35 Quotes From The My Gita By Devdutt Pattanaik
Last Updated on February 13, 2023
I still vividly remember the time when I started reading Bhagavad Gita in 2019. I was struggling with anger issues and negativity. I knew that nothing could help me out not even my friends and parents, so I decided to give books a try.
I don’t if it was my luck or destiny but I chose Gita, the original Bhagavad Gita, and started to read as I was not that mature, I started readings its interpretations. I left none.
I read them all from Paramhansa Yogananda’s interpretation of the Bhagavad Gita to Devdutt’s version. But I liked Devdutt’s one, it’s subjective but I loved his storytelling and simple explanations that were etched in my mind forever.
So, here are some of my favorite quotes from Devdutt Pattanaik’s My Gita which I love to read whenever I feel confused, sad, or frustrated with whatever is going on with my life. And I wish, they help you too😊
But for those who don’t know what My Gita is and who is Devdutt then let me introduce you.
What is My Gita By Devdutt Pattanaik?
“My Gita” is a contemporary interpretation of the Bhagavad Gita, one of the most ancient and sacred Hindu scriptures.
Written by renowned mythologist and author Devdutt Pattanaik, the book offers a fresh and insightful take on this timeless text that has influenced generations of people all over the world.
In this book, Devdutt Pattanaik has woven together stories, illustrations, and observations from his vast knowledge of mythology to bring the messages of the Bhagavad Gita to life for modern-day readers.
The book’s easy-to-understand language and insightful explanations make it accessible to readers of all ages and backgrounds, allowing them to gain a deeper understanding of this ancient text and its teachings.
Coming back to the author, Devdutt Pattanaik is a highly respected author and speaker on mythology, religion, and leadership.
With over 20 years of experience in this field, he has written over 30 books and delivered numerous talks, workshops, and seminars on the subject.
His writing style is engaging, insightful, and thought-provoking and his passion for mythology shine through in all of his work. If you wanna read some of his wise quotes, then check this article too. Also, if you are curious, check this post to learn every life lesson that Bhagavad Gita teaches us.
Now, let’s begin our compilation of quotes from the book My Gita.
My Gita Quotes by Devdutt Pattanaik
1. “Action focussed on intent is better than action focussed on outcome.” – My Gita, Devdutt Pattanaik
2. “The Gita does not speak of changing the world. It speaks of appreciating the world that is always changing.” – My Gita, Devdutt Pattanaik
3. “We are not rational creatures who feel; we are emotional creatures who rationalize.” – My Gita, Devdutt Pattanaik
4. “Krishna replies that nothing is wasted or destroyed in the cosmos. All efforts are recorded and they impact future lives. Knowledge acquired in the past plays a role in the wisdom of future lives.” – My Gita, Devdutt Pattanaik
5. “Like animals that seek food for their survival, humans yearn for meaning for their sanity: what is our value, our purpose and our identity in this world?” – My Gita, Devdutt Pattanaik
6. “Those who believe in karma do not blame. They do not judge. They accept that humans live in a sea of consequences, over which there is limited control. So they accept every moment as it is supposed to be. They act without expectation.” – My Gita, Devdutt Pattanaik
7. “Dharma thus has nothing to do with rules or obligations, It has to do with intent and caring for the other, be it your kingdom or your family.” – My Gita, Devdutt Pattanaik
8. “Identity based on what we have is called aham not atma”. – My Gita, Devdutt Pattanaik
9. “Arjuna, immerse your mind in me and I will uplift you from the ocean of recurring death. If you cannot do that, then practise yoga and work on your mind. If you cannot do that, then do your work as if it is my work. If you cannot do that, then make yourself my instrument and do as I say. If you cannot do that, then simply do your job and leave the results to me.” – My Gita, Devdutt Pattanaik
10. “As long as we cling (moha), we are trapped. As soon as we let go, we are liberated (moksha). We become independent and content in our own company (atma-rati) yet generous and dependable for the other (brahma-nirvana).” – My Gita, Devdutt Pattanaik
11. “Here the world has no beginning, no end, no value, no purpose. All meaning is created by humans, individually and collectively, the boundaries we establish and fight over”. – My Gita, Devdutt Pattanaik
12. “When we understand, we do not seek control of the other, hence are liberated.” – My Gita, Devdutt Pattanaik
13. “Only the ignorant think they alone are responsible for an outcome” – My Gita, Devdutt Pattanaik
14. “The devotee looks at the deity (darshan) and the deity, with large unblinking eyes, looks back; the relationship is ‘two-way’ not ‘one-way’.” – My Gita, Devdutt Pattanaik
15. “Each moment is a fruit of the past and seed of future.” – My Gita, Devdutt Pattanaik
16. “There is no one but ourselves to blame for our problems: neither God nor any oppressors.” – My Gita, Devdutt Pattanaik
17. “Dharma thus has nothing to with rules or obligations. It has to do with intent and caring for the other, be it your kingdom or your family.” – My Gita, Devdutt Pattanaik
18. “The journey towards limitless truth expands our mind.” – My Gita, Devdutt Pattanaik
19. “Dharma is more about empathy than ethics, about intent rather than outcome.” – My Gita, Devdutt Pattanaik
20. “Taken psychologically, the idea of rebirth is about having multiple opportunities to break the cycle of fear and find meaning, without ‘consuming’ anyone.” – My Gita, Devdutt Pattanaik
21. “Memories Distort Observation” – My Gita, Devdutt Pattanaik
22. “Arjuna, ignore the onslaught of external stimuli and focus between your eyebrows, regulating inhalation and exhalation at the nostrils, to liberate yourself from fear, desire and anger, and discover me within you, I who receive and consume every offering of your yagnas.” – My Gita, Devdutt Pattanaik
23. “Showing does not guarantee seeing. Telling does not guarantee hearing. Gyana is not vi-gyana.” – My Gita, Devdutt Pattanaik
24. “Ramkrishna Paramhansa, the nineteenth-century Bengali mystic, said that the essence of The Gita can be deciphered simply by reversing the syllables that constitute Gita. So Gita, or gi-ta, becomes ta-gi, or tyagi, which means ‘one who lets go of possessions.” – My Gita, Devdutt Pattanaik
25. “Do you see me as hero, villain or victim? If yes, then you are not doing darshan. If you can empathize with the fears that make people heroes, villains and victims, then you are doing darshan. For then you look beyond the boundaries that separate you from the rest.” – My Gita, Devdutt Pattanaik
26. “Yagna is the outer journey, while yoga is the inner journey that Arjuna has to undertake.” – My Gita, Devdutt Pattanaik
27. “Krishna, what happens to he who strays from the path of insight? Does he lose out on both: happiness promised by wisdom and pleasures promised by indulgence? Does he perish like a torn cloud? Krishna replies that nothing is wasted or destroyed in the cosmos. All efforts are recorded and they impact future lives. Knowledge acquired in the past plays a role in the wisdom of future lives. Those unsuccessful in realization in this life will be reborn. Their efforts will not go in waste. They will ensure they are born in a wise family, where they can strive again. They will be driven to wisdom on account of memories and impressions of previous lives. By striving through many lives, they untangle themselves to unite with divinity.” – My Gita, Devdutt Pattanaik
28. “All will be well if we repent of our sins, accept God’s love and demonstrate it by following His law.” – My Gita, Devdutt Pattanaik
29. “The wise want nothing but accept whatever comes their way, letting it pass when it is time to part ways.” – My Gita, Devdutt Pattanaik
30. “When you live only once, the value of your life becomes the sum total of your achievements. Hence the need to align or achieve, which are the driving forces of Western thought.” – My Gita, Devdutt Pattanaik
31. “A world created by observation evokes insight, hence affection, for we see the hunger and fear of all beings. Life becomes a performance on a stage (ranga-bhoomi) aimed to nourish and comfort the other, while deriving nourishment and comfort from their delight. Krishna’s performance (leela) leads to him being worshipped as Ranga-natha, lord of the stage. He never judges, so he sees no one as a victim.” – My Gita, Devdutt Pattanaik
32. “In Hinduism, dharma means realizing our potential: changing ourselves into the best we theoretically can be. What is that?” – My Gita, Devdutt Pattanaik
33. “Modern global discourse tends to look at truth qualitatively: it is either true or false. That which is objective is scientific and true. That which is subjective is mythic and false. Hindu thought, however, looks at truth quantitatively: everyone has access to a slice (bhaga); the one who sees all slices of truth is bhaga-van. Limited truth is mithya. Limitless truth is satya. Satya is about including everything and being whole (purnam). The journey towards limitless truth expands our mind (brahmana).” – My Gita, Devdutt Pattanaik
34. “Here the world has no beginning, no end, no value, no purpose. All meaning is created by humans, individually and collectively: the boundaries we establish and fight over.” – My Gita, Devdutt Pattanaik
35. “Unless the heart feels secure, the head will never receive new ideas.” – My Gita, Devdutt Pattanaik
Thanks for reading😊I wish these quotes help you understand the Gita at a deeper level.
I recommend you to read Devdutt’s books as they are rich in knowledge and mythology. You’ll get a very different perspective everytime you’ll read a para.
If you love this article, grab My Gita by Devdutt Pattanaik today!
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