महाबाहो मनो दुर्निग्रहं चलम्।
अभ्यासेन तु कौन्तेय वैराग्येण च गृह्यते॥"
(Bhagavad Gita 6.35)
Krishna acknowledges what we already know: the mind is restless, wandering, and difficult to control. Yet he also gives the solution. Through consistent practice, known as abhyasa, and detachment, known as vairagya, the mind can be trained and brought to stillness.
This is exactly what modern neuroscience calls neuroplasticity, the ability of the brain to change and adapt through repeated practice. Techniques like meditation, journaling, or simply dedicating a few minutes to mindful breathing can gradually quiet the mind. The Gita assures us that though the work may be challenging, mastery over our thoughts is possible with persistence.
4. Yogasthah Kuru Karmani: Acting Without Fear of Failure
pain does not mean failure
( Image credit : Pexels )
सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योः समो भूत्वा समत्वं योग उच्यते॥"
(Bhagavad Gita 2.48)
Krishna encourages Arjuna to perform his duties while being firmly rooted in yoga. This means acting with clarity and confidence without being trapped by the fear of failure. One of the biggest triggers for anxiety is the belief that our worth depends entirely on results. When we internalize this teaching, we can act without the pressure of proving ourselves, which in turn reduces the hold of fear on our decisions.
Modern mental health experts often use exposure therapy, where individuals gradually face their fears in a controlled manner. This aligns with Krishna’s message that action, when done with steadiness and without attachment, becomes a path to overcoming fear.
5. Sarva Dharman Parityajya: Letting Go and Trusting
Letting Go
( Image credit : Freepik )
अहं त्वां सर्वपापेभ्यो मोक्षयिष्यामि मा शुचः॥"
(Bhagavad Gita 18.66)
At the heart of anxiety lies the illusion of control. We believe that we must carry the full weight of our lives alone. Krishna counters this by offering a simple yet profound solution: surrender. Letting go does not mean neglecting responsibilities. It means understanding that we are supported by a greater force and that some things are beyond our control.
In modern therapy, this is mirrored in acceptance-based approaches, where people are encouraged to accept what cannot be changed and focus on what truly matters. Krishna’s teaching transforms surrender from an act of weakness into a source of immense inner strength.
When the Battlefield Is Inside You
And then Krishna spoke.
The Gita does not promise that life will stop throwing its challenges at you. It does not promise that the noise will go away. What it promises is far greater - the strength to stay still in the storm, to breathe in the middle of chaos, and to fight your battles without losing yourself.
You do not need the world to calm down to find peace. You only need to remember that peace begins with you. If Arjuna could find clarity on the field of Kurukshetra, then you can find it in your own daily wars too.