Wisdom
Wisdom for everyday life
26 teachings from the Gita, the Upanishads, the epics and the saints, each with its source and a simple way to live it today.
Duty and action
How to work well, without being bound by the work.
- कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन
“Your right is to the work alone, never to its fruits.”
Bhagavad Gita 2.47Live it Give today’s task your full heart, then let the result go. Worry about outcomes takes strength away from the work itself.
- योगः कर्मसु कौशलम्
“Yoga is skill in action.”
Bhagavad Gita 2.50Live it Do even small things with care: wash the cup properly, write the message clearly. Attention is a form of worship.
- श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात्
“Better is one’s own dharma, though imperfectly done, than the dharma of another done well.”
Bhagavad Gita 3.35Live it Stop measuring your path against someone else’s. Ask what is truly yours to do today, and do that.
- यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेतरो जनः । स यत्प्रमाणं कुरुते लोकस्तदनुवर्तते ॥
“Whatever the best among us do, others do the same. Whatever standard they set, the world follows.”
Bhagavad Gita 3.21Live it Children learn from what we do, not what we say. Live the habit you hope to see in your home.
Mind and peace
Steadiness in a restless world.
- समत्वं योग उच्यते
“Evenness of mind is called yoga.”
Bhagavad Gita 2.48Live it In praise and in blame, in gain and in loss, take one slow breath before you respond.
- उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत्
“Lift yourself by your own self; do not let yourself sink.”
Bhagavad Gita 6.5Live it Speak to yourself as you would to a dear friend. Begin again each morning, however yesterday went.
- असंशयं महाबाहो मनो दुर्निग्रहं चलम् । अभ्यासेन तु कौन्तेय वैराग्येण च गृह्यते ॥
“Without doubt the mind is restless and hard to hold. Yet by steady practice and by detachment it is held.”
Bhagavad Gita 6.35Live it Sit quietly for five minutes at the same time each day. When the mind wanders, bring it back gently, without scolding.
- युक्ताहारविहारस्य युक्तचेष्टस्य कर्मसु । युक्तस्वप्नावबोधस्य योगो भवति दुःखहा ॥
“For one who is moderate in food and rest, balanced in work, and measured in sleep and waking, yoga destroys sorrow.”
Bhagavad Gita 6.17Live it Eat a little less than you could, sleep at a regular hour, and leave a gap between work and rest.
Family, guests and service
The home as a temple, the guest as the Divine.
- मातृदेवो भव । पितृदेवो भव । आचार्यदेवो भव । अतिथिदेवो भव ॥
“See the Divine in your mother, your father, your teacher and your guest.”
Taittiriya Upanishad 1.11.2Live it Call a parent or an old teacher this week. Serve every guest the way you would serve at a temple.
- अयं निजः परो वेति गणना लघुचेतसाम् । उदारचरितानां तु वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम् ॥
““This one is mine, that one is a stranger” is the reckoning of the narrow minded. For the large hearted, the whole world is one family.”
Maha Upanishad 6.71Live it Greet the stranger, the neighbour and the newcomer as you would greet your own relatives.
- न कञ्चन वसतौ प्रत्याचक्षीत । तद्व्रतम् ॥
“Turn no one away who comes to your home for shelter. That is the vow.”
Taittiriya Upanishad 3.10.1Live it Keep a little extra food in the pot. Someone may come, and there should be enough.
- மோப்பக் குழையும் அனிச்சம் முகந்திரிந்து நோக்கக் குழையும் விருந்து
“The anicham flower wilts when it is smelled; a guest wilts at a cold, turned away face.”
Thirukkural 90 (Hospitality)Live it Welcome with your face before your words. Put the phone down and look up when someone arrives.
Truth and non harm
Words and deeds that heal rather than hurt.
- सत्यं वद । धर्मं चर ॥
“Speak the truth. Walk in dharma.”
Taittiriya Upanishad 1.11.1Live it Let your words and actions match. Say what is true, kindly, and do what is right even when no one is watching.
- सत्यमेव जयते नानृतम्
“Truth alone triumphs, not falsehood.”
Mundaka Upanishad 3.1.6Live it When a small lie would be easier, tell the truth gently. Trust built slowly lasts a lifetime.
- अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत्
“Speech that causes no distress, that is true, kind and helpful: this is the austerity of speech.”
Bhagavad Gita 17.15Live it Before you speak, ask three questions: is it true, is it kind, is it helpful?
- अहिंसा परमो धर्मः
“Non harming is the highest dharma.”
Mahabharata, Anushasana ParvaLive it Avoid hurting any being in thought, word or deed. Choose the gentler word and the kinder plate.
- இன்னாசெய் தாரை ஒறுத்தல் அவர்நாண நன்னயஞ் செய்து விடல்
“To answer those who have harmed you, do them such good that they feel ashamed, and let it go.”
Thirukkural 314 (Not doing harm)Live it The next time someone wrongs you, answer with a small kindness, and do not keep the account.
Devotion
Love offered simply, from wherever you are.
- पत्रं पुष्पं फलं तोयं यो मे भक्त्या प्रयच्छति
“Whoever offers Me with devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water, that offering of love I accept.”
Bhagavad Gita 9.26Live it Offer something small every day: a flower, a glass of water, a minute of attention. Love matters more than cost.
- अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जनाः पर्युपासते । तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम् ॥
“Those who worship Me with undivided mind, ever devoted: for them I bring what they lack and keep safe what they have.”
Bhagavad Gita 9.22Live it When worry comes, do your part fully and then hand the rest over in prayer.
- सा त्वस्मिन् परमप्रेमरूपा
“Devotion is of the nature of supreme love for the Divine.”
Narada Bhakti Sutra 2Live it Let prayer be a conversation of love, not a list of requests. Begin by saying thank you.
- सीय राममय सब जग जानी । करउँ प्रनाम जोरि जुग पानी ॥
“Knowing the whole world to be filled with Sita and Ram, I bow to it with joined palms.”
Tulsidas, Ramcharitmanas, Bal KandLive it Fold your hands to the people you meet today, inwardly if not outwardly. The Divine is in each of them.
Knowledge and humility
Learning that makes us gentler.
- विद्या ददाति विनयं विनयाद्याति पात्रताम्
“Knowledge gives humility; from humility comes worthiness.”
Hitopadesha, PrastavikaLive it The more you learn, the more gently you listen. Keep a beginner’s heart.
- तद्विद्धि प्रणिपातेन परिप्रश्नेन सेवया
“Learn it by humble reverence, by sincere questioning and by service.”
Bhagavad Gita 4.34Live it Find someone wiser than you, help them, and ask honest questions. Then listen without hurry.
- उत्तिष्ठत जाग्रत प्राप्य वरान्निबोधत
“Arise, awake, and learn by going to the great ones.”
Katha Upanishad 1.3.14Live it Choose one good book or one good teacher this month and stay with it.
- आ नो भद्राः क्रतवो यन्तु विश्वतः
“Let noble thoughts come to us from every side.”
Rig Veda 1.89.1Live it Be open to good ideas from anyone: a child, a stranger, a person of another faith.
- கற்க கசடறக் கற்பவை கற்றபின் நிற்க அதற்குத் தக
“Learn thoroughly what is worth learning, and then live by it.”
Thirukkural 391 (Learning)Live it Take one teaching from this page and practise it for a week before reading the next.
Translations are simple English renderings. For deeper study, read the full text with a commentary or a teacher.