Top 10 Bhagavad Gita Shlokas Every Child Should Know (With Meaning)

In a distraction-prone world where nothing remains constant for too long, all children require a beacon of guidance—something that teaches timeless values, hones their own internal compass, and builds emotional resilience. The Bhagavad Gita, the centuries-old spiritual classic with a tradition spanning hundreds of years through generations, provides just that.

Though Gita can appear deep and philosophical, the book has some motivational and catchy Gita shlokas even for Gita that can also be comprehensible to children. Children's Bhagavad Gita shlokas can bring forth courage, honesty, and love in the children and can make them smart, compassionate humans.

Here in this blog, we present 10 thoughtfully selected Bhagavad Gita shlokas that every child has to read, their simple meaning and life lesson of each. They are not mere quotes with meaning of the Gita — they are role models to shape a child's personality and emotional quotient.

1. श्रीभगवानुवाच | कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन |

मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि॥

(Chapter 2, Verse 47)

Transliteration:

Karmanye vadhikaraste, ma phaleshu kadachana,

ma karma phala hetur bhur, ma te sango'stvakarmani.

Meaning for Kids

You are worthy to work but not worthy to worry about the outcome. Do your work to the best of your abilities and do not waste time thinking about what might be.

Lesson:

One of the best verses of Gita which impart children with the lesson of concentration on efforts and not outcomes—a good lesson for today's competitive age.

2. विद्याविनयसम्पन्ने ब्राह्मणे गवि हस्तिनि।

शुनि चैव श्वपाके च पण्डिताः समदर्शिनः।

(Chapter 5, Verse 18)

Transliteration:

Vidya-vinaya-sampanne brahmane gavi hastini,

shuni chaiva shvapake cha panditah sama-darshinah.

Meaning for Kids

A wise man treats all persons the same manner—exactly the same manner he treats a wise teacher, a cow, an elephant, or even a dog.

Lesson:

This shloka instructs to treat everybody alike and with respect regardless of his or her origin or appearance.

3. उद्धरेदात्मनाऽत्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत्।

आत्मैव ह्यात्मनो बन्धुरात्मैव रिपुरात्मनः।

(Chapter 6, Verse 5)

Transliteration:

Uddhared atmanatmanam naatmanam avasaadayet,

atmaiva hyatmano bandhur atmaiva ripur atmanah.

Meaning for Kids:

Pick yourself up by your own bootstraps. Do not let you down. You are your best friend and your worst enemy.

Learning:

This line teaches the child self-dependence and responsibility-a very positive trait of emotional growth in a child.

4. योगस्थः करु कर्माणि सङ्गं त्यक्त्वा धनञ्जय् ।

सिद्ध्यसिद्ध्योः समो भूत्वा समत्वं योग उच्यते ।

(Chapter 2, Verse 48)

Transliteration :

Yogasthaḥ kuru karmāṇi saṅgaṁ tyaktvā dhanañjaya,

siddhy-asiddhyoḥ samo bhūtvā samatvaṁ yoga uchyate.

Meaning for Kids:

Do your work quietly, without attachment. Success or failure—be calm. That's what real yoga is.

Lesson:

This easy-to-understand Gita shloka teaches emotional balance and the importance of staying calm in joyful moments and sorrow to children.

5. अहिंसा सत्यमक्रोधस्त्यागः शान्तिरापैशुनम्।

दया भूतेष्वलोलुप्त्वं मार्दवं ह्रीरचापलम्।

(Chapter 16, Verse 2)

Transliteration:

Ahimsa satyam akrodhas tyagah shantir apaishunam,

daya bhuteshv aloluptvam mardavam hrir achapalam.

Meaning for Kids:

Kindness, truth, peace, forgiveness, and self-control—these are the virtues of a good human being.

Lesson:

This stanza is a great means of instilling children with fundamental values and etiquettes such as honesty, compassion, and humility.

6. मनः प्रसादः सौम्यत्वं मौनमात्मविनिग्रहः।

भावसंशुद्धिरित्येतत्तपो मानसमुच्यते।

(Chapter 17, Verse 16)

Transliteration:

Manah prasādah saumyatvam maunam ātma-vinigrahah,

bhāva-sanśuddhir ity etat tapo mānasam uchyate.

Meaning for Kids:

Peaceful thoughts, kindness, silence, and self-control—are these the means by which our mind is purified and made peaceful.

Lesson:

This lovely shloka teaches children about the control of mind, peaceful work, and power of silence.

7. यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत।

अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदाऽअत्मानं सृजाम्यहम्।

(Chapter 4, Verse 7)

Transliteration:

Yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati bharata,

abhyutthanam adharmasya tadaatmanam srijamy aham.

Meaning for Kids:

Whenever goodness is in danger and evil is becoming powerful, I step in and set things right.

Lesson:

This encouraging shloka makes children believe that good will win and God's help will come at the right time.

8. सुखदुःखे समे कृत्वा लाभालाभौ जयाजयौ।

ततो युद्धाय युज्यस्व नैवं पापमवाप्स्यसि॥

(Chapter 2, Verse 38)

Transliteration:

Sukh-duḥkhe same kṛitvā lābhālābhau jayājayau,

tato yuddhāya yujyasva naivaṁ pāpam avāpsyasi.

Meaning for Kids:

Be even-keen in joy and grief, subdue or be subdued. Perform your duty without fear.

Lesson:

This is one of the Bhagavad Gita shlokas for children which teaches emotional maturity and courage.

9. ज्ञानेन तु तदज्ञानं येषां नाशितमात्मनः।

तेषामादित्यवज्ज्ञानं प्रकाशयति तत्परम्।

(Chapter 5, Verse 16)

Transliteration:

Jñānena tu tad ajñānaṁ yeṣāṁ nāśitam ātmanaḥ,

teṣām āditya-vaj jñānaṁ prakāśayati tat param.

Meaning for Children:

When we eliminate ignorance through knowledge, it is like the sun eliminating darkness.

Lesson:

Kids learn the importance of knowledge and wisdom—a tremendous motivation to learning and inquiry.

10. अनन्याश्चिन्तयन्तो मां ये जनाः पर्युपासते।

तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम्॥

(Chapter 9, Verse 22)

Transliteration:

Ananyāś chintayanto māṁ ye janāḥ paryupāsate,

teṣāṁ nityābhiyuktānāṁ yoga-kṣhemaṁ vahāmy aham.

Meaning for Kids:

Those who have faith in me without expecting something in return—I offer them what they lack and protect what they have.

Lesson:

This shloka gives the children faith, trust, and protection by God, leading to emotional security and comfort.

Why Bhagavad Gita Shlokas Ought to be Taught to Children?

Five strong reasons why children ought to learn Bhagavad Gita shlokas are as follows:

1. Development of Character: The Gita gives us universal codes of truth, discipline, generosity, and bravery.

2. Improved Concentration: Learning shlokas enhances memory, pronunciation, and concentration.

3. Knowledge about Culture: It acquaints children with the spiritual heritage of India in a child-friendly format.

4.Inner Strength: The teachings render children immune to fear, worry, and peer pressure.

5. Values Taught Through Life: Honesty, humility, and integrity stay with them throughout their lifetime.

Fun Ways to Teach Gita for Children

Stories: Link shlokas to brief, interesting stories of Mahabharata or small, everyday events.

Songs and Chants: Kids love rhythm! Learn shlokas in song and chant.

Visuals: Flashcards, animations, or posters can make memorization easy.

Daily Practice: Read one shloka a week as a morning or evening routine.

Explain in Simple Words: Always precede every shloka with a simple explanation and with an everyday application.

Final Thoughts

The Bhagavad Gita is not a sages' or scholars' domain—no, it is for all, even for children. Its timeless teachings on love, duty, faith, and wisdom are as true today as they ever were to shape youthful minds. These simple-to-remember Gita shlokas can be the stepping stones to self-discovery and spiritual evolution for life.

By learning these Bhagavad Gita shlokas for kids, we are not only providing them with the treasures of the past but also with the power to live intelligently in the present-day world.

Was your child inspired after reading one of these shlokas?

Share your experience in the comments or let us know which Gita quotes with meaning you want us to translate next!

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