Bhagavad Gita banner

Author: Sri Swami Shivananda

Dedicated to Bhagavan Vyasa and Lord Krishna Avatara of Lord Vishnu Flute-Bearer of Vrindavana Joy of Devaki, Beloved of Radho Redeemer of the Fallen

Chapter 10: Gītā Māhātmya

Verse #1
श्रीगीतामाहात्म्य |
श्री गणेशाय नमः श्री गोपालकृष्णाय नमः |
धरोवाच |
भगवन्‌ परमेशान भक्तिरव्यभिचारिणी |
भुज्यमानस्य कथं भवति हे प्रभो ॥१॥ ||
श्रीगीतामाहात्म्य |
śrī गणेशाय namaḥ ॥ śrī गोपालकृष्णाय namaḥ ॥ |
धरोवाच |
भगवन्‌ परमेशान भक्तिरव्यभिचारिणी । |
भुज्यमानस्य kathaṃ bhavati he prabho ॥१॥ ||
ShaRaGaTaMaHaTaMaYa |
sri GaNaeShaYa nama  sri GaPaLKaShhaNaeYa nama  |
ThhaRaVaCa |
BhaGaVaNa PaRaMaShaNa BhaKaTaRaVaYaBhaCaRaNae . |
BhaJaYaMaNaSaYa katha bhavati he prabho  ||
Mother Earth said:

1. O Bhagavan! The Supreme Lord! How can unflinching devotion arise in him who is immersed in his Prarabdha Karmas (worldly life), O Lord?
Verse #2
श्रीविष्णुरुवाच |
प्रारब्धं भुज्यमानो हि गीताभ्यासरतः सदा | |
मुक्तः सुखी लोके कर्मणा नोपलिप्यते ॥२॥ ||
श्रीविष्णुरुवाच |
prārabdhaṃ भुज्यमानो hi गीताभ्यासरतः sadā | |
sa muktaḥ sa sukhī loke karmaṇā नोपलिप्यते ॥२॥ ||
ShaRaVaShhaNaeRaVaCa |
prarabdha BhaJaYaMaNa hi GaTaBhaYaSaRaTa sada | |
sa mukta sa sukhi loke karmana NaPaLPaYaTa  ||
The Lord Vishnu said:

2. Though engaged in the performance of worldly duties, one who is regular in the study of the Gita, becomes free. He is the happy man in this world. He is not bound by Karma.
Verse #3
महापापादिपापानि गीताध्यानं करोति चेत् |
क्वचित्स्पर्शं कुर्वन्ति नलिनीदलमम्बुवत्‌ ॥३ ||
महापापादिपापानि गीताध्यानं karoti cet |
क्वचित्स्पर्शं na kurvanti नलिनीदलमम्बुवत्‌ ॥३ ||
MaHaPaPaThaPaPaNa GaTaThhaYaNa karoti cet |
KaVaCaTaSaPaRaSha na kurvanti NaLNaThaLMaMaBVaTa  ||
3. Just as the water stains not the lotus-leaf, even 50, sins do not taint him who is regular in the recitation of the Gita.
Verse #4
गीतायाः पुस्तकं यत्र यत्र पाठःः प्रवर्तते | |
तत्र सर्वाणि तीर्थानि प्रयागादीनि तत्र वै ॥४॥ ||
गीतायाः पुस्तकं yatra yatra पाठःः pravartate | |
tatra sarvāṇi तीर्थानि प्रयागादीनि tatra vai ॥४॥ ||
GaTaYa PaSaTaKa yatra yatra PaTha pravartate | |
tatra sarvani TaRaThaNa PaRaYaGaThaNa tatra vai  ||
4. All the sacred places of pilgrimage like Prayaga and others, dwell in that place where the book, the Gita, is Kept, and where the Gita is read.
Verse #5
सर्वे देवाश्च ऋषयो योगिनः पन्नगाश्च ये |
गोपाला गोपिका वापि नारदोद्धवपार्षदैः ॥५॥ ||
sarve देवाश्च ऋषयो yoginaḥ पन्नगाश्च ye । |
गोपाला गोपिका वापि नारदोद्धवपार्षदैः ॥५॥ ||
sarve ThaVaShaCa RiShhaYa yogina PaNaNaGaShaCa ye . |
GaPaL GaPaKa VaPa NaRaThaThaThhaVaPaRaShhaTha  ||
5. All the gods, sages, Yogins, divine serpents, Gopalas, Gopikas (friends and devotees of Lord Krishna), Narada, Uddhava and others (dwell here).
Verse #6
सहायो जायते vili यत्र गीता प्रवर्तते |
यत्र गीताविचारश्च पठनं पाठनं श्रुतम्‌ | |
तत्राहं निश्चितं पृथ्वि निवसामि सदैव हि ॥६॥ ||
सहायो jāyate vili yatra gītā pravartate । |
yatra गीताविचारश्च पठनं पाठनं श्रुतम्‌ | |
तत्राहं niścitam पृथ्वि निवसामि sadaiva hi ..6.. ||
SaHaYa jayate vili yatra gita pravartate . |
yatra GaTaVaCaRaShaCa PaThaNa PaThaNa ShaRaTaMa | |
TaTaRaHa niscitam PaThaVa NaVaSaMa sadaiva hi ..6.. ||
6. Help comes quickly where the Gita is recited and, O Earth, I dwell at all times where the Gita is read, heard, taught and contemplated upon.
Verse #7
गीताश्रयेऽहं तिष्ठामि गीता मे चोत्तमं गृहम्‌ |
गीताज्ञानमुपाश्रित्य त्रील्लोकान्पालयाम्यह ||
गीताश्रयेऽहं तिष्ठामि gītā me चोत्तमं गृहम्‌ । |
गीताज्ञानमुपाश्रित्य त्रील्लोकान्पालयाम्यह ||
GaTaShaRaYaHa TaShhaThaMa gita me CaTaTaMa GaHaMa . |
GaTaJaNiaNaMaPaShaRaTaYa TaRaLLKaNaPaLYaMaYaHa ||
7. I reside in the Gita and the Gita is My best abode. I protect the three worlds with the knowledge of the Gita.
Verse #8
गीता मे परमा विद्या ब्रह्मरूपा संशयः |
अर्धमात्राक्षरा नित्या स्वानिर्वाच्यपदात्मिका ॥८॥ ||
gītā me paramā vidyā ब्रह्मरूपा na saṃśayaḥ । |
अर्धमात्राक्षरा nityā स्वानिर्वाच्यपदात्मिका ॥८॥ ||
gita me parama vidya BRaHaMaNPRPa na sasaya . |
aRaThhaMaTaRaKaShhaRa nitya SaVaNaRaVaCaYaPaThaTaMaKa  ||
8. The Gita is My highest science, which is, without doubt, of the form of Brahman, the eternal, the Ardhamatra (of the Pranava Om), the ineffable splendour of the Self.
Verse #9
चिदानन्देन कृष्णेन प्रोक्ता स्वमुखतोऽर्जुनम् |
वेदत्रयी परानन्दा तत्त्वार्थज्ञानसंयुता ॥९ ||
चिदानन्देन कृष्णेन proktā स्वमुखतोऽर्जुनम् |
वेदत्रयी परानन्दा तत्त्वार्थज्ञानसंयुता ॥९ ||
CaThaNaNaThaNa KaShhaNaeNa prokta SaVaMaKhaTaRaJaNaMa |
VaThaTaRaYa PaRaNaNaTha TaTaTaVaRaThaJaNiaNaSaYaTa  ||
9. It was spoken by the blessed Krishna, the all-knowing, with His own mouth to Arjuna. It contains the essence of the three Vedas, the knowledge of the Reality. It is full of supreme bliss.
Verse #10
योऽष्टादश जपेन्नित्यं नरो निश्चलमानसः | |
ज्ञानसिद्धि लभते ततो याति परं पदम्‌ ॥१०॥ ||
योऽष्टादश जपेन्नित्यं नरो निश्चलमानसः | |
ज्ञानसिद्धि sa labhate tato yāti paraṃ पदम्‌ ॥१०॥ ||
YaShhaTaThaSha JaPaNaNaTaYa NaRa NaShaCaLMaNaSa | |
JaNiaNaSaThaThha sa labhate tato yati para PaThaMa  ||
10. He who recites the eighteen chapters of the Gita daily, with a pure, unshaken mind, attains perfection in knowledge and reaches the highest state or supreme goal.
Verse #11
पाठेऽसमर्थः संपूर्णे ततोऽद्ध पाठमाचरेत्‌ | |
तदा गोदानजं पुण्यं लभते नात्र संशयः ॥११॥ ||
पाठेऽसमर्थः संपूर्णे ततोऽद्ध पाठमाचरेत्‌ | |
tadā गोदानजं पुण्यं labhate नात्र saṃśayaḥ ॥११॥ ||
PaThaSaMaRaTha SaPaRaNae TaTaThaThha PaThaMaCaRaTa | |
tada GaThaNaJa PaNaeYa labhate NaTaRa sasaya  ||
11. If a complete reading is not possible, even if only half of it is read, he attains the benefit of giving a cow as a gift. There is no doubt about this.
Verse #12
त्रिभागं पठमानस्तु गङ्गास्नानफलं लभेत्‌ |
षडंशं जपमानस्तु सोमयागफलं लभेत्‌ ॥१२॥ ||
त्रिभागं पठमानस्तु गङ्गास्नानफलं लभेत्‌ । |
षडंशं जपमानस्तु सोमयागफलं लभेत्‌ ॥१२॥ ||
TaRaBhaGa PaThaMaNaSaTa GaNaGaSaNaNaFaL LBhaTa . |
ShhaDaSha JaPaMaNaSaTa SaMaYaGaFaL LBhaTa  ||
12. He who recites one-third part of it achieves the merit of a bath in the sacred Ganga, and who recites one-sixth of it attains the merit of performing a Soma-sacrifice (a ritual).
Verse #13
एकाध्यायं तु यो नित्यं wed भक्तिसंयुतः |
रुद्रलोकमवाप्नोति गणो भूत्वा वसेच्चिरम्‌ ॥१३॥ ||
एकाध्यायं tu yaḥ nityaṃ wed भक्तिसंयुतः । |
रुद्रलोकमवाप्नोति गणो bhūtvā वसेच्चिरम्‌ ॥१३॥ ||
eKaThhaYaYa tu ya nitya wed BhaKaTaSaYaTa . |
RaThaRaLKaMaVaPaNaTa GaNae bhutva VaSaCaCaRaMa  ||
13. That person who reads one chapter with great devotion attains the world of Rudra and, having become a Gana (attendant of Lord Siva), lives there for many years.
Verse #14
अध्यायं श्लोकपादं वा नित्यं यः पठते नरः |
याति नरतां यावन्मन्वन्तरं वसुन्धरे dil ||
अध्यायं श्लोकपादं vā nityaṃ yaḥ पठते naraḥ । |
sa yāti नरतां यावन्मन्वन्तरं वसुन्धरे dil ||
aThhaYaYa ShaLKaPaTha va nitya ya PaThaTa nara . |
sa yati NaRaTa YaVaNaMaNaVaNaTaRa VaSaNaThhaRa dil ||
14. If one reads a chapter or even a part of a verse daily, he, O Earth, retains a human body till the end of a Manvantara (71 Mahayugas or 308,448,000 years).
Verse #15
गीतायाः श्लोकदशकं सप्त पञ्च चतुष्टयम्‌ | |
त्रीनेकं तदर्धं वा श्लोकानां यः पठेन्नरः ॥१५॥ |
चन्द्रलोकमवाप्नोति वर्षाणामयुतं धुव |
गीतापाठसमायुक्तो मृतो मानुषतां व्रजेत्‌ ॥१६ ||
गीतायाः श्लोकदशकं sapta pañca चतुष्टयम्‌ | |
त्रीनेकं तदर्धं vā श्लोकानां yaḥ पठेन्नरः ॥१५॥ |
चन्द्रलोकमवाप्नोति वर्षाणामयुतं धुव |
गीतापाठसमायुक्तो मृतो मानुषतां व्रजेत्‌ ॥१६ ||
GaTaYa ShaLKaThaShaKa sapta panca CaTaShhaTaYaMa | |
TaRaNaKa TaThaRaThha va ShaLKaNa ya PaThaNaNaRa  |
CaNaThaRaLKaMaVaPaNaTa VaRaShhaNaeMaYaTa ThhaVa |
GaTaPaThaSaMaYaKaTa MaTa MaNaShhaTa VaRaJaTa  ||
15, 16. He who repeats ten, seven, five, four, three, two Verses or even one or half of a verse, attains the region of the moon and lives there for 10,000 years. Accustomed to the daily study of the Gita, a person, after death, is born again as a human being.
Verse #16
गीताभ्यासं पुनः कृत्वा लभते मुक्तिमुत्तमाम्‌ |
गीतेत्युच्चारसंयुक्तो म्रियमाणो गतिं लभेत्‌ ॥१७॥ ||
गीताभ्यासं punaḥ kṛtvā labhate मुक्तिमुत्तमाम्‌ । |
गीतेत्युच्चारसंयुक्तो म्रियमाणो gatiṃ लभेत्‌ ॥१७॥ ||
GaTaBhaYaSa puna ktva labhate MaKaTaMaTaTaMaMa . |
GaTaTaYaCaCaRaSaYaKaTa MaRaYaMaNae gati LBhaTa  ||
17. By repeated study of the Gita, one attains the highest liberation. Uttering “Gita” at the time of death, he attains the Goal (of life).
Verse #17
गीतार्थश्रवणासक्तो महापापयुतोऽपि वा |
वैकुण्ठं समवाप्नोति विष्णुना सह मोदते ॥१८॥ ||
गीतार्थश्रवणासक्तो महापापयुतोऽपि vā |
वैकुण्ठं समवाप्नोति विष्णुना saha मोदते ॥१८॥ ||
GaTaRaThaShaRaVaNaeSaKaTa MaHaPaPaYaTaPa va |
VaKaNaeTha SaMaVaPaNaTa VaShhaNaeNa saha MaThaTa  ||
18. Though full of sins, one who is ever intent on hearing the meaning of the Gita, goes to the kingdom of God and rejoices with Lord Vishnu.
Verse #18
गीतार्थ ध्यायते नित्यं कृत्वा कर्माणि भूरिशः |
जीवन्मुक्तः विज्ञेयो देहान्ते परमं पदम्‌ ॥१९॥ ||
गीतार्थ ध्यायते nityaṃ kṛtvā karmāṇi bhūriśaḥ । |
jīvanmuktaḥ sa विज्ञेयो देहान्ते paramaṃ पदम्‌ ॥१९॥ ||
GaTaRaTha ThhaYaYaTa nitya ktva karmani bhurisa . |
jivanmukta sa VaJaNiaYa ThaHaNaTa parama PaThaMa  ||
19. He who meditates on the meaning of the Gita, having performed a great number of good actions, attains the supreme Goal after death. Such a man should be known as a Jivanmukta (a person liberated while living).
Verse #19
मलनिर्मोचनं पुंसां जलस्नानं दिने दिने |
सकृद्गीताम्भसि स्नानं संसारमलनाशनम्‌ ॥२०॥ ||
मलनिर्मोचनं puṃsāṃ जलस्नानं दिने दिने । |
सकृद्गीताम्भसि स्नानं संसारमलनाशनम्‌ ॥२०॥ ||
MaLNaRaMaCaNa pusa JaLSaNaNa ThaNa ThaNa . |
SaKaThaGaTaMaBhaSa SaNaNa SaSaRaMaLNaShaNaMa  ||
20. A daily bath in water cleanses people of their bodily dirt; a bath taken once in the waters of the Gita cleanses them of the dirt of Samsara.
Verse #20
गीतामाश्रित्य बहवो भूभुजो जनकादयः | |
निर्धूतकल्मषा लोके गीता याताः परं पदम्‌ ॥२१॥ ||
गीतामाश्रित्य बहवो भूभुजो janakādayaḥ | |
निर्धूतकल्मषा loke gītā याताः paraṃ पदम्‌ ॥२१॥ ||
GaTaMaShaRaTaYa BHaVa BhaBhaJa janakadaya | |
NaRaThhaTaKaLMaShha loke gita YaTa para PaThaMa  ||
21. In this world, taking refuge in the Gita many kings like Janaka and others have reached the highest state or goal, purified of all sins. It is so sung.
Verse #21
ये श्रृण्वन्ति पठन्त्येव गीताशास्तरमहर्निशम् |
ते वै मानुषा ज्ञेया देवा एव संशयः ॥२२॥ ||
ye श्रृण्वन्ति पठन्त्येव गीताशास्तरमहर्निशम् |
na te vai मानुषा ज्ञेया देवा eva na saṃśayaḥ ॥२२॥ ||
ye ShaRaNaeVaNaTa PaThaNaTaYaVa GaTaShaSaTaRaMaHaRaNaShaMa |
na te vai MaNaShha JaNiaYa ThaVa eva na sasaya  ||
22. Those who hear or read day and night the scripture Gita should not be regarded as human beings; they are verily gods.
Verse #22
ज्ञानाज्ञानकृतं नित्यमिन्द्रियैर्जनितं यत् |
तत्सर्वं नाशमायाति गीतापाठेन तत्क्षणम्‌ ॥२३॥ ||
ज्ञानाज्ञानकृतं नित्यमिन्द्रियैर्जनितं ca yat |
तत्सर्वं नाशमायाति गीतापाठेन तत्क्षणम्‌ ॥२३॥ ||
JaNiaNaJaNiaNaKaTa NaTaYaMaNaThaRaYaRaJaNaTa ca yat |
TaTaSaRaVa NaShaMaYaTa GaTaPaThaNa TaTaKaShhaNaeMa  ||
23. All sins whether committed knowingly or unknowingly, through senses or otherwise, get destroyed instantaneously by a constant study of the Gita.
Verse #23
धिक्‌ तस्य ज्ञानमाचारं व्रतं चेष्टां तपो यशः | |
गीतार्थपठनं नास्ति नाधमस्तत्परो जनः ॥२४॥ ||
धिक्‌ tasya ज्ञानमाचारं व्रतं चेष्टां tapo yaśaḥ | |
गीतार्थपठनं nāsti नाधमस्तत्परो janaḥ ॥२४॥ ||
ThhaKa tasya JaNiaNaMaCaRa VaRaTa CaShhaTa tapo yasa | |
GaTaRaThaPaThaNa nasti NaThhaMaSaTaTaPaRa jana  ||
24. Fie on the learning, conduct, observances, activity, austerity and renown of that person who has not studied the Gita; he is lowly indeed.
Verse #24
संसारसागरं घोरं तर्तुमिच्छति यो जनः |
गीतानावं समारुह्य पारं याति सुखेन सः ॥२५॥ ||
संसारसागरं ghoraṃ तर्तुमिच्छति yaḥ janaḥ |
गीतानावं समारुह्य पारं yāti sukhena saḥ ॥२५॥ ||
SaSaRaSaGaRa ghora TaRaTaMaCaChhaTa ya jana |
GaTaNaVa SaMaRaHaYa PaRa yati sukhena sa  ||
25. He who wishes to cross the fearful ocean of Samsara reaches its other shore easily by mounting on the boat of the Gita.
Verse #25
गीतायाः पठनं कृत्वा माहात्म्यं नैव यः पठेत्‌ |
वृथा पाठो भवेत्तस्य श्रम एव ह्युदाहृतः ॥२६॥ ||
गीतायाः पठनं kṛtvā माहात्म्यं naiva yaḥ पठेत्‌ । |
vṛthā पाठो भवेत्तस्य śrama eva ह्युदाहृतः ॥२६॥ ||
GaTaYa PaThaNa ktva MaHaTaMaYa naiva ya PaThaTa . |
vtha PaTha BhaVaTaTaSaYa srama eva HaYaThaHaTa  ||
26. He who fails to read this Glory of the Gita (the Gita Mahatmyam), after having read the Gita, loses the benefit thereby, and the effort alone remains.

This is to test and confirm the faith of the reader in the Gita. It is not a mere book but the Word of God and should therefore be studied with great faith and devotion which this Mahatmyam generates in one’s heart.
Verse #26
एतन्माहात्म्यसंयुक्तं गीताभ्यासं करोति यः |
तत्फलमवाप्नोति दुर्लभां गतिमाप्नुयात्‌ ॥२७॥ ||
एतन्माहात्म्यसंयुक्तं गीताभ्यासं karoti yaḥ |
sa तत्फलमवाप्नोति दुर्लभां गतिमाप्नुयात्‌ ॥२७॥ ||
eTaNaMaHaTaMaYaSaYaKaTa GaTaBhaYaSa karoti ya |
sa TaTaFaLMaVaPaNaTa ThaRaLBha GaTaMaPaNaYaTa  ||
27. One who studies the Gita, together with this Glory of the Gita, attains the fruit mentioned above and reaches the state which is otherwise very difficult to be attained.
Verse #27
सूत उवाच |
माहात्म्यमेतदगीताया: मया प्रोक्तं सनात |
गीतान्ते पठेद्यस्तु यदुक्तं तत्फलं लभेत्‌ ॥२८॥ ||
sūta uvāca |
माहात्म्यमेतदगीताया: mayā proktaṃ सनात |
गीतान्ते ca पठेद्यस्तु yaduktaṃ तत्फलं लभेत्‌ ॥२८॥ ||
suta uvaca |
MaHaTaMaYaMaTaThaGaTaYa: maya prokta SaNaTa |
GaTaNaTa ca PaThaThaYaSaTa yadukta TaTaFaL LBhaTa  ||
28. This greatness or Glory of the Gita which is eternal, as narrated by me, should be read at the end of the study of the Gita and the fruits mentioned therein will be obtained.
Verse #28
इति श्रीवराहपुराणे श्रीगीतामाहात्म्यं सम्पूर्णम् ||
श्रीवराहपुराणे श्रीगीतामाहात्म्यं sampūrṇam ||
ShaRaVaRaHaPaRaNae ShaRaGaTaMaHaTaMaYa sampurnam ||
Thus ends the Glory of the Gita, contained in the Varaha Purana.
Verse #29
Om Santih, Santih, Santih. ||
Om Santih, Santih, Santih. ||
Om Santih, Santih, Santih. ||
Om Santih, Santih, Santih.